News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1912-12-25
legislative Notes

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has considered only part of the propos.
ais of amendment to the state constitu-
ton and none OF them has been before the
House. The proposed income tax amend.
ment to the federal constitution remains
in committee
The House has passed highway bill
appropriating 100000 in order to take
advantage of $4,000 which the national
government stands ready to pay. 1t has
passed bill providing for the teaching
of agriculture, manual arts and domestic
economy The House has adopted res
olution of thanks to Mrs. Larkin G.
Mead widow of the famous sculptor, for
the marble bust of Abraham Lincoln ex-
ecuted by her husband, which has been
placed in the corridor of the State Senate
House.
The Senate cut the State farm appro.
priation bill from $4,000 to $4,000 and
adopted on its part Joint resolution
authorizing the committee appointed to
consider the need of more room at the
State House to sit during the holiday
recess.
The House fiat rate bill was adversely
reported to the Senate and was ordered
to lie, the explanation being that it will
be taken up Immediately upon the re.
assembling OF the Senate after the holt
day recess. The opponents of the bill
| claim majority of eight against it.
The indications now are that thetSen.
ate will defeat the fiat rate bill, though
the majority against it may not be very
large. Then tits quite likely that the
ways and means committee of the House
and the finance committee of the Senate
will meet jointly and work out a com.
! promise bill.
The resolution of Representative Jose
of Johnson that an investigation be made
by special committee as to the facts Of
paying a pension to William c. McGin-
mis- of North Troy recalls an interesting
case. Mr.. McGinnis while an employee
of the Industrial School was shot while
in the performance of his duty in
the capture of prisoners. The legislature
of 906 pensioned him while his disability
lasted and the auditor was required to
recommend to the general assembly
biennially whether the pension should be
continued. In his last report he advised
that the pension be continued. The mem
bers of this committee are Mr. Jose Of
Johnson, Mr. Hulett of OF Rutland City,
Mr.. Brigham of Bradford.
Mr.. Weeks Of Mddlebury, chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee, an
nounced for the benefit of the members
that the appropriations for The last bi.
eanial period amounted to 81, 100000,
and that revenues for that period
amounted to $4,55O,O00. Already ado
Ell appropriations Of about $1SOOOO
have been passed. 1t costs nearly 3d.
600 900 year to support State institT
tions and the courts.
The lower branch has ordered to lie the
bill to provide teachers training courses
or the benefit of rural schools. This is
one of the pet measures OF MasonS S. Stone,
superintendent Of education. Another
educatio measure of interest which has
passed the Houses provides for the teach
ing of agriculture, the manual arts and
domestic science in the public schools.
The special committee to investigate
the need of more room at the capitol will
probably make report earlyin January
and it is expected that it will recommend
the erection of an office building rather
than addition to the capitol.
The electorcution bill has passed both
branches of the legislature, and as soon
as the governor signs the measure, work
can begin on the construction of death
house and electrocution plant at the
states prison.
After considerable discussion in favor
and in opposition che House has refused
to reimburse State Fish and Game Com
missioner Titcomb for something over
$4,000 which he expended for clerical as
sistance in his department without au-
thority. The opposition to the claim was
led by Mr.. Clayton of Londonderry who
insisted that it was a bad precedent for
the state to sanction such expenditures
of money without authority.
Just before the final vote on the fiat
rate bill Mr. Jose of Johnson, who had
led the fight against the bill from the be-
ginning and had seen the majority
against him steadily increasing, played
his last card and lost. With the splendid
earnestness of which he is capable, he
charged nearly everybody back of the bill
with being bank officials or bank sympa-
thizers, ending with a challenge to the
members to go back home and face their
townspeople after an out. and-out surren-
der to the banking interests. He was
answered ably and torcefully by his seat
mate, Mr.. Watson of st. Adams.
The dog question has had another inn