Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-11-18


OF two changes in the present law have
been proposed but they have been
killed without debate aud it does not
look as though any radical changes
wodld he made. The Legislature OF
1905 gave the Attorney General uulim-
tied authority TO employ detectives aud
it is said that nearly $500 has since
been spent in Orleans County and there
has been hut one conviction there for
selling liquor within the past two years.
1t would seem that the present law Is
pretty good prohibition law. A joint
resolution has passed calling for an in-
vestigation as to money spent under the
act of 1908 aud will doubtless result in |
saving many thousand dollars 10 the
state. IL is not charged that the At
torney General has squandered or mis-
used this money but it is felt that there
should be reasonable limit placed up
on the amount which may be paid out
for "spotter" evidence. Spotter evidence
never stopped liquor selling and never
will. That town or county is pretty
well off whose wickedness is not visible
to the naked eye
This Legislature has one thing at
least in its favor. 1t is trying to stop
some of the financial leaks. A bill has
passed both houses forbidding the pay
ment of fees 10 justices of the peace in
criminal cases in towns where NUM-
cipal court has jurisdiction and the pay
ment of fses to town grand jurors where
the states attorney resides. Justices and
grand Jurors have collected thousands
of dollars during the past year in towns
and cities where municipal court judges
and states attorneys are paid salaries for
doing the work. The bill passed the
House relating to justices only and
went to the Senate aud was killed. The
killing was said to be as the result of
lobbying done by interested parties from
St. Adams and Burlington. But some
one with all eye to business called at
tention of the Senate to the facts and
the bill was reconsidered by the Senate
aud then the Senate went the House
one better aud made the bill apply to
grand Jurors as WE'LL The bill was then
sent back to the House and met with
approval. 1t was said in support of
the bill that the town grand juror in
Burlington had been earning more in
fees than the total salary OF the state'-
attorney in Chittenden County.
The Skunk and Muskrat Bill has
passed the House after one of the most
entertaining fights of the session. II
was entertaining because it was not Of
The object of the bill is to prevent tn,
destruction of skunks, foxes and othe
fur bearing animals during that periot
of the year when the fur is about to be
come valuable, viz: from September Il
to November |. Mr.. Woodruff o
Burke moved TO strike out the protec
ton on skunks and foxes and for
moment it looked as though that wa
the sentiment of the House. MIR. Wood
ruff thought skunk or fox was wortl
great deal more dead than alive. Mr.
Ives of Mt. Holly spoke of the skunk
perfume and referred to jobs war horse
which "smelled the battle from affair."
Several members called attention to tn,
commercial side OF the matter by show
ing that fur killed during the close sea
son was without value and that the peri
cd of damage to young poultry and Thu
nests of game birds had passed. 4
skunk skin taken early was worth bu
forty cents while if left to mature TO
six weeks was worth from four to 81,
dollars and that in reality this protec
, ton was in the nature of bounty oil
skunks and foxes rather than any pro
lection.
, The Governor has removed all dout
as to The quality of his appointments
II any man has entertained hopes be
cause he happened to be poitica
hanger on he may rs well fold up hi
tent and steal away. During the pas
week the Governor has appointed Z. "
Gates to succeed himself as Highwa,
Commissioner; o. l.. Martin to succeed
himself as Commissioner of Agricul
ture and F. Z. Williams to succeed him
self as Bank Commissioner. Certainl,
none Of these men worked their head
off for Governor Mead, but each of then
had made good in their respective posi-
tons. That j. E. CusLmau would b.
reappointed was taken for granted b,
every one. Hon. j. l.. Lewis was az
pointed member of the Penal Boar,
in place of Roger Hurlburd of Hyd
Park. 1t is not stated whether MI
Hurlburd resigned or was removed
Perhaps the unkind things he said abou
the Governor in his speech nominatin,
y Ne Elaot uro.,d H.