Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-11-23
MONTPELIER, Nov. q

MONTPELIER, Nov. 20.
The Windham county Democracy had
its inning in the state house today; par
ticularly in the house, where Representa-
tives Porter and Gale successfully steered
the valued policy bill free OF all rocks and
shoals and into the haven Of final passage
by the overwhelming majority of 100 to
40. The insurance interests represented
on tAe floor of the house by a number Of
gentlemen who are insurance agents put
up strong fight against the bill They
were assisted by many business men who
feared this radical law might result in
raise in insurance rates, but all their efforts
could not overcome the telling figures read
by Mr.. Gale relating to the operation of
similar law in the state of New Hamp-
shire, where 1t has resulted in decrease
In rates of insurance and at the same time
has not increased the number of incendi-
airy fires, which has been one of the buga-
boos trotted out by the insurance men.
Aside from Messrs Gale. and Porter, 9TH
ers who spoke in favor of the bill were
Franklin of Townshend, Smith of Hall
fax, Lewis Of Norwich, Graves of Col
chester and Stewart of Bakersfield. The
bill was opposed by George of st. Adams,
Lawrence of Bristol, White of Rutland
city and Emery of Chelsea.
The local option bill was reported ad-
versely in both houses this afternoon. The
temperance committee stood FIVE to three
against the bill. In both house and SEN
ate the bill was made special order for
10 80 Thursday forenoon.
Undoubtedly the most important bill up
for consideration today was that intro
duced by Mr.. Hale of Lunenburgh, in
creasing the taxes of corporations, a bill
which all the corporation lawyers OF the
state have been lighting bitterly for the
past two weeks. The bill was reported ia
vorably by the committee on ways and
means, with several amendments which
were adopted without discussion. These
amendments covered the increase to be
made by the bill. The corporations pay
taxes on their gross earnings, and as the
bill now stands the increases are as fol-
lows: Railroads from p per cent to 81 per
cent; telephone companies from 8 per
cent to AZ per cent; telegraph companies
from per cent to per cent; palace and
parlor car companies from per cent to 7
per cent; express companies from per
cent to per cent; steamboat and other
transportation companies from 2 per cent
to 8 per cent; loan and investment COM
panies from l per cent to Ia per cent.
Mr.. Hale stated that this increase in cor
poration taxes would result in increasing
the income OF the state in the neighbour
hood of 100000 annually. He further
stated that if the money is not raised in
this manner the appropriations made at
this session will necessitate the imposition
of a state tax of 20 cents on dollar.
The much-tall1ed-of bills relating to
double taxation were reported adversely in
the house this morning and killed without
a word being said in their favor. The
three bills introduced by Mr.. Barber of
Berre town recognizing the supreme
court, county courts and municipal courts
shared similar fate.
There was a vote taken In the house
this afternoon that may indicate the
strength of the high license sentiment,
though its friends aver that 1t does not.
The bill declaring beer containing 8 per
cent of alcohol intoxicating was under dis
cussion, and Mr.. Powers Of Bennington