The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-31


democracy on the opposite rocks OF
ff-for.revenue-only and fiat free
trade The party cannot longer do
business divided into these two hos
tile camps, and the issue must be
fought out regardless OF consequence.
The debate over the disposal Of
the various resolutions Of investiga-
tons in the Lorimer matter will be
resumed today, and the end is out OF
sight Possibly today but certainly
sometime during the week the case
will be referred to Senator Dilling-
hams elections committee, which will
begin work on IL as soon after adj
journment as it can hold conference
and decide on when, how and where
the various meetings OF the commit
tee are to be held. La Toilette held
the boards practically all of last week
on the general subject, and the mat
ter Is now undergoing the gauntlet
of a running debate. Just why the
subject should be argued in the SEN
ate weeK after week before a jury Is
empanelled or even called TO consid-
er the law or facts of the case is be-
yond comprehension. The supposed
reason as regards La Toilette is to
further inhame the public on the sub
ject. and to prejudice and Overawe
the senate individually There can
be no other explanation of such an
unprecedented course, other than the
ever present one of yet further adver-
Using La Follettes presidential and
numerous other aspirations.
The Elections committee yet has
under consideration Senator Roots
bill providing for the election of a
senator by the legislature by plur-
ality vote after the twentieth success
sive day of balloting without result.
This is being considered with propos-
ais of amendment, and will probably
be reported at this session. The New
York senator considers that he has
discovered a sovereign remedy for
most oe the senatorial deadlocks
which legislatures are afflicted with,
and that such law will go a long
way toward answering the demand for
change in the present method of
choosing senators. Vermont would
appear to have some sentiment in fav-
or of such legislation, as our legisla-
ture has frequently been called upon
to consider bills of this character as
applied to town representatives. In
the case OF Senator Roots measure it
is suggested to the committee that it
should be amended to provide that a
certain per cent of the legislature
| should be present when such plurali-
| ty election was had, to prevent an
election by a ridiculously small per
cent of such body. This would re-
move the greatest objection to such a
measure, and would entitle it to seri-
Gus consideration.
With the date of Monday the 18th
| fixed by unanimous consent for the
final vote on the resolution permitting
the election of senators by popular
vote, with all amendments. not much
more is expected to be said in the
senate on the subject. 1t yet remains
| the unfinished business" on the cal.
endar, but is laid aside for any other
business of the moment. The only
| guess on the result of the vote is that
it will be very close.
For a long time past the war de
partment has permitted the mead OF
the graduating class of any officially
recognized military school to enter
| the regular army as second lieuten
ant without examination, but this
rule is now abrogated. Hereafter
such graduates must take the regular
examination. This applies directly to
Norwich University. There is nc
known reason for this ruling, other
than a desire to change something
Yet another arbitrary change in
methods is noted from the treasury
department. department of customs
Heretofore ii has been the custom for
inspectors to attach a stamp certih
cate of inspection to the hand bag
gage of travellers through Canada, af
fixing it to some inconspicuous place
on the bottom or side. The new rule
insists that in the case of travellers
with hand baggage journeying from
point to point in the states through
Canada the certificate of examination
stamp shall b0 affixed over the key
hole of the lock or suitcase, or across
the knot or strap buckle combining q
parcel This practically places the
article in bond while in the Dominion
and prevents amy article of frequent
use being taken from it in the mean
time. 1t is absolutely impossible tC
understand what good purpose can be
served by such seemingly idiotiC
ruling, and no one is surprised thai
it has occasioned a storm of protest
Energetic representations are being
made to officials here with the objec
Of obtaining resembling of the rule
with what result remains to be seen
IIorric