Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-11-03
Bill TO Incorporate vergenncs
Power Company Passed to
Third Reading.
M'CUEN STRONGLY OPPOSED
Judge Peck Ably Defended Hi
Measure-Several Measures
Introduced Border on
Freak Legislation.

Montpelier, Nov. s--The Buriinvtoo.
Vergennes fight II It may be so called
was the feature Of the afternoon ses.
sion ofs the House and, In fact. ~ tho
otter creek fight be excepted was tho
most stubb ornly contested measure
that has yet been acted upon by tho
House. And Burlington won. The
bill in question was No. s5 to incor-
porate the Vergennes Power COMPANY
and the debate was upon the third
reading of the bill. Mr.. McCuen of
Nergennes. was the first speaker and
he opposed the bill, not on account
rs he said, Of any objection to any Of
the men named az incorporators, but
hecause OF the powers granted tins
corporation in section No. OF the bill
He considered these powers were suf-
fcient tc make the corporation a men
ace and thought the gentlemen who
wished Incorporation should seek It
under the general law. He also ques-
toned if under the Objectionable soc
ton the corporation would not be Civ
en- the power Of eminent domain
Mr.. Peck in an excellent effort an
swered Mr.. McCuen by saying there
was no constitutional question in the
alton bill such as previous legisia-
lures have passed by the hundreds
The men named as incorporators iN
the bill owned a part Of tho water
power at Nergennes which had been
unused for years and he thought thu
men should be praised and not CEN
sured for seeking to invest their mon.
cy 10 develop Nerm ont. They simply
asked for We're not unlimited and tho
a power they already own Mr.. Peck
compared the section Objected to by
Mr.. McCuen to three acts passed by
the Legislature of 1902 which had 500
tons almost Identical. The powei
| asked for were not unlimited and the
hill meant just what it said. prl-
Vate person can 90 anywhere and buy
watorpowers or anything else that can
be paid for go why should not a cor
poration have the same powers.
PECK TURNED NEAT STROKE.
In closing Mr.. Pecl, in very neat
stroke took the force ont of Mr.. Nc
| Crens argumen. by referring to Senate
bill No. l3 in which the Vergennes Light
& Power company seeks Incorporation.
which has a section almost exactly like
the one in the House bill and in which
the name Of r. w McCuen appears as
one of the incorporators.
Mr.. Hunt of New Haven made an ex-
tended argument against the bill on the
ground OF the unlimited power given to
the company and drew direful picture
of the company acquiring all the water
powers in the state OF Vermont and load
ing them upon wire and taking them
outside the state or where they pleased.
corpora ton was described by Mr..
Hunt as an artificial person. q years old
the day it is horn and which lives for
ever and which Is forever active. Ha
| onsidered that the powers conferred by
this bill were greater than those under
whc.4 the STANDARD OH company and
other trusts ard monopolies did busi-
ness. II tho charter was granted and the
power taken away from Vergennes ne
did not think property there would be
| worth 80 cents on "a dollar.
| Mr., Cory of Montpelier, explained the
| bin and told how the men named ~
incorporators had gone to VerEennes and
| bought the power from Or. Webb, who
| had never made any use OF H. He said
they wanted to huiid-a railroad to Yer
sennes and 10 use the power to run
/
, tA,UGht they ouSht to ne encouraged.
lie d!d not wonder that Vsrsernes had
gone back when they would not develop
| this water power. II these gentlsmen
We're given the chance they would de-
'eIop 81" horse power and put Yer
gennes back on the map
Ar CAiderwood of St ,Johnshury. chair
man Of the committee on corporations.
I fl var ,,l Ia l.
had no trouble IN finding preceGSnts Cor
Reporting tho bill favorably
Then Mir. Peck. Mr. Cocrv and M-Nc,
/ 'ueh mad another whack At speaking and
| !InalN when everyon had got pretty tired
| "i me whole business Mr.. McCuen moved
TO amend the bill by striking out section
I'VE. The amendment was defeated by a
vote of " to 10 and the third reading OF
| the bill was then ordered
TILT OVER QUARANTINE BILL
| The House had 4 tilt this morning over
! the Senate bin rela,inS to the preserva-
| tloh or public health. which provides
that health officers shall have power to
| quarantine infected or suspected places
| without authority from the selectmen.
| Mr., Bryant Of Ludlow explained that this
was the only object OF the bill, and said
| III the past two years, not legal quar-
| antinc notice had been served in the State
| OF Vermont. Mr.. Webster of Swanton.
| Mr.. Bronson of Hardwick, MI Stafford
| of Brattlehoro and others opposed the
| hill as they believed it was taking away
| from the selectmen power that should be
| kept in their hands. The bill was finally
| ordered 10 lie and was made II special
| order for tomorrow afternoon
| Some bills introduced into the House
| to-day might well he classed under the
| head of freak legislation. Mr.. Gilett OF
Richmond introduced one making 1t COM
| pulsory for hunters In the open season
| for deer to wear bright red garments
and providing penalty of 500 for nom
compliance with this law.