Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-03-05
LEGISLATIVE LETTER
Montpelier, March |

that date was the second anniversary
of the adjournment of the legisla-
ture of two years ago, Washington's
birthday anniversary, after session
of the unprecedented length of l19
days. The nearest former approach
to that time in the length of a ses-
sion " as the assembly of 1908, which
sat go days. At the beginning of
this session a number of oldest in
habitants accustomed to legislative
ways marked as to the probable
length of the present session, and
nearly all of them guessed some date
during the first half of April. Three
agreed on Friday, April 9th, and
others from the first to the ninth.
Since then those who figured on
those approximate dates have seen
no reason for changing their opin-
ions. Excellent progress is now being
made, and has been right along, but
all realize that the measures yet to
come are those which are likely to
call out the most delay in debate. A
proper amount of consideration must
be given on the floor to all matters
worthy of it-and some that are
not, and these all inject such an
element of uncertainty into the sub
ject that any guess is indeed foolish.
1t is apparently safe to predict, how
ever, that this general assembly will
not be reasonably able to get away
before it reaches the hundred day
mark.
During the past week at the cap
itol nearly every evening has been
occupied with matters of interest.
I Tuesday afternoon an idea con-
ceived at the capitol was carried into
effect at the Pavilion in a Get To-
gether" luncheon and sociable, at
which about fifty were present.
These consisted of the wives and
families of present members, who
sought this opportunity for better
acquaintance. Tuesday evening the
special committee on taxation gave g
hearing in representatives hall on
the compromise or omnibus tax bill,
which excited much interest and 6
large attendance. Wednesday even
ing another legislative reunion was
pulled off, that of the venerable bunch
of 1906, which included a business
meeting and a banquet at the Pa
vilion. Thursday evening TRANSFERRED
the obsequies over the official educa-
| tional bill, with explanations by the
educational commission. No flowers
The events of the week closed Friday
evening with the meeting and ban.
quet of the alumni of the University
of Vermont, likewise at the Pavilion
and at which an unusually large
number of graduates were present.
In addition to the above should
also mention the late legislature Of
1912, which reunited here last Mon
day night. Probably no body OF
men since the days of Kidd's pirates
or Mosby's raiders have been SC
sweepingly damned all up into little
heaps as these jolly good fellows
have been during the past two years
AS was not here then, / was anxious
to observe the gang of Godforsaker
thieves to whom such unparalleled
villanies have been imputed, but they
didn't look much more shameless
than the average citizen. Anyway
139 of these abandoned were present
including Is senators headed by ther
Lieut.. Gov. Howe, and after bust
ness session in representatives hall
adjourned to the Pavilion, where they
raised then Speaker Charley Plumley
to the dignity of boss pirate and with
list of past and present dignitaries
responding to toasts the even rar
along in reign of mirth and good
fellowship until final adjournment al
1910.
For some time past there has beer
considerable lobbying on the part Of
the agents of certain banks to secure
the raising of the limit of the funds
which banks might invest outside the
State, eliminating in bill to per
NIT the investment of seventy instead
of sixty PEI cent outside. But wher
the House caught sight of it, some
thing occurred. At the first swoor
it was amended by Fairchild of Fair
field to allow banks to loan as high
as rs per cent of its appraised value
on Vermont unincumbered real es
tate, and then the next amendment
placed the limit back to sixty pei
cent for outside loans, instead of the
70 recommended by the committee
Then the bill was ordered to lie, ou
of courtesy to the introducer, tho il
was then in shape satisfactory tc
every patriotic Vermo inter- VIII
would keep and use as much Yer
mont money at home as possible.
Tho no final action has as yet beer
taken on the matter of providing fol
necessary engagements and changes
on the capitol building,it is expected
that it will soon be settled as far as
is at present possible.
The enabling act of two years ago
appropriating $500, 900 for such pur
poses but which was morally invalid
ated by the subsequent referendum
has not yet been repealed, but either