Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-10-26
MEMBERS MAY LOSE SEATS.
Five Representatives Are Alleged to Have
Held Government Office When Elected.

Montpelier, Oct Is.
Mr.. Gibson Of Brattleboro figured prom
inently in an encounter in the House this
afternoon-an attempt to secure the re-
consideration Of a vote refusing to adopt
a joint resolution from the Senate pro-
viding for a recount Of the vote for
states attorney in Bennington county.
II was a battle, mainly Of lawyers, but
the House didn't see the necessity Of
taking a hand in the controversy, pre-
ferring to let the defeated candidate go
to the courts If he so elected. Mr.. Glib
son made a gallant fight in favor OF the
measure, believing that the legislature
should. as a matter of justice TO all con-
cerned. send for the ballots and make
recount The opposition argued the in
efficacy of such action, and won out by
a vote OF 10 to so. THE gentleman from
Brattleboro'' presented his case well and
made an excellent impression.
Among this. weeks bills not already
mentioned is one for the establishment Of
a district court in each county. with
district judge" to preside over it, to
take care of the 'underbrush." so to
speak. which springs up between the jus
tice court and county court; another reg
ulating the assignment of wages; another
making the pay of members of the gen.
eral assembly 5000 for the biennial term,
effective the first Wednesday in October
1908. The familiar burden OF relief for
towns in the repairs of highways is taken
UP in several bills.
The House has finally agreed 10 plural
ity on the fourth ballot in the election of
representative, passing the bill this after
noon. An amendment was added by way
of making it plain that If there was a
tie on the fourth ballot the voting should
continue till somebody received plurality
There was no opposition to the passage
OF the bill, and it is NOT expected that
the Senate will seriously object to 1t.
The form of passing the woman's suf-
frage bin was gone through with this af-
ternoon, the rising vote showing 130 for
and 25 against it.
The House also passed today. the bill
naming $40 as the limit for exemption
from trustee process. instead of IS. Mr.
Senter Of Montpelier who introduced the
measue, argued that it involved n mat
ter of simple justice to the man of small
means. and the House fell in with his
view of it,
Two bills bearing upon public instruc-
tion. one relating to certificates of nom
ination, and one regarding the annual Ii
cense tax have been passed by the House
They amend existing law in slight par
ticlulars.
The House has passed a bucket shop"
bill which strengthens the law governing
that branch of stock gambling. eliminat-
ing the necessity of special search for proof
against such places. II provides that the
question of stocks or bonds in bucket
shops" or the use in connection there
with of the expression corporation" as
ISOLATION" or company" shall be prima
facie evidence that such stocks or bonds
are of then going corporations; and fail
ure to actually deliver or receive such
stocks or produce, as the case may be,
shall be prima facie evidence that there
was no intention to receive or pay for or
deliver such property, and penalty shall
be imposed accordingly The bill in ques-
tion also contains a chancery feature
making Injunction possible, prohibiting
the bucket shop" from doing business
pending final disposal OF the petition.
The elections committee, after investi-
eating the cases of five members Of the
House who were alleged TO have held po-
sitions of trust under the United States
government when elected as representa-
tives, have filed a report as TO four Of
them They find that Mr.. Burnham of
Woodbury., Mr.. Spaulding Of Sherburne,
Mr. FELTON, of Highgate and Mr.. Slade of
Rutland town did so hold such positions; !;
| that they are ineligible TO seats in the
House, and the committee present res
olutions declaring their seats vacant.
Pending action as to the first member
named in the report, MIR. FELTON, Of High