The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-11-06
THE rERcENTENARY DEsAre
Interesting Discussion in the House
all Amendments Defeated

tercentenary bill Wednesday afternoon
In which Mr. Fish of Vergennes who
introduced the bill led a successful
night against the amendments prOpOs-
ed by the appropriations committee.
Mr.. Fish opened the debate which
was on the proposals of the committee
to amend the bill by reducing the APP
preparation to $4,000 and requiring
SIS, 600 OF that amount TO be used for
the erection of a permanent memorial
somewhere within the limits Of Yer
mont. Mr. Fish briefly and eloquent
" enumerated some Of the more i'm
portant historic events on the waters
and along the shores of Lake Cham
plain and showed that Vermont had
larger interest in them than any other
state. Only once before, he said has
Vermont ever Appropriated money for
the celebration within her borders OF
a great historic event and no one has
regretted the expenditure Of 100000
at Bennington. The celebration ought
to be one in some degree commensur-
ate with the Importance OF the event.
one in which Vermont could take lust
pride and the action of the legislature
In regard to il should not be such as
TO discredit the work of the commits
sion that has worked on the matter for
two years past or such as would be-
little the state
Mr.. Bacon in replying for the appro-
priations committee. said he fully
agreed with the gentleman from Yer
gennes in regard to the desirability
of such a celebration as was proposed
but this was a matter of business. not
sentiment and because of his position
IS chairman OF the committee having
! the appropriations in charge he
fought he ought to stand by the re
| port of the committee. He was in.
! formed from a statement he mad Sc
! cured that the surplus cash in the
! state treasury next June would be $9S.
Z. q or 100000 and the bills his com
mittee now. had under consideration
called for extra appropriations Of
more than $500. 600 There was no
way OF meeting all these claims with
ont resorting 10 a state tax and he did
not believe any member of the house
! vas willing TO resort to that means OF
'aising money.
Mr.. -eary of Burlington asked If
many Of these appropriation bills did
not cover matters that were now pro.
yided for by statute II instead Of call.
ing for actual increased appropria
ions they did not merely rearrange
certain matters.
Mr. Bacon replied that he supposed
hat to be SO TO some extent but he felt
afe in saying that the bills called for
Extra appropriations of 100000
Mr. Leary said this might be purely
4 matter of business as Mr. Bacon had
aid, and in a vigorous and fOrcefdl
manner he discussed it as a matter of
business. He thought 1t was not good
business policy 10 discredit Vermont.
A commission appointed under auth
1rity OF the Legislature of 1906 had
rOught this matter 10 the attention
| If New York and that state had ap-
| NrOpriated $4,000 while 10 was expect
d that 100000 more would be given
or the project by the general assem-.
'ly this winter He did not think It
'ood business TO baggle on eXpendi-
ures and limit the powers Of any com.
mission 10 be appointed so that the
uate OF New York the federal gov.
rnment, France and Canada might
: Freak off their relations with our com.
mis- 7ioncrs and leave Vermont TO have
Il little 10000 celebration of one of the
| most important events in history.
Mr. Martin Of Brookline spoke brief
| Is iu reference to the Bennington cele.
bration. He declared that that was
worth more than all he contributed by
personal gift or by laxes and he want
cd the Champlain celebration TO be as
satisfactory
/ Mr. DeBoer of Montpelier spoke as
usual clearly and plainly He said
from his analysis Of the reports from
the treasurer and auditor 10 was eyi.
lent there would bee a surplus OF $3.50.
200 or more next June We ought TO
'e able to afford the appropriation
The question was. II Vermont desired
celebration and was willing to ap-
propriate for 10 what the commission
that had worked TWO years on the pro-
position believed TO be a proper sum,
md whether 30 would give that amount
and leave free the hands of the com
mission 10 be appointed under the act
so they could confer with other states
and work with them as the bill pro.
! posed
Mr. Howard OF Georgia declared that
DO would be disgraceful for the state
To send out invitations TO such an af-
fair as that proposed and to place on
| he bottom OF the invitations. like
those to church fair ladies will
please bring cake.
Mr. McGarghan of Richmond op-
posed cutting the appropriation so
that We should be obliged to treat our
guests on the occasion with a ham
sandwich and a glass of Uno beer.
Mir Bacon called for the yeas and
nays which were taken and the amend
ment was lost by vote OF l70 to 81
with 22 absent or not voting. All Of
The proposed amendments were voted
down and the bill was ordered TO