The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-10-16
TELEPHONE PROBE ELL
Committee VIII Investigate If Mr..
Martins Bill Passes.


Montpelier, Oct 15.- The House
and Senate really got down to bust.
ness Wednesday and one important
measure in each body was brought up.
Representative Martin of Brookline.
introduced a resolution which was
taken to be the first administration
measure Of the session. It provided
for committee to investigate tele-
phones. cost of maintenance, deteri-
GRAFTON. etc, in this state, and to re-
port the findings within 20 days.
The resolution is a comprehensive
one and provides for the taking of
testimony 1t reads as follows: That
the speaker of the House is hereby
authorized to appoint a committee of
five members to make a thorough
inquiry regarding the cost Of original
construction, operation and manage
ment of the telephone companies OF
this state, including the annual cost
of repair and general deterioration,
and whether the lines are established
with proper regard for the safety Of
| the people and their property the
charges for service by the respective
companies, and make their report TO
this body within 20 days. And said
committee shall be empowered to en-
| ploy a typewriter and stenographer to
take testimony and receive pay for
! their necessary expenses in the dis
charge of their duties as aforesaid"
1t is generally believed that this
will be the alarm necessary to bring
together the telephone lobby, to check
If possible the advancement Of any
legislation in the direction in which
the resolution aims.
House bill No. l., the measure pro-
yiding for the issuance of bonds by
St. Adams City, for the installation
of pumping plant, was read for the
third time and passed yesterday I'M
der suspension OF rules, upon motion
Of Mr.. Watson of st. Adams. The bill
came into the Senate this morning,
was considered by the committee to
which it was referred during the ses'
sions of that body and was passed un-
der suspension of rules.
In the Senate, Cory of Montpelier
presented a joint resolution providing
that the president of the Senate ap-
point five members and the speaker OF
the House ten members to act with
the appropriations committee to con
slider all bills relating to the celebra
ton of the tercentennial Of the dis
covery of Lake Champaign Senator
Sherwin of Windsor asked why these
special measures that were coming
up needed special consideration. Sen
ator Kidder of Windsor also inquire,
and upon an explanation by Senate
Cory that he thought it could b.
more readily handled in this way. re
marked that it looked TO him like
sort of guardian for the appropria
tons committee. Senator Finn sal
that he did not want to go on recOr
as opposing the measure but that h
would move that it be laid on tn
table This action was taken by tn
Senate.
The committee on the revision q
bills is hard at work in the rooms
has used since its institution. TIL
members Of the committee are Sen,
tors Butler and DonOway both Law
yers, and Representatives Watson {
, St. Adams, Leary Of Burlington an
Martin of Essex Hale X. Darling {
Chelsea is acting as clerk and take
charge of the important detail part {
. the work with reference to the phr,
J seology of the bills presented, ct
All bills pass through the hands {
this committee TO get the rough edge
knocked off and the polish put OF
Walter S. Fenton of Rutland has bee
engaged as stenOgrapher.