Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-22
Too Many Vacant Seats in the
House on Friday--C6 Mem
bers Absent.
MUST TEND TO BUSINESS
Inid for seven Gays should Give state
mt Irrst Five. Says Dncon--,Iust
Answer 10 Names Hereafter
Tucsday and Friday Morn
inEs.

Montpelier. oct. 1G-Thc many vacant
seats when the Legislature convened this
morning led TO the reading OF the riot
act IN tho iouse ana a new order Of
things was at once inauguratcd After
calling attention to rule 10 which pro-
vides for tho daily attendance Of mem
bers unless they give the chair a salts
factory excuse Mr.. Bacon Of Hartford
introduced resolution which was UNI
animously adopted which provides that
the clerk shall call the roll Of the House
at the opening Of the session Tuesday
and Friday mornings. Mr.. Bacon said
tho members were drawing pay from the
state for seven days in the week and
he believed they should at least give the
state in return five days service.
Speaker Cheney supported the resolution
and after its adoption the roll was called,
showing &C vacant seats.
The committee on the revision Of bills
IS not wasting any time and as II result
many measures. important or otherwise
have been introduced to-day into tie two
Houses In the Senate a lin was intro
duced ny Senator Finn Of Windsor
abolishinE the court of claims and turn
Ing over It's duties to the auditor of ac-
counts. The court of claims, which look
ed well in theory. has been anything hut
a success and In practice has been a
large bin of expense to the state and IL
is believed there will be no opposition
to this bill abolishing It.
The niil introduced by Mr.. Hitch
cock Of Plttsford creating n board ri
forestry and appropriating 10000 an
nuallv for It's use and providing for
the appointment Of a State forester at
a salary not tn exceed $4,000 annually
and expenses, is in line with the rec
omncdauons Of the executive and with
Undoubtedly be thoroughly discussed
before ii !s put upon its passage
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY BILL.
Mr. Leary of Burlington introduced
an employers liability bin. a fun alb
stract of which may be found in the
official report. One section of this bill
provides that it shall not apply to
domestic servants or farm laborers.
II Is quite probable this section will
be stricken out by amendment mas
much as should 1T pass In It's present
form 1t would be quite liable to be de-
clared unconstitutional by the supreme
court on the ground of its being class
Legislation.
Mr.. Jones Of sudbury Introduced a
bin similar to one that originated IN
the Senate providing that all foes FOR
licenses to soil intoxicating liquor
shall be turned into the state treasury
The appropriation for the use of the
state gcologist viii be raised from
$500 to $500 If the bin introduced
this afternoon BY Mr.. Lyford of War
rem goes through.
ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Another important measure was In
PRODUCED this afternoon by Mr.. Cal
houn OF Middlehury. which provides
that If there is no election Of repre-
sentativcs to the general assembly on
the FIRST ballot, n plurality vote shall
govern on the second ballot.
Hedgehog legislation made It's appear
ance this afternoon In the bill to sup
press these animals introduced by Mr..
Boutwell, Of Stockbridge which provides
for a bounty OF 80 cents to be paid by
the State for each hedgehog killed.
Seven bills were introduced into the
House this afternoon and shortly before
three O'Clock an adjournment was taken
until Monday afternoon Mt two o'clock.
Next Monday evening In Representa-
tive's hall the Rev. Or. w. l. Haven of
New York, one OF the directors Of the
American Bible society, will give an ad-
dress under the auspices OF the Vermont
Bible society. joint resolution giving
that society the use Of the hall Monday
evening went through to-day.
RAILROAD TAXES FALL OFF.
State Treasurer T.. II. DeaNltt has re-
ceived in taxes from o3 out of 81 rail-
roads in the State, for the six months
ending June go 1905 $50, 5000 against
Ss1, 597. 90 for corresponding period last
year, making n decrease of s6o36,7S. The
time for the payment of these taxes TO
the State treasurer expired Thursday
night Tho decrease is due largely to
financial depression which has hit the
earnings Of the railroads. From the varl-
Gus savings banks 81 the State the state
treasurer has received for the six months
ending June 20 last. 500 1856, against
sls5. 56s.74 for a corresponding period last
year making an increase of sl3,556S2
>rHTTTAT prNNpn m nav