The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-11-26
PASSED BY THE HOUSE.
Majority License Bill Debated
Afternoon and Evening.
Passed by Viva Voce Vote
Recess Till Dec. 2.

in its own way, has responded to the
request of the freemen of Vermont
for re-submission to them of the
matter of the regulation of the liquor
traffic. Some differences in the de-
tails of the bill as passed by the SEN
ate, and as passed by the House, exist
but they are not irreconcileable and
will be readily adjusted when the
General Assembly reconvenes after
the recess. These relate chiefly to the
share of license money the State shall
keep and the part which shall go to
the towns.
The final act occurred Friday even
ing when the House of Representa-
tives, almost unanimously, and with
out even the formality of yea and
nay VOTE passed the bill recommended
by the majority of the Joint temper
ance committee. Whatever doubt may
have existed as to the fate of the bill
in the House was dispelled at the
afternoon session when Representative
Bailey's motion to substitute the mi
nority for the majority measure was
killed by roll call vote of 146 to "a.
But this was not the last stand of the
minority faction, for when the House
reassembled at eight O'Clock an
amendment was offered by Mr.. Bat
tell of Middlebury, providing that
women over twenty-one years OF age
should vote on the acceptance or re-
lection of the license-local option act.
Mr.. Battell supported his amendment,
claiming that the referendum was to
the people," and that women should
certainly be included, as their interest
in the matter was even greater than
that of the men. He SAID that in
Norway and Sweden the acceptance
of the liquor act was left to the
women as well as the men. He de-
manded yea and nay vote and the
roll call resulted, yeas 81; nays 1888;
and the amendment was lost.
Mr.. Goodhue of Westminster offered
an amendment providing that no Ii
cense shall be granted in any village
or ward where two thirds of the legal
voters of said village or ward shall in
writing request the licensing board to
refuse such license. Mr.. Goodhue
said that in offering this amendment
he had particularly in mind the viii
lage of Saxton's River where Vermont
Academy is located. He said the
town of Rockingham in which the
village is situated would doubtless
vote for license and that it would be
| disastrous to have a saloon in close
| proximity to the school. Mr. Con-
land of Brattleboro said that this mat
| ter could be safely be left to the Ii
censing board. Mr.. Battell called for
the yeas and nays on the question and
the result was, yeas 81; nays 1873
Mr.. Dunklee of Vernon said that he
believed the date set for the law to
go into effect if the people voted mo-
was too early to suit a large portion
of the party and caused considerable
merriment by suggesting that 1T be
extended to 1910. The suggestion
was not unheeded, however, for Mr..
| Heath of Fairlee moved to amend the
bill by striking out 1904 and inserting
! 1910. Mr.. Dixon of Hardwick evident
! ly thought this amendment savored
/ OF obstructionlst tactics, and he would
not be "a party to it, He said the mi
nority had fought a good fight and
kept the faith and henceforth must
submit to the will of the majority,
and he was willing to accept the vote OF
the majority as to the presentation OF
the bill to the people. Mr. Fish OF
Royalton, and Mr.. Kendall of West
Windsor endorsed the views of the
gentleman from Hardwick. Mr..
Smith of Mortified was surprised tC
have member of the minority pro-
pose an amendment i'll keeping with
the majority's idea of the referendum,
and said he didn't see how any mem
Der of the minority could consclen-
tiously support Mr.. Heath's amend
ment.
Mr.. Hyde of Bakersfield, favored
changing the date to 1910 and consid'
cred the proposition a fair one.
Mr.. Ryder of Bristol pointed out
how anarchy might result if the date
was extended to 1910 and ridiculec
the idea. He was not i'll favor OF
open dram shops but preferred then
to closed ones and had waited many
wears to see such law enacted, He
favored yearly discussion and voting
on the question. He did not believe
that saloons would result in the small
er towns because the license fee was
so high they could not reach it. MI
RYDER mixed dates somewhat and
thought the majority of those present
would be dead in 1910, which disturb
ed the serenity of the spectators tC
such an extent that Speaker Merri'
field ordered the clerk to read Rule
10, which provides for clearing the
galleries if the business of the HOUSE
is interfered with by spectators, ano
called for the sergeant-at-arms. This
had soothing effect and the remain
der of the session was undisturbed.
When Mr.. Heath's amendment
was presented it received only three
favorable voses, Mr.. Conland moved
to amend the bill in few particular
as it had been amended by the Sen
ate. These amendments related
chiefly to the division OF income from
license fees and penalties, and pro
posed an equal amount to State ano
town whereas, the bill reported gay'
three fourths to the State and one
fourth to the towns. Mr.. Russell o
Rutland town was the man of TIN
hour at this time, and vigorously OPP
posed the change on the ground tina
the temptation would be too great 70
the towns. Mr.. O'Sulliyan favore'
the amendments, and Mr.. Russell call
ed for the yeas and nays which result
ed: Yeas 100, nays 1922; and tn
amendment was lost.
An article relating to fines and pun
ishments for intoXication was substitut
ed for the section which related +
the importation of liquors, and tn,
4 i pa.