Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-10-25
IN THE LEGISLATURE
Hedgehog Bounty Bill Was Not
Repealed
In Discussing Jurors Fees--Important
Hearings Scheduled.

Mr.. Knight Of Dummerston Made Hlt
In Discussing Jurors Fees--Important
Hearings Scheduled.
Montpelier, October %,
A sarcastic member suggested today
that the hedgehog should supplant the
COW on the state coat of arms. I'VE pay
more for killing hedgehogs," he said,
'than we do for keeping Or improving
cows, and the thing we pay for is the
thing we ought to recognize"
This remark was suggested by the ac-
ton of the House yesterday in refusing
to order to a third reading the bill re-
pealing the law granting a bounty for
the killing of hedgehogs. The bill was
adversely reported by the committee on
game and fisheries and after an hours
debate was killed, the vote standing
14 to a. An attempt was made to re-
consider this morning, but failed. Mr..
Gage of Weathersfeld then retaliated
by bringing in a bill reducing the boun-
ty to Is cents and Senator Pollard pro-
posed a measure in the upper chamber
reducing it to 20 cents. The hedgehog
bounties last year amounted to nearly
$4,000 and two towns, Waterbury and
Underhill, received nearly half of this.
1t is believed that the expense will be
much greater If the law is continued in
force.
Mr.. Jose of johnson made his expect
ed apology to the House Tuesday morn
ing, but II was such a half-hearted af-
fair that no one was satisfied with It,
He merely said that If he had offended
any member by the remarks he made
when nominating H. ]. Stannard for
superintendent of education he was will
ling to apologize to that member. Mr.
Hapgood of Peru thought Mr.. Jose
ought to be thanked for enlivening the
session.
The trustee process bill. which was
promptly passed by the Senate in an
effort to carry out campaign promises,
is hung up in the House and was this
afternoon referred back to the commit
tee. There is opposition to it from small
town interests and members appear to
regard the party pledges lightly. No
concerted effort has been made to ex-
ercise party discipline to bring members
into line to support the bill, but party
leaders are dispeased at the situation.
Mr.. Cook of Lyndon introduced today
a bill for the publication of elections
which, If it should become law, would
make it impossible to buy an inch space
in newspaper, buy a cigar or hire a
carriage to take a voter to the polls in
the interest of any candidate without
mourning a large penalty.
only one person appeared at the hear
perance this afternoon on the bill pro-
Vlding for state option. Some strong
temperance advocates fear that a pos
sible effect of the bill would be event.
ually to bring about statewide license.
The liquor interests are opposed to it
because 1t might shut them out from
the state entirely.
There will be two important hearings
next Tuesday--one in the afternoon on
the question of SEEMING in lake Cham
pain, and one in the evening on the
three Senate bills substituting electro
cution for hanging. There is much in
terest in these latter bills and many
letters In regard to them have been re-
ceived from all parts of the state
No bill has yet been introduced to
charter railroad from Wilmington to
Brattleboro. There are two projects un-
der consideration and it is expected that
Two bills will be introduced. Those in
terested hope that the matter can be
composed in some satisfactory manner,
ana that such railroad fight as was
experienced two years ago may be
avoided.
me House committee on elections of
which Mr.. Adams of Marlboro is chair
man, has decided to recommend that
Walter L. Ball, who is contesting the
seat of Daniel r. Kelum as the repre-
sentative from Guildhall be given the
whether or not five ballots thrown ont
as defective should have been counted
Tor Mr.. Ball. If so they would have suf-
need to elect him on the first ballot.
The committee had a mass of deposit
lions from election officers and others.
but sent for the ballots themselves. be-
heving them to be the best evidence.
AFTER examining them the committee
decided that the plain intent of the vot-
ers was to vote for Mr.. Ball. and thev
will so report.
me contest over the seat of Senator
Dodds of Grand Isle has been dropped.
senator Batchelder of Bennington in
roduced joint resolution this morning
which was adopted by both houses pro-
Viding for special committee of two
senators and three representatives to
investigate as to the need of more room
Tor the legislature and state officers and
report to their respective houses waeth
er an addition to the present sta
mousse or an additional building is need
eu. Inc question of more room Is be-
coming more serious with every dav of
the session. Work is badly hamnere,j
even thus early by the difficulty in pro-
wong committee rooms, and will he
hinuered more seriously when such
meetings are held more frequently and
are of longer duration.
measure introduced by Senator
mVy Vi oaieuohia calls on the COM
mlttee on education to investiga 70
and report upon the status of the
public lands in the various towns
In the original charters of most of the
Vermont towns rights were reserved
FOR college, for grammar schools for
the first settled minister and for sun
port of the gospel. The lands held under
these reservations have been divided
ann subdivided, and in some cases they
= have been diverted from their original
purpose and in most cases the rental
Trey pay Is entirely inadequate while
they are exempt from taxation. To
make a complete investigation would be
long and difficult piece of work. and
one that cannot be completed before
iris legislature ends its sessions.