Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-12-14
The LEGISLATIVE NEWS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

shoot of the paper trust, have with
drawn another bill of nature similar
to the one so overwhelmingly voted
down.
THE INHERITANCE BILL.
This bill creating a tax upon the es-
tates of deceased persons was intro
duced by Mr.. Fletcher of the ways and
means committee and was passed to d
third reading without a dissenting
voice and when the question came up
for passage it was expected there
would be strenuous opposition, but only
three or four members spoke against
it and it was passed by the house al
most unanimously, not more than
half dozen votes being cast against it.
The bill provides for a small tax on in
heritances, the tax being fixed oil
graduated scale and made to apply to
direct inheritances as we'll as collater.
al inheritances. This will provide
considerable revenue for the state and
will make possible some of the meas
ures looking toward ANEW Vermont. F"
Mr.. Fletcher may we'll feel highly
complimented by the support given to
his bill. The bill must yet pass the
senate but it is not probable that the
senate will turn down measure of a
public nature, which has received such
solid support in the house.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENTS.
Anothe bright spot in the history of
this Legislature is that the senate seem
to have buried the Ratchet and the evi
dences of bad blood have been wiped
out. There has been a time when good
legislation was imperied by the per-
sonal feelings of some of the senators,
but they have risen to the occasion
and while there are yet differences be-
tween them they are all differences of
honest opinion and are seemingly with
out a sting. Last week the senate by a
two-thirds vote, and in nearly every
case by a unanimous vote, proposed
several amendments to the state con-
stitution. The one of most interest
to the people is the one changing the
time of general election to November
instead of September. The others
give the governor a real veto power !;
that the legislature shall not commute
sentences members of the general as
sembly shall not be appointed to offices
created by the general assembly !;
permitting Legislature to pass so-called
compensation acts and a few minor
changes made necessary by these
amendements. The senate refused to
peIullI JuG COuS IlJuIlOD LlII0 LOCK 10 De
removed. These amendments must
be agreed to by the house by a ma
jority vote, agreed to by the next
legislature and finally lie submitted
to the people. They cannot take
effect before 1918.
THE STATE FAIR.
The state fair bill has passed the
house with an appropriation of $4,000
annually after bitter fight. The coun-
ty fairs were after help, and they did
not propose to see the state fair get
the money until they too had some
assurances of support. There was
other opposition to the bill but the
majority of the members thought the
state fair to be splendid Vermont in
stitution and there was plenty of evil
dence to support them. The original
bill called for $40, 600, but upon the rec
concentrations of the committee the
appropriation was cut to $4,000 and
when the vote was taken not a vote
was cast against it. A bill has beer
introduced to help the county fairs anC
by their remarks on the floor of the
house many of the friends of the state
fair are by duty bound to help the
county fairs. Both bills are so drawn
as to protect the agricultural interests.
liz Ana 1OAN LA w ..
Not word has been heard from the
committee on ways and means regard
ing tax reforms with the exception OF
the tax commission bill, which has beer
reported favorably and passed by the
house. Two years ago the leaders OF
the house and senate sought to pass
bills creating a tax commission abol
ishing offsets and placing a small ta2
on intangibles. the offset bill was re
ported first and killed, which of course
resulted in the death of the intangible
bill which followed. 1t is pretty gen
orally believed had the tax meas
ures been properly managed two years
ago that all would have passed.
ought to be understood now that wher
the fight comes it must be done in thu
open. The people have become some
what educated to the inequalities O.
our taxation laws. Two years ago tn,
rank and file were skeptical abou
abolishing offsets and exempting mort
cages from taxation. This year tn
rank aud file are ready for just sucl
a proposition. Many a member is dis
gruntled with the present banking
laws and many Of them have bee
heard to say there was no good reason
why he should not be permitted t
as the banks. Many a member ha
said that he would willingly give u
his offsets if he could get his none
at per cent. If the tax reform bill
do not pass at this session it will b
because the bills are not reporte
from the committee until the rus
hours at the final wind up of the ses
sion
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
The prevailing opinion now sets tn
date of final adjournment at about tn
middle of January. Much will Deepen
on the length of the holiday vacation
If adjournment is taken before tt
holidays it will be at the sacrifice
legislation.
Essex county is in a smart fight ovc
the location of county buildings. III
POuDtV TOiOht have npDfit ad nv tba O.