The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-11-18

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demand reward for doing their duty. BY a
vote of "a yeas to 80 nays, reconsideration
was ordered. On motion of Mr.. Cady of
Bethel the bill was recomnitted
Made Sp cial Orders. 3d. extending
municipal suffrage TO women taxpayers,
was, on motion of Mr.. Haskins of Brattle
boro, made the special order for next
Thursday at $3.50 P. M. The judiciary COM
mittee, being nearly evenly divided, re-
turned the bill without report.
Third Reading Ordered.-S 30, amending
Chap. 90, V. s., relating to Limitation of
menced II. 400, amending Secs. 4,592 and
1854, V. s., relating to net fishing.
Read the Third Time and Passed H
258. authorizing Fire Districts ! and 2 in
Manchester to provide street lighting; II
515, to prevent pollution of waters of Lake
Morey; II. 554, inc operating Riverside
Cemetery Association; ii. $50, providing
for fshway in dam at Swanton II. SCI in
cooperating charter of North Troy Graded
School
Third Reading Ordered.-H 545 amend
ing Sec 4, $40, V. s., for better protection of
game.
Substitute Bill. For H. 90, to incorporate
the Alburg Cemetery Association. On mo-
ton Of Mr.. Powers of Morristown the rule
requiring the privilege of the bill was sus-
pended, and it was read the third time and
passed
Senate Amendment Concurred In.-H.
81, granting a ferry to Orson limerick.
Killed H. So to repeal!an act approved
Oct. 90 1872; II 100, TO provide for monthly
payment of wages by corporations; I'll. 139,
relating to appeals in criminal causes; III
1852, TO provide for weekly payments by per-
sons, firms and corporations; II. 1913, relat-
ing to fire insurance contracts and actions
tn ereon; II. 428, relating to water works OF
city of Rutland; II. 450 relating TO taxation
and life insurance; II. 513. relating to paint
ing telegraph, telephone and electric light
poles; III $40, relating to terms of Office Of
listers.
Ordered to Lie.-H 459, to provide for
fortnightly payment of wages.
Read Third Time and Passed as Amended
H 40, to incorporate the Western YER
mont Street Railway Company
On motion of Mr.. Whipple of Underhill
adjourned
sENATE-AFTERNooN. 9Azs;s
Passed.-H. ia, to pay Nellie B. Montey
sum named; IL. $40, to amend charter of
village Of Johnson; III. 374, enlargement Of
Irasvile burying ground; II. 432, town of
Readsboro bonds; II. asa Westminster
Electric Company; III. 452, town OF Vershire
bonds II. 461, city of Montpelier city hall
bonds; S. 80, to pay ID. n. Burton sum
named, $15 (he wanted $685. S. 80, Pawlet
savings bank.
Ordered to Third Readings. 80, to repeal
bounties on noxious animals; S. 50, to make
the Office of state geologist more effective
s. 10S, to protect dangerous places in high
ways; III. ZIG in relation TO search war
rants; II. 179, taxation of trust companies;
II. 397. traffic in intoxicating liquors; H,
546, relating to elections; s. 66, directors OF
state prison; s. II, collection eff taxes; S.
SO. relating to elections; II. 122, represen-
tations of political parties on boards of civil
authority.
Recon- mitted,-S. 11S, changing supreme
court system.
Killed.-S. 81, appeals from justice courts.
Adjourned
HOUsE-AFTERNooN.
Special Order.-H. 2, providing for the
election of representatives by plurality vote,
The pending question was the third reading.
Mr.. Clark of Glover supported the bill.
Rhode Island and New Hampshire have
lately made the change proposed. Nearly
all of our officers are chosen by pluralities.
Vermont is too conservative in these mat
ters. The change would probably be of
great advantage to our cities which have
numerous polling places. The speaker
cited several cases where, in protracted
contests, majority on the last ballot was a
smaller vote than plurality would have
been on the first ballot. He believed that
the choice of the people can better be de-
termined on the first ballot. He claimed
there would be large saving in money to
semblymen by plurality vote. Election by
plurality would end our long and bitter
contests that frequently occur, would stop
the practice of getting out the old and in
firm to successive ballots, and would make
IL impossible that any town should go I'M
represented.
Mr.. Bunker of Peacham believed that our
towns are better represented when the
members are chosen by majority. Other
states can follow the majority rule better
than Vermont, because they elect by dis
trcts. The plurality method gives more
chance for rings. Under it, it would be
possible that town might be represented
by member chosen by small proportion
of the voters. Ii towns go unrepresented,
no especial harm results,
Mr.. Bates of st. JOhnsonry held that the
majority should rule and not a possible
small plurality. Most of our government,
state and municipal officers are chosen by
msiorities-all except such as the Austria
liam ballot method forbids. The speaker
held that Vermont was not badly served I'M
der the present rule. Pernicious results
would follow the change multiplicity
of candidates would arise. The change
would not aid the cities and large towns.
He thought there would be no saving in
time as, by the extension of two hours that
the polls would be kept open for election of
representative in each town, the aggregate
would be more than is now spent in pro-
tIacted fights in few towns.
Mr.. Clark undertook the refutation of the
points made by the opponents of his meas
ure. Third reading of the bill was refused.
Special Order.-H 521, to amend Sec. 106,
Chapter 8, V. s., relating to elections.
Passed without opposition.
Killed.-H. 1872, relating to cutting trees
and brush from the highways; Ii. 316, to
prevent depositng sawdust in brooks and
other streams; ii. BAT, in relation to estates
of deceased persons; III. 1868, prohibiting
pollution of streams; H. 40S, to incorporate
the Franklin County Trust Co.; III. 436, to
protect trout in Trout river; H. 563, taxa
ton OF deposits in savings banks, savings
institutions and trust companies.
A,,,. 4 noo Of Ducfnaoo