Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-12
Governor Signs Bill Changing
Law of Assessment on Rail.
road Property.
HOUSE DEBATES INTANClBLES
Senate Cuts Sessions Short to
Hear Arguments-Passes a
$4,000 Publicity Depart
ment Appropriation.

Montpelier, Dee. 5.-Taxation was the
Assembly to-day not only in the commit
tee of the whole but in the legislation ac-
compishcd. H. 9o2 was signed by Cover
nor Fletcher. thus making law the sug-
grstion relative 30 repeating the gross
earnings clause of the present law taxing
railroads which was made in n recent
mcssagc to the LEGISLATURE Mi Jose Of
Johnson introduced a hill rcpcaling the
existing law for the taxation of telephone
companies.
shortly after eleven o'clock this MORN
Ing the House went into a committee OF
the whole to further consider H. 81 che
Substitute fiat rate bid. \ strong speech
against the fiat rate proposition WAS made
hN Mr. Cook of Lyndon. who favored the
hill cXcmpting money loaned on Vermont
real estate at five per cent. or under
Mr. Wright of Williston, Mr.. Cominrs Of
Dichford and others spoke in favor of the
I'LL. on this question of taxation the
House is thoroughly divided against IT.
self and party lines are CELEBRATED. 1t is
Impossible to Judge of the strength OF
measures. but the impression most prev
alcut seems to he that the fiat rate senu-
p,t is weakening. Certainly some strong
iat rate advocates have been converted.
Thr tax situation became further com
rlicatcd with the passage by the Senate
nf :. G.. the Laird bill. which extends the
principle of the Rabbit bin 50 as to eN-
rinpt not only money loaned at five
per cont. or under in the state on realty,
hut all money lent within the state I'M
der those conditions, evidenced by
mortgage on real or personal estate or by
q promssory note or bond or deed.
Tho Senate passed the act increasing
the publicity department appropriation
80 $4,000. Both morning and afternoon
sessions of the Senate were cut short
that senators might hear the tax dis
cussion in the House.
In the House. II. 4O5. creating the office
of livestock commissioner. was intro
duced by request. Among other interest
ing bills introduced in the House was
one originating with MIR. Martin Of Ben
nington which would add to the Gov
ernor's honors the office Of commissioner
Of tuberculosis persons.
Whether the Governor has the right
under the State constitution to return to
the General Assembly, upon request, n
bill which has passed both houses, and
which has gone to him for his signature,
Is question which has been put up to the
executive department by one of the other
departments. 1t has always been GUS
tomary for the executive. when requested
by tho Legislature, to return these bills
as a matter Of courtesy. The point raised
Is that while the constitution provides that
hr may return the bills with his objections
IN writing. 1t does not provide that he
may rcsubmit them without objections.
The constitution goes on to provide that
IL any bill shall not have been returned
10y the Governor as aforesaid, within five
days after IT shall have been presented
10 him it. shall become a law. 1t is
claimed that since resuhmittinG upon re-
quest is not the manner of return pro-
Nided for in the constitution. it has no
effect and after the requisite five days
the bill becomes law. The presidents on
this question are divided and 1t il UNI
likely that any governor will ever refuse
the courtesy until advised to do SO by
the action of the supreme court
A bill relating to Sabbath breaking
s. 139, divided the Senate evenly to-
day and only passed by virtue of an
affirmative vote of the chair.
Papers for the eXtradition of Franl,
Poirier were issued to-day from the
governors office. Poirier is indicted
on the charge of stealing butter from
Il Rutland freight train at Burling-
ton. He is now under arrest in syria
cuse, \. y.
hearing on the bill for the stor-
llization Of imbeciles and certain Grim
inals will be hold next Tuesday even
Ing.