St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-02-14
MONDAYS SESSION.
Little Business Done-Court Bills This
Wcck-Talk About Adjournment.

Wcck-Talk About Adjournment.
Montpelier, Feb. 12.-When the
House convened this afternoon, 12S
Of the 244 members were present.
! This is only five members more than
| are needed to make up quorum.
| Rep. Wilson of Bristol, who repeated
ly demanded, and finally obtained a
roll call at the thinned out session of
Saturday, was not present today.
/ The attendance for three consecu-
tive legislative days may be interest
ing to note. On Friday there were
14S members in session; on Saturday
lis present failed to make up quor-
UNI; and on Monday the number pres
ent was swelled to 125.
Today the House received and re-
ferred three Senate bills, and passed
in concurrence Senate bill number 45
/ and ga.
Tomorrow Rep. Fogg of Underhill,
! will introduce a bill designed to con-
| solidate that state board of health
and supervisor for the insane, to con-
! siSt of three members. This is an
other one of the numerous admins
! tratiOn measures.
Introduced this afternoon by Mr.
| Rierden of Barton was q bill, number
| 295, which is an act to amend section
| ], and 3 of number 1877 of the acts
| of 1894, relating to the electric light
| ing plant of the village of Barton, and
! to extend the powers of said village
! in respect thereto. (Authorizes vii
! 1age Of Barton to construct in Charles
| ton, an electric light plant, for use of
| it's own and other villages and towns
/ in Orleans county; for such purposes
the village may take, purchase, ac-
quire and hold any water power
rights of water, land or rights of way
| in Orleans and Essex counties, need
| ed for the construction, maintenance
and operation of its plant and APP
! purtenances.) Corporations and Fran
chises.
The courts will have an inning this
week. Early%in the session a bill was
presented that would defer the cleo
ton of superior judges until such time
as the entire question raised by Gov
ernor Graham in his reorganization
! program had been settled. But when
| the bill got into committee some one.
as the saying goes, SPILLED the BEANS"
! by amending and making the act read
| to elect next Thursday. AS Thursday
approaches the entire court tangle is
TO nearer solution than it was weeks
ago and so some relief will have to
| be found. The bill in question has
not Yet been signed and will, doubt
less be recalled and fixed up in COM
| mittee. Next Friday there is sche-
duled public hearing in the Hall of
the House on the supreme and su-
perior court bills, and a very lively
and interesting session may be look
ed for Many of the strongest men in
the state will be on hand to show the
| members why, the courts should be
let alone While other strong men will
be on hand to demand TO know why
we spend so much for administration
Of Justice and question whether we
are getting Justice by SO doing
Present indications are that both sides
| will compromise, save their faces and
make no material change either in
the system or the expense. 1t is not
thought pro bable that new justice
will he appointed to fill the vacancy
caused by the promotion to the su-
preme bench of Chief Judge Miles.
That will make some saving. In the
matter of district courts it is thought
that with certain notifications it will
become law.
There are two considerable inves-
legations that will be set in motion
this week:-a select committee of
three representatives and two sena-
tors will be appointed to investigate
the rather sensational charges against
the Brattleboro Retreat; and it is
probable that the Legislature will not
be able to ignore the charges of cru
city, made by many witnesses to the
legislative committee, while they We're
visiting the State School for Feeble
Minded at Brandon last Friday
Charges and Investigations seem to be
in the air this year and it may be that
the lightning is about to strike in
another department within a few
days. All of which goes to prove the
time worn saying uneasy lies the
head that wears the crown
Regret is heard on all sides that
Edwin Connel of Lyndonville has de-
clined to allow his name to be used
as q candidate for the office of fish
and game commissioner to succeed
Commissioner Titcomb who resigned
recently. Mr.. Council has host OF
friends in the state and it is believed
that he was practically certain to have
received the appointment If he had
consented. Several other candidates
are in the field and this very import
ant department is sure to be we'll car
ed for in the future.
Some talk is being heard of {
, weeks adjourpment over Town Meet
ing Week. It is argued that the jul
: dietary committee which have to. Sc
over the Darling revision of the Sta.
tutes could be in session that week
and no time would be really lost by
/ the adjournment. Many of the mem
, bers, in fact large number of them
are clerks of their town and will nave
l to be absent at least two or threa
!, days of that week.
On Friday evening Mystic Sta
l Chapter, No. %, will hold a regula
meeting at Masonic Temple. Follow
| ing the business session a musica
+ program will he rendered. All mem
bcrs of the order are invited