The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-15
AGAIN DENY
OFFSET BILL
House Stood l29to87 Against
1t To-day
ON MOTION TO RECONSIDER
This Was in Spite of an Urgent Appeal
on the Part of Mr.. DeBoer of
Montpelier-Rutland Char
ter Up.
State House, Jan. Is.

State House, Jan. Is.
It was nearly half past ii this morn
ing when the bill calling for the abol
ishment Of Offsets was called up in th,
House as special order. Mr.. DeEoer o.
Montpelier made one more urgent ap
peal upon the House for reconsidera
ton of its vote last month, killing tn,
bill. He said that last evening he hat
intended to attempt to get the bill
amended by the bill establishing fat
rate on intangiblss, but since then he
was satisfied that the sentiment Of ths
House was mo- such as to make it profit.
able and so he would simply ask for a
reconsideration Of the vote killing the
bill, so that it might be taken up later
If necessary when the tax commission
bill was discussed.
After his speech, several opposed the
idea Of reconsideration further and on
the vote the yeas and nays were de-
manded. The reconsideration was killed
100 to 81. The only other business in
the House this morning was the passage
Of the Rutland city charter bill along
the lines Of the recommendation OF the
majority report.
Mr.. DeBoar spoke earnestly on the
question OF a discussion Of the three
great measures together on the floor OF
the Houee. He said the question of the
tax commission was simply an admin.
istrative measure and what the state
needed was actual, positive and radical
reform. He said the abolishment of off
sets was fundamental Then il was
necessary to bring into the list the In
tangible which either escaped taxation
or was assessed at conhscatory rates
in the towns where located. He said
the present governor favored the abol.
ishment OF offsets, the past governor
found no objection to them, the special
commission that studied the question
favored it, and the House committee on
taxation was unanimous for it and have
stood on that ground from the first
Mr.. Martin Of Essex was opposed to
q further discussion OF the offset BILL
He said that the members would be
there eternallv if the reconsideration
business was kept up. Mr.. Bacon Of
Hartford didn't believe the House should
again go into any discussion of length
on the question. He believed what the
people wanted was strong interpreta-
ton and enforcement Of the present
laws. Mr.. Jones of Sudbury believed
that it was known now how the House
stood ON the question and he believed
they did not want radical legislation,
but reasonable legislation. Mr.. Hart
of Duxbury wanted the bill dismissed,
but was informed by the speaker that
that motion was not in order. Mr. Da-
Wis Of Springfield wanted the measures
taaSen up for discussion again. Then
the vote was taken. Thus endeth the
cffset question for this session of the
legislature.
The Rutland City Charter.
The bill II. 536 came in with minor
ity and majority committee report. Mr..
Howe of st, Johnsbury thought the char
ter was very radical one in certain
respects and he was in favor Of refer
endum to the people Of Rutland. He
said that two years ago charter was
granted similar to this one, which had
been refused.
Mr., Kinsley of Rutland Uty defended
his bill in an able manner. He stated
that it had been printed in the newspa-
pers and the people knew what it was
1t was asked by bhe best people in Rut-
land. The petitions against 1t he found
were made mp in the saloons He pointed
out the principal change which the char
ter called for, and that was the election
Of the aldermen at large instead Of by
wards. Mr.. Kinsley said there were
IL aldermen aud that six of them con-
trslled the expenditure OF the money
for the benefit Of favored wards, while
the others suffered. The object Of the
change was to wrest tho centrol from
this element now in charge Mr.. Kinsley
received support from Cook Of Dandy,
Flsscher of Cavsndish, Boyce of Proctor,
and Bacon Of Hartford. The bill was
passed almost unanimously.
Mr.. Barber Of BrattIeboro yesterday
afternoon got his public service commits
sion bill through the House by vote
Of l7o TO so. It was amended by Mr.. |
Boyce Of Waterbury so as not to re-
strain, in its operation, competition and
not TO limit the number Of companies
doing business in one place Te this
amendment Mr.. Barber agreed. 1t was |
amended by Mr.. Lsafy Of Burlington,
making the salary of the chairman
s2,2e0, instead cf $4,000, and The other
81 100 instead OF $500.
It was amended BY Mr.. Barber so as
to take effect April /, this year.
When the bill was first taken up for
discussion, Mr. Bcyce offered his amend
ment, which he stated had been shown
TO some Of the best legal talent avail
able and was pronounced to be sound
As far as covering the point be desired,
and many others, was concerned. Mr..
Barber stated that he has spent some
time in considering the amendment and
bad decided that h was willing to allow
t in the bill Mr. Howe of st. Johns
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