St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-11-04
FOURTH WEEK.
The Legislative Mill has Commenced to
Grind. Several Bills Have Passed and
as many More Have Been Killed. A
Spirited Fight over Adjournment.

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week between deer laws and the matter
of adjournment, with honors about
equal. The argument on deer laws was
however confined to the House, but both
branches of the Assembly figured in the
matter OF adjournment. The "curfew
deer law passed the House after some
very brilliant attempts to smother it.
This law provides that a buck or doe,
except spotted fawn, may be killed dur
ing the open season, but no deer shall be
killed between sunset and sunrise.
There was but little objection to the
daylight restrictions in the bill, but a
great deal of sentiment and emotion was
shown by those who would protect the
does 1t is doubtful if the bill gets
through the Senate, although it is recon-
mended by the joint committee on fish
and game. There are some in the Senate
who are bitterly opposed to the measure
and will try hard to kill it or amend it
by making it apply to bucks only. The
other measure which was killed provided
a penalty tor carelessly shooting human
being. There was considerable brilliant
oratory both for and against this bill.
Some members thought it was too Sc
we're and that after one hunter had shot
another he was sure to be so sorry and
broken up about it that no further pun
lshment was needed One member
thought that if the bill became law
accidents would not be reported but the
guilty one would try to run away and
leave his companion to die alone. That
would be adding insult to injury. The
vote was taken by a division of the
House and the bill was killed. The bill
was introduced by Howe of Bennington.
The leading opponent was Howe of st.
Johnsbury. Thus ended the deer legisla-
ton of the week.
The House has passed the new trustee
bill which provides that a creditor shall
hold only such sum as is in excess of $40. /
II this bill goes through the Senate and
becomes a law can see where it will be /
wise for the merchant and grocer to put .
his business on a cash basis at once and
a lot OF present outstanding bills will
never be collected.
The only bill of general importance to
pass both houses during the week is one
that provides that persons convicted of
mlsdemeanor and sentenced for not
more than one year shall be confined in
county Jail instead of being sent to Rut-
land. But even under this law the per.
sons so confined must work for the bene.
ut OF the state or the Governor may
order them removed to some other
county. The county jailor gets pay for
keeping these prisoners and for the sake
OF keeping them he will probably keep
them at work. Several other bills have
passed both branches OF the Legislature
but they are local bills or bills that do
not interest the general public Some OF
them are to legalize grand lists, some to
pay somebody the sum therein named
and few for the purpose of amending
he charter OF some town or corporation.
These bills are put through with a rush
and no one questions them if they are
exported favorably by the committees to
which they are referred.
There are many bills now before the
legislature which are of much interest to
he people OF the whole state. The
question Of taxation is receiving careful
consideration by the committees and the
bills on the subject are probably nearly
III in. The employers liability law is
mother measure which is creating much
interest. Four bills have been introduc.
d, one by Mr.. Leary of Burlington, one
~ Mr.. Howe of St. Johnsbury, one by
dr. Williams of Newport and one by .
dr. Barber of Brattleboro. Senator t
iibson of Windham county has intro
Iuced a long and comprehensive bill
which will be known as primary cleo. :
ion law. This bill provides for the I
domination OF candidates by direct t
'ote of the people or by nomination
'apers. The bill gives all the details
necessary for the proper nomination of I
andldates by the regular political {
'arties. Senator Finn of Windsor
ounty has introduced a bill for the .
'urity reflections providing a penalty t
Or buying votes, intmidating or q
voters or paying for the =
of voters to and from r
he polling place. 1t also forbds the '
aging of political workers. This is Y
ough on the livery stables who do such !
nice business on election day There II
re also many district court bills. A bill r
Introduced in the Senate provides that a
very hunter must have license before =
DING into the woods to hunt The fee s
fixed at $1.00 for resident hunters and
Is for nonresident hunters and aliens.
While it seems impossible that such bill Il
ill pass there are many supporters of t,
g. The proceeds are to be expended in ii
1forcing the fish and game laws and in W
lie propagation of fish and game. 1t is Il
actual fact that this legislature seems rt