Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-11-17

the bill was ordered to lie and he printed
before its passage is voted upon.
one of the most important bills treat
ed this morning was House bill lGi which
provides for the better suDerintendency
of public schools. The comnittcc reporte d
substitute bill which contains several
important changes from the original bin
This substitute was ordered to lie and be
printed. Some of the features or the new
bill provide that the superintendents crea-
ted by this act shall be paid from the
state treasury and a clause equaiizing the
distribution of the State school TAX be-
tween towns taking advantage of the pro-
visions of this act and those who do not
House bill No. 27S which amends the
acts relating to insurance commissioners
was called up this morning for a recon
sidefduon of the vote by which 1t was
killed. The vote was easily rcconsidered
the House Deing so used to this operation
thdt they can do ii automatically and the
bill was ordered to lie and be made a spc-
cial order for Thursday at 1890 a. m. Then
followed one of the most able and desper-
ate fights of the session. House bills No.
G2 and No. III each creating the office of
attorney general were reported adversely
and killed without a murmur, but when
Mr.. Abel who was temporarily in the chair
took up Senate bill No. 142. which had
come to the House for concurrence there
was change of scene. This bill too had
been reported adversely but there were
thosr who were ready to break away from
the dictum of the committee. Mr.. RAN
ncy of Newport was the first man to
speak. lie advocated the passage of the
bill because there had been SO much mon
ey expended In behalf of the State for
counsel the expense for the last biennial
term amounting ia s7ll2.76. He also
thought that head in this department
would add to the efficiency of states at
torneys. Mr. Davis of Mendon spoke in
opposition to the measure claiming II
would be more expensive to the State as
counsel fees for the last six years had
amounted to only u little over $2GO0 Mr.
Jackson of WaterVille also opposed and
said that it was not the salary of an Of
iicer but his expenses that are to be fear
ed. This bill provided for the payment of
the expenses of an attorney general while
away from home Mr.. Hale of Lunen-
burEh followed and although he was
chairman of the committee who reported
against the bill he spoke in its favor and
made without question the ablest speech
heard on the floor of the House this sea-
son. He stated that he was not candi-
date for the position. He wanted the bill
passed because 1t would bring about Il
greater uniformity in the enforcement of
the criminal law to have 1t under the su-
pervision of one head. 1t would be OF
great advantage to the governor and VA
rious State boards to have such an able
authority to which they could go for ad-
vice. The then cited some very expensive
trials in the State and argued that paid
officer would have been Obliged to look
after these cases at Il great saving
to the State. Mr.. Emery, speaking against
the bill, made the very important point
that the governor and heads of depart
mcnts were now authorized by law to ask
judges OF the Supreme Court for opinions
and he knew of no better authority than
that. Messrs. Swasey of Barre and Jor-
dan of Jericho also spoke upon the bill.
Two attempts were made to have the bill
laid upon the table and made a special
order but the House was eager for n
chance to get at the bill, like bloodhounds
on fresh trail, and in few minutes a
loud volley of noes on the order to a third
reading laid the bill at rest and ended the
political aspirations of some of Vermont $
ablest lawyers.
During this debate Representatives. hail
was rapidly filling with prominent people
who were anxious to be, present when
House bill No 7O-an act Incorporating
the Central Vermont Railway company
was reported. This was done at the close
OF the attorney general bill's career and
without word of debate the bill was
amended according to the committee $
recommendation read the third time and
passed.
Among the important bills passed by the
Senate during the morning session was
House bill No, 45i which came up as an
emergency measure last week and was
! passed by the House post haste. This bill
provides for a deficiency in the appropria-
ton for the support of the government.
and the State auditor now has authority
to issue orders for the payment of State
expenses.
Mr. Allen of Tunbridge, although "A DEM
ocrat and clearly disqualified by the con-
, stitution to sit as representative Of that
town, VIII remain in his seat until the
END Of the session, he having been given
: the most distinguished honor of the ses-
SION this afternoon, Mr., DCkey of Brad
FORD called up his case, which was laid
upon the table some time ago at his re-
quest, and stated that out of 275 votes In
the town of Tunbrldge, only % were dem
ocrats, and stll Mr.. Allen was elected
lie also had petition signed by 151 citi-
zens of that town and asked that Mr.
Allen be allowed seat. The only opposi-
tion made was that the constitution was
2 plainly against the gentleman's being al
lowed to retain his seat, and the House by
an overwhelming vote authorized Mr.. Al.
len to occupy a seatNl the House,
The House placed itself plainly on record
D against the use of trading stamps anC
: the tax on collateral inhertances by or.
. dering House bills No. 6S and No. 125 to a
third reading.
: The House this afternoon by yea and
, nay vote of 1872 to so declared itself r
, favor OF the biennial appropriation of $500
for the support and enlargement of ths
State fish hatchery at RoXbury by order,
r ing to third reading House bill No. 247
This came as n special order and the vote
! was taken without a word Of debate.
The next special order of the afternoon
was House bill No. 3S2, which provides
= for continuing the geological survey of the
. State of Vermont by an appropriation OF
: $500. This was one of the exceptions tc
the rule and resulted only in another
death for the bill. Wv08 sesAr,tas to let II