Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-03-26
LEGISLATIVE LETTER
Montpelier, March %.

and it looks as is the worst was yet
to come. During the stime the dust
Inns settled a little, but it is a dry
time here-except among the saloons
indications being frequently seen
even pretty near the capitol that
they are doing a standing-room-only
business, and everybody is expecting
the unusual and unexpected. This
admittedly a paradox, but such have
become common here. Therefore,
don't be surprised at anything you
may hear from the capitol during
the coming week,
Although this has been a session
Of reconsidering and recommitting
and reversing all along the line, the
great act of throwing a double back
action summersault was not thrown
on the screen until the middle of the
past week. The introduction to this
was the vote on the primary bill.
Thursday, when in the face of every
argument and good reason the bill
was killed by the House. This threw
an all-wool scare into the leaders, and
the next twenty-four hours were
filed with anxious moments. The
next day a series of very brisk and
informal conferences were held with
the place of assembly usually the
governors room. where various
prominent members of the party
who had proven themselves among
the unfaithful were summoned, and
to whom the articles Of war were
read by the Governor in no. uncertain
} or obscure language. The member
of and from Proctor, who, with his
immediate coterie had opposed and
voted against the primary bill, was
admonished, it is said, and Speaker
Weeks also added his strenuous if
not piercing accents to the discus
sion. The upshot of it all was the
production of quick and certain
action in the House, Friday, this be-
ing inaugerated by special message
from the Governor bearing down
hard on the duty and obligation of
the party to enact some sort of
primary law.
After the adoption of the amend
ment of Brown of Lunenburg, Thurs
dry, which wholly cut out the coun-
ties and towns from the operation of
the laW-Ieaving nothing except the
state officers and members of Con
gress embraced in the bill-it was
expected that whatever latent OPP
) position there was to the bill was
obliterated, but as matter Of fact
seven-tenths Of the House member
ship was, and is opposed to a primary
law of any sort or form, and the
- more they cheWed on the matter the
, more determined they were to smite
it hip and thigh. Which same they
did, even after it had been sterilized
by the Brown amendment. To say
that this action put a mans sized
= crimp into e mental processes OF
the legislative leaders is putting il
exceedingly mild. Something had
to be done to reverse SUCH drastic
action, and that at once. 1t would
never do to return to the people
) with such a record, and so the mes.
sage was fired in. Stan Wilson OF
Chelsea was primed with a referen
: dun amendment which he moved as
soon as the reconsideration vote was
: moved and carried, the referendum
2 was duly welded on, a vote on the
whole proposition of passage was
had and the bill as amended by
Brown and Wilson went thru kiting
D No vote has as get been taken on il
= by the Senate, but there is no cues
ton of its passage there. Thus end
l eth the second and last lesson on the
t primary for some time to come. The
republican party has saved its face
by the enaction Of a good primary
law, and, if it is accepted and works
! satisfactorily in the matters which
f it covers the next legislature can ex
o tend it to counties and towns if Sc
! desired. On the whole, it is a fairly
satisfactory outcome to what for
little time promised to be most dis
astrous situation.
The Workmen's compensation act
AS passed by the Senate does not
: seem to please. or displease anybody
. very much, and it appears to be re
garded with a considerable feeling
Of Indifference. 1t is expected thai
the House will pass it without much
difficulty-tho with a possible few
amendments, and the law will be al
lowed to work out its salvation If
practice. On the whole, tho very
liberal to employers, it seems to be
very flair arrangement for al
concerned.
The Simonds educational bill was
hurried along Saturday by suspension
Of the rules, and it is made special
order for Tuesday. 1t is not attract
ing much general interest, even
among members, and certainly not
as much as its size and Importance
warrants. The bill is very largely
the work of Senator Simonds of St.
Johnsbury, and in it he has cer tainly
safeguarded the interests of all the
smaller and more needful schools.