St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-10-21
THE LEGISLATURE.
Second Week of Legislative D0ingS at
Montpelier. Many Bills introduced
and One Has Become A Law. Organ
iZatiOn Complete.

Everything was StrdlgnteEeu out at
Montpelier last week. the committees
all having been named and the revision
committee having begun to produce
bills. The Farmers Association have
had their meeting and elected officers
and the many joint resolutions author
izing one thing or another necessary for
the conduct of the session have been
active work Of legislation. Already the
members of the House have been up
braided tor their desire to start for home
as soon as the middle of the week has
passed, and as an incentive for a more
regular attendance a resolution has been
passed which provided that the roll
should be called on Tuesday and Friday.
This will give us a line on the members
who are Sinking their duty and delay
ing the work of the committees. | hope
the members from the northeastern
I corner of the state will not make them
selves conspicuous by their absence from
roll call
The new members are breaking in very
well, but it is very evident that exper-
fence counts here, especially in the earlier
stages of the session. 1t is the older
members who now have to do most of
the work on the floor and in preparation
and submission of bills, but from what
is heard among the different groups new
members will soon take a hand in
shaping the destines of the state. One
new bill providing relief for the city of
St. Adams has been passed and signed
BY the Governor. This gives the city
power to issue bonds for the purpose of
replenishing their water supply and was
rushed through under a suspension of
| the rules.
Mr.. Barber of Brattleboro has intro
duced bill relating to trustee process
which is bound to furnish some spirited
argument before its passage. The bill
provides that trustee process shall hold
only the sum in excess of ten dollars,
whereas under the present law the
creditor may hold all there is due if the
sum exceeds ten dollars. Under the
weekly payment law this will practically
do away with trustee process as far as
] uAnra~raI Il ,p,nryh Ia
able that this bill will become a law
without at least being amended SO that
it will not apply to debts already con-
tracted Many a merchant has extended
credit to the workingman knowing that
the debt could be collected by trustee
process, but if the law is passed without
the amendment the debtor may take an
unjust advantage of the merchant. The
bill is, however, in keeping with the
recommendation of retiring Governor
Proctor.
Mr. Otis of Sutton has introduced a
bull to the effect that all liquor licenses
be paid directly to the state treasury
instead of the town treasury This, too
is in keeping with the recommendation
of Governor Proctor, and having been
introduced by representative from Cal
edonia county who knows something
about the liquor traffic in the near by
town of East Haven, will probably find
favor among the legislators. 1t will
certainly remove some of the incentive OF
towns engaging in the liquor business as
a speculation.
Mr.. Walker OF Dummerston, in the
extreme southern part of the state
has introduced bill opening the trout
season in streams on April l and closing
on July 1. This law may be well enough
, for southern Vermont, but it is most
unjust for northern Vermont and espec
tally unjust toward the people of Or
leans county, where a united effort has
been made to stock the streams and
bring stream fishing up to standard
| lhdl VIII dNll art tHS ouluihSl NloilOl
Considerable outside money is paid into
Orleans county during the months o
July and August because of the excellent
stream fishing, and considerable money
!, has been spent in advertising the specia
attractions of the county. This bill vii
in a large measure undo all the gooC
work that has been done.
A bill has been introduced in the Hous,
and Senate establishing system of dis
, trict courts to take the place of tn,
present justice court. This is Governo
Proutys measure and is in accordance
: with his recommendations The bill i
now in the hands of the revision com
mittee and is yet incomplete as to all tn
details. The general idea OF the bill is tt
establish district court in each count,
and give this court jurisdiction of al
claims and suits now coming before tn
Justice courts, and carrying the right 0
appeal only as to questions of law. Thu
} district court is to be in session at it
headquarters on the first Tuesday o
each month, but may hold sessions any
where in the county to suit the con
venience of parties and attorneys. Tn
, bill is meeting with much favor and will
|. j la..L4lnrc knna.a,n L.. - III 1