Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-12-14
PHOENIX. BRATTLEBORO, FRIDAY, DECEMBER H. 1906.
STILL HARD AT WORK
No Adjournment Of the Legisla-
ture Before Late Next Week
Spirited Debate on Taxation Question
Another Attack on Fee system-Toll
Bridges VIII Not be Freed.
Montpelier, VT, Dec. /

| NohApNhtAf 49, ONN 10
There was a working quorum in both
houses when the general assembly con-
vened Monday morning, but there were
many absences. as n large number Of
members had gone to their homes Sat
urday afternoon. No very important mat
ters we're taken up at the morning ses-
sion, but a large amount Of routine bus-
| ness was disposed of. In the afternoon
the House sat only little more than half
an hour, but the Senate had long ses-
| sion and cleared up so much OF the ac-
| cumulation Of business as was ready to
| be disposed Of.
Speaker Cheney on Tuesday appointed
| Mr. Porter of Wilmington, Mr.. Fletcher
of Cavendish and Mr.. Archibald Of Man
chester a special committee on final ad-
| iournment 1t is well understood that
no adjournment will be possible this
week. Bills continue to be reported from
the committees and a large number re-
main In their hands awaiting action, and
as these include some measures Of i'm
portance they cannot well be hastily rush
ed through. The House has got itself
into a critical mood and does not readily
accept the report OF its committees as
final Even matters of apparently slight
consequence sometimes lead to extended
debate, and when time Is precious these
debates are not looked on with favor
There was spirited debate in the
House Tuesday afternoon on the bill in
troduced by Mr.. Dewart of st. Adams in
tended to relieve the situation in re-
gard to taxation, which was adversely re-
ported by the special committee on taxa
ton. Mr.. Dewart insisted that this leg
islature was pledged. by the platforms OF
both parties and by the declarations OF
public men. to endeavor to do something
to remedy the situation. The report OF
the committee and the newspaper re-
ports indicated that the committee did
not intend to recommend any action at
this session, but accepted the matter as
too difficult to be dealt with. Mr. Dewart
was not insistent on the adoption OF his
bill but thought something should be done
that his bin or some other should be
adopted. Mr.. Fletcher OF the special
committee stated his belief that the
Dewart measure, which allows no Offsets
for debts and eXempts money loaned in
the state at less than four per cent. would
result in a great loss of revenue, and as
the appropriation committee had occas-
ion to use all the money that was likely
to be raised under the present system he
feared the result of the action proposed.
II was then discovered that the committee
intended to have its report read before
any Of the bills were taken up, and on
that understanding the Dewart bill
was ordered to lie. The committee
report, which made its appearance
measures proposed and advised the APP
pointment OF a special commission with
| the commissioner of state taxes at the
head TO examine the entire question and
report to the next Legislature.
The bill to provide for a board OF med
| ical registration and define its duties was
| the subject of another debate. The last
| part of the bill provided that nothing in
| the measure should interfere with
any religious belize II the rules and regu-
lations of quarantine were observed. This
was designed as a means Of giving Chris
tian Scientists leave to practice in the
| state, a right which II is claimed they
have under the constitution. without any
| legislative enactment Mr.. Dewart. while
| denying that he was a Christian Scientist,
| spoke In favor OF the bill, as did Mr.. Sen
| ter OF Montpelier Mr.. Bailey OF Essex
and Mr.. Gibson OF Brattleboro, chairman
| of the COMMITTEE which reported IT, But
the temper Of the House was opposed to
Christian Science treatment and the bill
was killed.
Only one bill from the committee on
temperance has received favorable ac-
ton thus far. That was the bill to re-
| quire a license fee from the representa-
lives of liquor houses in other states who
sell to the trade in Vermont 1t was
! stated by Mr.. Hayden OF Jericho that
| the measure was expected to produce a
revenue OF $50, 900 yearly and as the
money is needed the House passed the
| bin to a third reading There has been
a general sentiment against undertaking
any amendments to the local option law,
| as the leading men of the Legislature be-
leve II would be better TO give the new
statute two years further trial in its
present form, though il Is realized that
some changes might be made that would
| benefit it,
The important matter Of the Tuesday
morning session was the presentation of
the report of the special committee that
has been investigating the accounts of
the various state commissions. The re-
port was a. surprise in that IL dealt only
with the fish and game and railroad COM
missions. for II was known that the COM
mittee had examined the accounts of some
| others. There was some surprise at the
plain manner in which 1t censured TWO
of the railroad commissioners, Chairman
| Smith and George T. Howard, who has
resigned since the investigation was I'M
dertaiSen. Mr. Smith is exonerated from
blame, except for appearing as counsel
| in case before the commission. His
| accounts are declared correct with the
| possible exception of a charge for five
days at Wilmington while making out
the report 1t is also alleged that he
made misstatement TO the committee,
regarding the disallowing of one of his
accounts, though he appeared and cor
rected that statement at the last moment.
The recommendation OF the committee
was promptly followed by the House or
dering to a third reading the bill re-
organizing the railroad commission. I'm
der the law, If it is finally enacted, the
governor will appoint the full railroad
commission for a term of two years
The per diem method Of payment is abol-
ished and a salary is substituted. In
stead OF receiving Sc a day the commits
sioners viii be paid $1,000 with their nee
essary expenses while away from home,
and the chairman will be paid 5000 adj
ditional.
The per diem system is in disfavor. The
original proposal that the members of
the new board of penal institutions be
paid per diem has been changed and
the members are to receive a regular sal
airy of 5000.
A further attack on the fee system is
made in the bill introduced by Mr.. Darl-
Ing of Chelsea from the judiciary com
mittee, which puts the municipal judges
OF the state on salary, abolishes the
double fee system and turns the regular
fees over to the state. Under this bill
the judges In Burlington and Rutland will
receive a salary of $780, Barre, st. Al
bans, Bennington and Montpelier, $1,000
with an allowance of not TO exceed $3.50
a year for rent of a court room.
Mr.. jackson of Barre proposes that pris-