St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-10-30
LEGISLATIVE DOINGS
Important Bills Providing for Prim-
airy Elections and Campaign
Publicity introduced.

the usual festivities and a public
hearing of woman suffrage attracted
the most attention at Montpelier
The hearing regarding women vot-
ing was not one sided, some women
appearing in opposition to the move
and the impression among the law
makers is they made the strongest
arguments.
Mr.. Cook of Lyndon still leads
in the introduction of important
bills and last week presented one
providing for primary elections. Its
provisions are as follows:
For Direct Primaries
E. A. Cook of Lyndonville has in
troduced a direct primary bill. Fol-
lowing is an abstract of its provis-
ions:-
Selectmen shall post a check list
of legal voters 80 days before pri-
mary or general election; check list
shall be revised and lodged in town
clerks office, but no alterations in
list can be made after IL O'Clock on
Saturday night preceding election;
at no time shall hearing by board
of civil authority be held or alter
ations made within SO hours of time
appointed for check list to be used;
no person eligible to vote unless
name is on check list; no person s
vote can be rejected whose name is
on check list, except as may be in
dicated; check lists to be filed with
town clerk after election, and origi-
nal or copy duly certified shall be
in evidence in court that person
Hrb ic ahna1Tod OK
Gated; nominations shall be made by
certificate signed by voter in state or
subdivisions of state, to the number
of one half of one per cent. of entire
vote cast for same Office in
state or subdivision at pre-
ceding general election; no
person shall sign more than one
certificate of nomination for same
office; names presented for nomina-
ton may be withdrawn by notice in
writing at least twelve days before
election or primary that he declines
such nomination; vacancy may be
filled as provided; county clerk shall
deliver to constable of each town, six
days before election or primary, five
copies of a printed list of candidates
to be posted IN public places at least
six days before election or primary;
penalty for violation of three pre-
ceding sections not less than 500;
persons who sign certificates as vot-
ers and who is not a voter, shall be
fined not less than $50, not more
than 500; ballots to be printed at
public expense as indicated; ballots
for county offices shall be ready for
instruction eight days before election
or primary, town and village ballots
at least five days; nominations for
state and district officers on one bal
lot; county officers, except justices,
on another and electors, justices and
representatives to General Assembly
on separate ballots; nominations for
all officers at local elections, all on
same ballot; nominees may elect
which ticket he will have name
printed if named by more
than one party; upon pri-
mary ballots for electors names of
president and vice president if so
directed by nomination papers;
towns having two or more villages
may have polling places not to ex-
ceed number of villages, with separ-
ate check list; ballots shall not be
counted if more than one name is
marked; board of civil authority to
decide on double or irregular mark
ing of ballots or for purposes of iden-
tification, such ballots to be reject
ed; all primary elections for state,
district and county officers and for
representatives to General Assembly,
to be held on first Tuesday of July
of year in which elections are to
take place; presidential primaries
shall be held on last Tuesday in May
of each presidential wear
Publicity of Campaign Expenses
Sen. McCuen of Vergennes has also
publicity of campaign expenses
bill which provides that a candidate
for nomination to a public Office
shall within seven days after the last
day fixed for filing nominations for
such Office and within seven days
after his election, file a statement
setting forth each sum of money
and thing of value expended or
promised by him, for the purpose
of securing, or in any way affecting,
his nomination or election to such
Office, with the name of the political
committee or person to which such
contribution or promise was made,
the date thereof, the specific nature
of each such item and the purpose
for which it was expended or prom
ised." Only successful candidates
are required to file such statements,
as the bill is now drawn. The pen
atty for violation of its provisions is |
Imprisonment for not more than one
year or a fine of not less than $1OI |
nor more than $1,000, or both.
Other Bills Introduced
Among the bills introduced by Cal |
edonia county men and bills of gen. /
eraI state interest are:
s. 45.-By Mr.. Roy, amending /
Sec 3977 relating to duties of road |
(Cutting trees and /
brush.) To committee on highways |
and bridges.
H. 71-By Mr.. Cook of Lyndon,
to nominations and cleo
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