Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1902-11-27
Bellows Falls Times
LICENSE LAWS PASSED.
People viii Have Chance to Decide in
January Legislature Adjourned Until
December 2.
MONTPELIER, TUESDAY noon.

uHJll D6CeulDeT =, WHEN Iiie lcSiSidIui
will again convene to complete the worl
of the session. Adjournment for tn
Thanksgiving recess was taken Frida.
night, the house not adjourning unit
nearly Top. NJ.
The most important action of the weel
and one of the most important steps il
legislation during the past half centur,
was the passage of high license loca
option law by both the senate and hous,
Friday. The measure proposed by thu
majority of the committee on temper
ance, after being amended in severa
minor respects, was passed by the senate
"a to /, Senator Emery of Orange county
being the only one voting in the mega
tive.
A MEMORABLE SCENE.
The contest in the house presented ar
animated and memorable scene. 1t was
10 o'clock Friday morning when the
speakers gavel fell, calling the members
of that body to order. All felt that bust
ness of great Importance was about to
be transacted. Nearly all the members
were in their seats and the galleries and
doorwayS were packed with curious and
interested spectators. The first speaker
was Representative Battell of Middle
bury, who has spent most of the time
during the past three months on the
Batteil bill, reported favorably by the
minority of the committee on temper
ance The question before the house
was the substitution of the Battell bill
for the license local option bill favored
by the majority of the committee Mr..
Battell spoke for As minutes. He made
strong argument in favor of his bill.
At the close of Mr. Battell's remarks the
question of adjournment was brought
before the house. A committee had been
appointed to recommend time for adj
journment and Representative Porter of
Wilmington, being member, reported
that the committee could not agree as to
whether or not it was necessary to re-
turn after Thanksgiving. Representa-
tive O'Sullivan of st. A lbanS city moved
that the house do not adjourn until after
taking decisive action upon the pending
liquor bills. This motion was adopted
by the vote of Ill to 80, and it was then
voted by vote of 1913 to IA to adjourn
until Tuesday afternoon, December 2,
after disposing of the liquor bills.
At the afternoon session after conSid-
cradle oratory motion to substitute
the Battell for the majority bill was lost,
the vote standing 81 to 146. Represen-
tatve Bailey of Newbury then moved to
substitute the referendum on the Battell
bill for that of the majority bill. This
was lost by vote of 102 to 127.
1t was o'clock when the house gath
cred for an evening session. The first
motion was that the majority bill be
amended so that the women in, Vermont
should be allowed to vote on the referen-
dunn. The amendment was proposed by
Mr.. Battell and was defeated by vote
of 81 to 1873. Mr.. Goodhue of Westmin-
ster offered as an amendment that no
saloons should be established in any vii
lage or ward where two thirds of the
legal voters objected. This motion was
lost by vote of 1873 to 81. The rules
were suspended by vote of 40 to SO
and the bill ordered to a third reading
by viva vosa vote. Another rule was
then suspended and the third reading
was by title only. The bill was then
passed with laundering aye, there be-
ing only few feeble and scattered nays.
HOW THE MATTER STANDS.
AS the matter now stands while\two
similar bills have passed the senate and
the house neither is yet an enactment of
the general assembly. The senate bill
proposes to give one-half of the license
fees to the state for the construction of
permanent highways while the house
bill provides for giving three-fourths of |
yhe fees to the state. 1t is now thought |
that the senate will pass the house bill |
hot 4 1,n
signature of the governor and become |
Jaw.
During the afternoon, Wheeler of |
and Goodhue of Westmin- |
ster figured prominently. Mr.. Wheeler |
Of Rockingham said discussion here |
would not change votes. He said he |
was pledged to stand by high license
local option act with a referendum the |
same as outlined by the governor. The
only referendum discussed or thought
of in the campaign. Some prohibition
lists here are as ready to take drink as
local optionists.
Mr. Goodhue of Westminster said his
father had aided in the passage of the
law 80 years ago, being
chairman of the senate temperance com
nittee. 1t is not true that Vermont is
Jolllllu OtIeI SIdltS Will TeSp6CU TO UeH- |
perance legislation. He did not believe
hat more liquor is sold here than in !
other states-rather the reverse. As a |
resident of Massachusetts, for many |
years he had observed that conditions |
here were no better, to say the least, |
Than in Vermont. All of us profess to |
abhor the promiscuous selling of liquor |
lie did not think the people of the state |
had commonly understood the referen-
lum to mean the kind of submission
in the majority bill. 1t is an
lnfair referendum, carrying the act into |
effect whatever the vote. The speaker
asked Mr.. Fletcher if he would aid two
years hence in repeating the law, in case
,he vote should be against the act.
Mr.. Fletcher of Cave ndish replied that
ne would.
Mr.. Goodhue asked the same question
IF Mr.. O'Sullivan. Mr.. O'Sullivan of st. |
Adams said that as democrat and
in prohibition he would not
eel compelled to agree with majority
If contrary view. lie explained the
attitude of the democrats toward the
If a referendum is to he
lad, it should be constitutional one.
The whole law might fail by reason of a
aulty submission.
In response to further inquiry by Mr..
1oodhup Mr. DfSulIivan raitaratad tbat