The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-21
MR.. sowLEs LETTER
Woodford Representative Writes Of
Happenings at Montpelier.

happenings az Montpelier.
Montpelier, Jan. Is, OFF you
ladies and gentlemen down Bennlng-
ton way had been in the House Of
Representatives last week, you would
not have been lonesome. Twas a
busy time. A number OF important
bills were ordered to a third reading
and then killed when they came up
for passage. This is one OF the pc
culiarities Of making laws, and there
are many men of many minds
Much of the legislature work done
Friday and Saturday was what might
be called the "undecisive kind" that
is, the calling up for reconsideration
bill which had already been turned
down and debating on 1t an hour or
two more, only for IL to receive a
worse fate than It did in the flrst
place
Mr.. Batchelder Of Townsend, who
is a brother of our esteemed lawyer.
u. X. Batchelder whom we Burr
and Burton Seminary boys used to
hustle to hear him make pleas In
county court, last FRIDAY enquired
how long this usless debate and tom
toggery" would be kept up? He then
said if adjournment did not take
place soon that he would have to buy
new suit of clothes, or send home
for his spring suit.
Judge c. H. Darling, collector OF
customs at the port OF Burlington
visited the State House again last
week Oln Merrill of Enosburg Falls
was also here, also Mr.. Smith of
Burlington. The two latter men have
bee in their bonnet for governor
in 1910; and then Dr. Mead and
Speaker Cheney they looming up
some in the gubernatorial race.
The Plurality election bill was
killed dead as a smelt. Many OF the
representatives at first thought that
it would be the fairest and most prop
er way of electing our lawmakers,
but after hearing the debates against
| it and rejecting calmly, their yer.
dict was decisive one that the old
majority rule was the most honorable
and just.
Contrary to expectation OF quite a
number the Offsets tax bill was killed
by majority OF ~ in the House
| The vote was yes 81, no 1873. The
question was on reconsidering the
action before the Christmas adjourn
ment refusing the passage OF the bill
On motion OF Mr.. DeBoer the bill was
made a special order for 1915 last
Friday morning, at which time a doz
en- or fifvean tax bills we're reported
adversely and killed Mr.. DeBoer
was the first speaker He made an
earnest plea for reconsideration and
asked that the entire question might
be discussed on Its merits. Notwlth
standing the eminent ability OF Mr.
DeBoer he did not carry his points.
Mr.. Martin Of Essex made vigor
Gus opposition to reconsidering action
on the bill.
Mr.. Jones OF Sudbury said the state
did not want a radical tax measure
that Il should have reasonable and
not a radical onel
Mr.. Hart of Duxbury opposed the
motion and moved that the bill be dis
missed. Mr.. Davis of Springfield
supported the motion to reconsider
The debate was listened to with close
attention. The result of the vote
was as stated above.
There was more or less talk las
week on the outside as to final ad
iournment. 1t now looks as II the
end would come by Friday or Satur
day of this week, sure. But looks
are sometimes deceptive. The intro
duction of bills continues in eact
branch of the legislature. My read
ers who think this is an awful ions
session must bear in mind the fac
that some of the measures are more
important than any in recent years
perhaps ever before What is appar
emily needed is some hard and las
rule which shall set time limit al
ter the opening of the session. be
vond which no bills are to be intro
duced. unless under very urgent de
mand. Then, perhaps. the business
of the session could be conducted
with some degree Of expedition.
There was a fair attendance at tht
churches, Sunday, despite the DIS
SNOW storm. At Bethany church, the
largest in this city, coincidence oc
Cured which interested ME yer!
much. The pastors text was Eze
kiel End chapter, first verse: "Yount
man stand upon they feet and VII
speak with thee The first time
was ever in this church in October
1894. the Rev. DR.. Seaver, then pas
tor, preached an excellent sermar
from that same text.
over a foot of snow fell on Sun
day. Prophecies are being mad'
that a fourth January thaw will taxi
Mace within a few days.
S. NJ. Bowles.