Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-11
BOOKS MUST Be SHOWN.
Lawmakers Propose to Aid Chitten.
den County Grand Jury In Discuss
cd Meat ScnndaI-Spenkcr
Cheney Broke the Record
by Announcing Conn
mittces during the
First Week.


scandal in Vermont and the refusal If
Swift & Co. TO produce their books before
the grand jury OF Chittenden county led to
some lightning legislation at the State
House to-day A bill compelling corpora
had within an hour after its introduction
in the House under a suspension of the
rules. been passed by both houses.
This bill was prepared by the attorney
general and was introduced in tho House
by Mr.. Darling of Chelsea, after tho
House judiciary committee had been al
lowed to sit while the House was in ses-
sion. to consider 1t. Mr.. Darling explained
he urgent need of prompt action In this
case and moved that the rules he suspend
ed and the bill read the third time.
Mr.. Hapgood of Peru was instantly on
his feet objecting on the ground that this
would be hasty action, and that the bill
was making the state a detective agency.
a it provided for carrying the Legislature
in the pocket Of some individual. lie
wanted the Legislature to begin its work
with a declaration of Independence. and
on the question of the third reading of
tho bill he demanded the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Senter Of Montpelier, Mr.. Finn Of
Springfield and Mr. Archibald OF Manches-
ter very forcihly supported the motion OF
Mr.. Darling and showed to the satisfac-
ton of the members that in thus defying
the present law, in refusing to produC q
before the Chittenden county grand jury
their books and papers. Swift g. Co Wee
making Vermont and It's laws a laughing
stock and a reproach, and that the bill IN
question, carrying the penalty OF being de-
barred from further doing business In tho
State If their books are not produced,
would bring the defendant company t
once to terms. incidentally this discus
sion brought out some good oratory
Mr.. Hapgood was sustained in his
position by Mr.. Kicker of Groton and
MIR. Evarts of Windsor. but on the roll
call only Is votes were cast against the
third reading. and passage Of the bill
at that time. with 14S votes in its fav-
or. 1t was then hurried to the Senate
where it was explained by Senator Tay-
lor. and the need of its Immediate pas
sage was made clear. Senator Red
field of Rutland did not favor such
hasty action but 1t went through the
Senate without debate
After working all night. Speaker
Cheney again established a new pre-
cedent by announcing his stanuing
committees the first week of the ses-
sion. with the exception Of the joint
standing committees which could not
be announced until the Senate was fur
Their along in its work. The full list
of these committees may be found In
the offcial report OF this mornings
proceedings in the House. OF course
Ia Dlp I'M
Cheney has been commended on every
hand, not only for his diligence and
dispatch IN getting the House in work
ing order but in his distribution of
these honors among the members in
the House.
The senate this morning spent consider
bic time in the discussion Of the rules
especially the new feature which provides
that the standing committees of the
Senate shall be named by the president
the president pro tempore and one sena-
tor. This was finally agreed to and Sena-
tor Holden OF Bennington was elected
to this important and honorable place
to serve with Lieut.. Governor Prouty
a.rl Senator Van Patten, president pre-
| tempore.
| in the House Mr. sSenter extended an
| invitation from the Apollo club of this
city to all the members of the House
| to make free use OF those club rooms
during the session of the Legislature. or
motion of Mr.. Finn of Springfield this
/ invitation was accepted and a vote OF
thanks was extended to the manage.
ment,
LADIES WEEK
The week commencing Monday, Octobe,
90 was to-day formally fixed by Governoi
! Proctor, Lieut.. Governor Prouty and Ad-
| jutant- General Gilmore as ladies' week
The general term of supreme court will
convene on Tuesday of that week anC
or that day and evening comes tn,
annual meeting and banquet Of the Yer.
mont Bar association. Several interest.
ing social events are under consideration
for this week, the most prominent anC
attractive of which Is the inaugural bal
TO be given at armory on Thursday even.
ing, October %. by Governor and Mrs
! Proctor. Mrs Proctor and Mrs Prouty
will ON some afternoon of that week give
a high tea 70 the visiting ladies', ant
other events not yet fully determined
will tend to make that week, socially. the
high water mark of the legislative SEES.