The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-11-21

Reports Of Committees in favor
OF II. 440, changing time Of holding supreme
court in Franklin, Grand Isle, Addison,
and windham counties; passed. Same, in
favor of H. $3.50, changing time OF holding
December term of Addison county court
passed. Same, in favor of s. 90, to enable
towns to aid in construction OF telephone
lines: third reading ordered. Same, in IA
vor of III. 1870, to amend an act relating to
property rights of married women, approved
November 26, 1884, third reading ordered.
General, in favor of s. 81, to repeal No. 16,
acts of 1886, relating to highways and
bridges; third reading ordered. Same, in
favor of H. $50, changing annual meeting OF
Barre Congregational Society passed.
General, in favor of H. pol, amending the
charter of the Troy Conference Academy;
passed. Same, in favor of III. 40, relating
to the changing of names. On the question
of the passage of the bill, Senator Butter
field demanded the yeas and nays, which
were as follows Yeas = Senators Bell,
Briggs, Cramton, Giddings, Higbee, Holmes,
johnson, Jones, King, Mansur, Mattison,
Parker, Peake, Perkins, Stranahan, Terrill
-16. Nays-Senators Butterfeld Frary,
Smonds, Taft. So the bill passed. Same,
in favor of S. 80, to enable towns to aid in
commemorative centennial anniversaries;
third reading ordered
Pdssed.-H. 106, relating to amendment
of process.
Bills Introduced and Referred.-By Senator
West Fairlee railroad; railroads.
Unfinished Businesses. 80, relating to gas
and electric light companies, was passed.
ii. AZ, providing for the payment of masters,
referees, auditors and commissioners in
probate appeals, was passed. Adjourned.
WOODWORKING.
II. 80, woman suffrage, was taken up as
unfinished business.
On motion of Mr.. Southworth of Middle
town Springs, voted to limit all speeches on
this debate to fifteen minutes.
Mr.. Furman of Swanton, in opposing the
bill, said that so long as woman was called
the noblest work of God, she ought so
to be; that her sphere was above that OF
man and by the privileges of suffrage would
take her place in that of man. that the pas
sage of this bill would call the best woman
to the polls, when in very truth they did so
contrary to their wishes; that there would
be more divorce cases; that the women
were already protected, without discrimina-
| ton, by mans vote.
Mr.. Palmer called attention to the law
allowing women to vote in school districts
it was only when they had grand list, and
did not in fact give woman a free right to
vote in such matters.
Mr.. Boyden spoke in opposition to the
measure. 1t was no argument in favor OF
woman suffrage that the house of 1886
passed such a measure. 1t was fact that
more than a score of bills had been intro
duced to repeal or amend the laws of 1886.
There were in all 1 ,7S4 ladies' names on the
petitions presented and also the names Of
625 gentlemen The committee were op-
posed to the measure-six to three. Wom-
ans true sphere was at home-that was her
glory and there she could WELD the best
influence. The petitions presented did not
represent one-tenth of the women of Yer
mont nor one-fftieth. The fact was, women
as rule did not ask for it. The numbers
on petitions were less this year than last
session. Politics was no matter for woman
it would do her harm rather than good.
Mr.. Dole of Mortified offered the follow
ing amendment, that the question of
whether woman shall have the same right
to vote, should be submitted to the people.
Mr.. Boyden opposed the amendment.
Mr.. Ballard opposed the amendment be-
cause it would be impossible to ascertain
the number of women over twenty-one
years of age. He advocated the bill for the
sake of good politics, he Observed and then
replied to some of the arguments advanced
by the other side.
Mr.. Furman thought some woman had
got hold of the gentleman from Burlington.
Messrs. Southworth of Middletown
Springs and Child of Weybridge favored
the bill; amendment opposed by Mr.. Marsh
of Woodstock as a measure to kill the bill.
Mr.. Hale of West Windsor moved that
the number of all the women in the state
over twenty-one be ascertained by the
census of 1900.
Mr.. Dole spoke in favor of his amend
ment. He desired to find out how many.
Mr.. Phelps of Westminster moved the
previous question, which was ordered.
The amendment was then defeated by a
vote of 219 to II; and the main question was
then put, Shall the bill pass? On this, Mr..
Mann having demanded the yeas and nays,
| the vote was as follows