The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-11-14

Montpelier. Nov. ia legislative
reunion and banquet rather than rout
inc business has been the program
today. Short sessions in both branch
es were not conducive to turning on
a great volume OF work The fact that
the House voted yesterday to extend
the time for the introduction of bills
was rsponsible, doubtless, for the
small number of measures introduced.
The Joint committee on temperance
held a hearing on Senate bill A
which provides that license commits
sloners be appointed by the members
OF the board of civil authority instead
of being appointed by the assistant
judges. Those appearing before the
committee were Rev. c. II. Smith Of
the anti-saloon league, Senator Pres
ton. MIR. Coburn of Milton, Horace ~.
Bailey of Rutland. Mr. Howley Of
Burlington, Senator Mower OF Chit
tenden cvounty, Mr. Ryder OF Rock
ingham, Alexander Dunnett OF St
Johnsbury, Rev Mr., Benedict and
Rev Stanley Bloomfield Of Montpel-
er, an Of whom agreed that some
thing should ZEE done to make the law
better but they could not agree as
TO what would be best. Most of them
believed that taking it out OF politics
would remove trouble but they did
not know how to accomplish that re-
suit
Senator Preston stated that If any
one could give him a better way he
would champion il. Mr.. Smith of the
anti-saloon league read letters from
Shelburne, Nergennes. Bennington.
SWanton. Wells. Rutland, Castleton,
West Rutland and Burlington favor
ing change In the law in some way
but not in all cases in favor OF pidc-
ing the matter in the hands of The
board OF civil authority.
Air. Preston explained why the
board OF civil authority was best at-
ted and Mr. Smith. in part agreed
with him Mr. Bailey believed that
il the W. c. r. u, Saloon league,
Sunday schools ana all such organi-
cations would try to enforce the law
things would go better. but was glad
the league had suffered change OF
heart Mr. Ryder explained how the
appointment by the governor worked
in New Hampshire.
This afternoon public hearing
was held in the Senate chamber on
the proposals of amendment to the
constitution. Rev. J. Hall Long Of
Panton opposed the fifth proposal
relating to granting the governor the
power OF pardon. +. &. Partridge OF
Proctor, a member of the commission
which submitted the proposals Of
amendment to the Legislature of
1910. spoke in favor of the amend
ment or rather gave reasons why the
power of committing sentences ought
to be taken from the Legislature.
EX-Gov. Prouty spoke briefly in ia
vor Of removing the power from The
Legislature Gov. Fletcher spoke on
the proposition but had no recon-
mendations to offer.
The feature of the afternoon pro-
ceedings in the House was an impas-
stoned appeal by Mr. Hapgood Of
Peru in support of House bill 49, re-
lating to placing reckless automobile
operators under arrest without wait
ing for a warrant The bill provides
that selectmen may appoint one or
more persons 10 have police authority
to stop speeding automobilists. Mr..
Hapgood called the members atten-
ton to the recent accident in Barre
where a small girl was killed by an
automobile. He prefaced his remarks
by reading the following telegram
which he sent this morning to Mrs.
Ellen Mills, mother Of the child
please accept deepest sympathy.
Perhaps your little one has not died
in vain. During funeral service the
House OF Representatives consider
measure to prevent recurrence
Mr. Hapgood said that he under
stood that there was opposition TO
the bill simply because OF prejudice
to himself. the author. He was will
ing to have the bill amended In any
particular so long as the principle
was carried cut and said that he