Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-10-12
BUSINESS FRIDAY TO WEDNESDAY
Bill Number One compeIs Corporations to
Show Their 5ooks-sIened by the Gov
ernor Tuesday.

Show Their 5ooks-sIened by the Gov
ernor Tuesday.
The diseased meat scandal and the re-
fusal of Swift & Co. to produce their
books before the grand Jury of Chittenden
county led to some lightning legislation
at the state house Friday. A bill compell-
ing corporations to produce their books
and papers had within an hour after its
Introduction in the House, under a sus-
pension of the rules, been passed by both
houses.
This bill was prepared by the attorney
general and was introduced in the House
bv Mr.. Darling of Chelsea. after the
House judiciary committee had been al
lowed to sit while the House was in ses-
sion. to consider 1t. Mr.. Darling ex-
planned the urgent need of prompt ac-
ton in this case and moved that the rules
be suspended and the bill read the third
time.
After working all night, Speaker Cheney
again established a new precedent by an
nouncing his standing committees the first
week of the session, with the execution
of the Joint standing committees which
could not be announced until the Senate
was further along in its work.
The Senate concurred in Joint reso-
luton from the House providing for the
appointment of a committee to examine
the system of bookkeeping now used by
the auditor of accounts.
A message was received from the gov
ernor announcing the appointment of
BENJAMIN Williams. ir., as secretary OF
civil and military affairs.
The greater part of the time on Friday
in the House was taken up by House
bill l. The bill was introduced by Mr.,
Darling of Chelsea for the judiciary com
mittee, and was for compelling corpora
tlons to produce their books when such
thing is necessary in the enforcement Of
IL N
immediate passage Of the bail to meet the
needs Of a case at hand in connection with
the beef investiga tion-a corpora ton in
volved in the case which has refused To
show frs books. He moved suspension OF
the rules and the putting Of the bill upon
its passage.
Mr. Hapgood of Peru objected to such
haste thus early in the session. He de-
manded the yeas and nays.
Mr. Senter said this was Legislation
directly in the interest OF the people as
against the corpora lions as a whole, and
not special legislation such as the gentle
man from Peru objecrs to. The bill as
serts the independence of the state. He
reviewed the case and urged the passage
of the bill at once.
Mr. Finn OF Springfield endorsed what
was said by The gentleman from Mont
pelier and hoped the dignity OF the state
would be sustained
Mr.. Hapgood objected to the method
OF procedure in this case and wanted
things done in regular way.
Mr.. Evarts OF Windsor objected to pass
ing a bill that had not been fully read
He thought It would be a mistake.
Mr.. Kicker of Gorton thought the bill
had better wait awhile, and incidentally
he defended the cattle men.
Mr.. Archibald of Manchester favored
the passage OF the bill because a cor
poration was defying state law.
The roll call resulted, yeas 14S, nays
Is; and the House ordered the suspension
of the rule.
The bill was then read the third time
and passed viva voce. On motion of Mr.
Bailey OF Essex the House adjourned I'M
til 2 p. m. Monday.
Owing to the fact that the train or
which was the Governor, Secretary Farms
worth, Assistant Secretary Skeels and
several senators and representa- tives was
late in arriving at Montpelier, not much
business was done in either house Mon
day afternoon.
II was announced Tuesday Afternoon
that Gov. Proctor had signed House bill
1.
A resolution was presented in the House
Tuesday by Mr.. senter OF Montpelier