Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-02-03

been smoldering for years and which
took definite form four years ago when
Gov. Proctor appointed a commission
to investigate aud report some measure
looking toward correction Of existing
evils, has been tried fairly and squarely
and although passed by both Houses has
met an untimely death at the hands OF
Gov Mead Early in the week bill
was introduced in the Senate placing a
tax of seven-tenths of one per cent
on all intangibles and exempting them
from all other taxes. The bill passed
the Senate by vote of IL to IL and
was sent to the House. 1t was then de-
cided that such bill must originate in
the House of Representatives aud the
bill was returned to the Senate. The
Ways and Means Committee then intro
duced copy of the bill in the House as
matter of courtesy without recon-
mendation. The members were ready
for it aud although it lacked the sane.
ton of the Ways and Means Committee
there were many champions on the floor
in its behalf. The bill was passed by
vote of 80 to Ga and it developed that
the required quorum of two thirds of
the members was not present. A call
of the House resulted and a few delin-
quent members we're brought in aud the
bill was again passed by an even larger
majority. 1t is needless to say that joy
reigned supreme for a few moments
was passed by a safe majority. The op-
ponents of the bill seeing their favored
privileges slipping away from them then
made their last desperate effort and be-
seiged the Governor to veto the bill. Be
it said in excuse of the Governors
action that it was after midnight and
that for week he had been deprived of
rest aud that flood of bills had been
poured in upon him in the closing hours
of the session. The friends of the bill
were largely farmers and members from
the rural towns and were not equal to
the task of overcoming the pressure
brought to bear by the bankers and
high fnanceers aud their hope became
blasted by veto. They did, however,
show their resentment by voting 70 to
go to pass the measure over the veto.
This did not constitute constitutional
quorum tor the purpose and the measure
was lost. Thus measure which haC
been passed three times by the House
and twice by the Senate was lost through
faneied grievances dinned into the tired
ears of the Governor by the exponeut
of high finance and special privilege
Thus was the hope of the rural anC
agricultural interests blasted within al
hour from the date of victory. Thu
do the Savings Banks of this state re
tain right to exact a toll from thu
man who borrows.
The defeat OF this measure in thi
: way has left its sting in the hearts o
men who care more for the agriculture
interests than they do for the upbuild
ing of financial centers, especially whe
the upbuilding is done at the expens
:, of the agricultural towns. That thi
veto has left sting is shown by tn
fact t hat the best friends Gov. Mea
! has had in this legislature voted to pas
the bill over his veto. Of many veto
during the session not until now has
single vote been cast against them; bu
now men like Hatch of Strafford, Brou
. son of Hardwick, Stone of Wellington
and others who have fought for tn
so-called Administration measures /
, the last ditch were willing to 60 o
>, record as overriding the veto. Me
who were moment before almost will
u in their JOY that they had at las
wrenched themselves loose from tn
b grasp of the savings banks were d
u heartened by the blow, blow whic
u had fallen upon them because of fea
~ that the state might lose a pittance {
its revenue--a tacit admission that tn
! man who borrows is the man who is t,
&c day paying the revenues of this stat
This was the moment in which Co
- Mead might have endeared himself /
the hearts of the rank and file of tn
or people. 1t was his opportunity to mar
=, an epoch in the fight for tax reform an
he turned it down.
m Legislative Notes.
In 1t is a hard proposition for a ma
We who is frequently spoken of as our ne,
I'd governor to be member of the Hous
's' 1t is still harder for him to make polit
at cal assets from any of his actions.
ne the two great fights of the session NJ
ST Fletcher was found with the majority
at the railroad fight and with the minoril
IL. in the intangible tax fight. He state
At on the floor Of the House that he vote
he for the Boston 4 Maine bill because :
Vn impartial committee had spent weeks
ly an investigation and had reported q
b. most unanimously in its favor. On Il