St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-11-11
Fifth Week.
The Legislature is Working Hard
The Introduction of Bills is over,
except by Unanimous Consent
Senator Gibson Acting President of
the Senate.

Tom Cheney, speaker of the House, is
willing to receive congratulations on the
splendid work he has been able to get
done during the past week. His persist
ent attitude against the adjournment for
election came near making a breach in
the ranks, but when the returns showed
! that more than 200 members had STAYED
in Montpelier to vote and to work,
every one was willing to concede that
the speakers efforts had not been in vain.
Altho the Senate did not get down to
business until Wednesday morning, the
record of the week for both branches of
the Assembly shows that more was
really accomplished than during the
whole first four weeks. Owing to the
absence of Lieut.-Gov. Mead, Senator
Gibson of Brattleboro has been presiding
in the Senate and during the week has
established a reputation as a presiding
officer He turns out the work in true
parliamentary style. perfectly fair but
expeditions.
Among the bills introduced the past
week are acts providing for the creation
of state board OF education consisting
of FIVE members; establishing a branch of
the state laboratory at St. Johnsbury; to
compel villages to expend the highway
tax upon the streets and sidewalks; re-
quiring railroad tickets to be sold at
same price per mile as mileages; to pro-
mote the poultry interests Of the state
to license automobiles; to give black
Smiths a lien on horses shod by them; to
create state tax commission; 20 com
pei accident insurance for employees to
increase salaries OF county clerks to for
bid dancing or working on Sunday; to
make a uniform tax rate on intangible
property; to enlarge the powers of the
railroad commission; to provide for
nominations by primary elections; to
ventlate the state house; to prevent
hasty marriages; to regulate speed of
automobiles and to forbid fishing for
gain.
The following bills have been killed
Providing that neither divorced party
may marry for three years; that any ne
might kill dog chasing deer; to protect
fur-bearing animals; to prevent walking
on a railroad track; giving a bounty on
hedgehogs; forbiding barbed wire fences
along highway; that bread and cake
must be wrapped in paper before delivery;
requiring railroad commissioners to adj
vertise for bids on grade crossings; dehn-
ing a legal school; taxing personal pro-
perty situated in two or more towns;
that statute of limitations should not
apply to delinquent taxpayers
Bills have been passed and approved
by the Governor providing tor quad
riennial appraisal of real estate in the
year 1910 and every four years there
after; giving the City of Montpelier the
right to issue bonds to build city hall;
person committed to Jail on mesne pro-
cess NAV be admitted to bail by a Su-
preme Court Judge, a Superior Judge or
/ a Judge of the County Court: making
pedders Of stoves and ranges subject to
license; permitting railroads to carry
| agricultural fair exhibits and school
children at reduced rates; an act to legal
| ize the grand list of Grand Isle; provid-
/ ing for assisting ballot clerks changing
name OF the Congregational Convention
OF Vermont; permitting three or more
persons to form corporation by volun-
tary association; and abolishng the
Court of Claims. The deer laws have
been reeonsidered and Strengthened out
and legalized to the satisfaction of every
one. The legislation regarding the pro-
clamation of the Governor was passed
hurriedly and upon second thought it
was found to be faulty. The bill did
hONNNSA elhSWNi tut pun pOSS ioA WulSu
it was created and it has been so amend
ed and fixed up as to make everything
legal which was done by the authority
of the bill.
Some of the bills introduced during the
week are of much Importance to the
state. The bill creating tax commits
sion of three members at a salary OF
$4,000 each is the leading measure on
taxation and will receive careful con
sideration if the adjournment before
Thanksgiving cranks do not get too
active in trying to hurry things along.
Under the provisions of this act the
commission is given general supervision
the state. 1t must be non-partisan
board appointed by the Governor and
must be in session throughout the year
Sundays and holidays excepted. They
must visit every town in the state at
least once each year and shall give in
structions to the listers of the several
towns throughout the state. The
listers must attend these meetings and
, for so doing will receive the sum of 81
per dav. The commission is authorized
to examine inventories and may make
, connlaiu+ tO the Eovernor if any lister