Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-12-09

cacn Dill. IhlS was done afCer that
body had twice gone into committee of
the whole house. The matter came
up in the senate this week and the
senate amended the house bill but
placing the figures back to those in
the original bill. The committee on
claims who heard all sides of the ques-
tion recommended that the bills be
paid in full. The senate committee
again considered the matter and were
unanimous in recommending that the
bills be paid in full. 1t is said that
Auditor Graham, ex-Secretary of State
Fleetwood and Mr.. Wing who let the
contracts, all favored paying the
bills. No one questions the fact that
the state had their moneys worth, and
the opinion seems to prevail that the
offending printers have been kept on
the rack long enough. Although some
of the house members say they will not
accept the senate amendments. it is
probable that the bills will finally be
paid in full.
Perhaps the most interesting fight Of
the session will come on the passage
of the so-called public utilities bills
which are now before the house.
l One of these bills is the so-called ad-
ministration bill. A public hear
ing was had on these bills last week
and the Independent telephone COM
panies were represented by quite a
delegation who appeared in opposition
to the bill. This bill places all teie-
phone and telegraph companies under
the direct supervision and control of
the railroad commission under the
name of the Public Utilities commits
sion. The Independent telephone com.
panies claim that this is a bill framed
in the interests Of the New England
Telephone company and they are fight.
ing the bill tooth and nail. The fight
OH these measures has brought out
more bitter personalities than any
other measure likely to be presented
and both sides are sure to lose some
thing by reason Of such personalities
The independent companies attack
the governor because he happens to b.
director in affiliated companie
connected with the New England com
pany. Mr.. Williams of Newport re
sented the attack upon the governo
and in turn attacked the Independent
companies. Now it happens that there
r are many who believe that the governo
is perfectly honest in this matter ant
the unwarranted attack upon him viii
make many additional friends for HIM
On the other hand the attitude ex
! pressed by Mr.. Williams will serve tt
arouse the independent companies an
their friends and the battle will wa,
warm before bill is finally dispose
of either by killing it or by passin.
it. In the house especially there ar
many friends of the Independent tele
phone and the serious break and tn
drawing of lines between the riva
telephone interests will seriously jeor
. ardize \the welfare of the public utili
; ties bill.
None of the taxation bills have We
been reported but it is understood tn
committee are about ready to repor
on the bills providing for. a flat rate o
= intangibles, on the abolishing of of
" sets and leave the intangible questio
until after it is determined just no,
much more the tax laws need revising
No cases of smallpox have been re
. ported among the members or at Mont
:, pelier and it is now thought that a
danger is passed. There were man
' sore arms among members as the
: arrived at the capital after the reces
and any member who had not spen
;. three or four days of his vacation j
' bed as result of his vaccination wa
:, :, not considered strictly up-to-date
Senator Gibson of Brattleboro returne
after the recess but when it was learne
: that other members of his famil
:, had been taken sick with SIN allpo
= while he was at home it was though
= best by the local authorities that h
return home until all possibilit
n of danger was passed.
o COLBY STODDARD