Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-12-25
ADJOURNED TO JAN. 6
Most of the Important Work of the
Session Yet Undone. Bills Keep
Coming In. Governor Sends
Message.

for the home stretch Of the 1928
legislative body Of Vermont. Bills
are still coming in and any of the
most important subjects have not yet
been settled.
| Before adjournment for the holiday
recess it was shown that 81 bills re-
mained in the hands of the committees
and final adjournment before February
seems impossible. The fiat rate taxa
tion bill passed by the house is meet
| ing opposition in the senate and is
likely to be killed by that body. An
elaborate fish and game law has been
introduced and will take much time to
dispose of besides several other impor-
tant measures. The legislature has
been in session II days at an expense
to the state Of about S90.0
| Among the last things done by the
Legislature was to listen to a message
from Governor Fletcher. The mes
sage is an important one and follows:
II desire to call your attention to
the fact that the statute creating the
office of commissioner of weights and
measures carries with it no fixed ap-
preparation or limitation whatsoever
as to the amount that may be expend.
! ed by that department, and with no
partment. in any respect, [ suggest
that specific biennial appro priation
be made for the use of the department
of weights and measures.
! 'And | further wish to call yonr
attention to the fact that at the pres
ent time all fuel, light and supplies of
every nature used at the state institu-
tions are purchased by the heads of
| the various institutions or their
agents.
81 am convinced that if one man
could purchase all these supplies a
very material saving would be made
for the state, because the buying
would be at wholesale rather tn an re-
tail rates. This is business method
practiced with beneficial results by
many large corporations.
81 therefore earnestly recommend,
for your serious consideration, that
the Office of state purchasing agent b e
created. This agent should purchase
all the supplies of all the state institu-
tions, also all material for construc-
tion work. 1t might also be found ad-
vantageous for the purchasing agent
to purchase all stationery and office
supplies of the state. to enter into
contracts for public printing and the
purchase of supplies incident to the
session of the legislature, thereby
abolishing the Office of state printer
If it is not deemed advisable to give
the purchasing agent the duties of the
commissioner of public printing, l
recommend that the office OF public
printing be put upon a salaried instead
Of per diem basis.
''By centralizing purchase of all
supplies in one office, you would, [ be-
lieve, not only save the state a large
amount of money but you would also
bring the agents every act into the
iimehght Of publicity and publicity is
the very essence Of advanced construc-
tive legislation to the end of good gov
ernnent"
A committee comprising Mr.. Proctor
of Proctor, Mr.. Watson of St. Adams
ed to consider the matters referred to
in the Governors S message and report
upon convening after the holidays.
The general committees have intro
duced substitute for H139, requiring
candidates for office to file by the fifth
day before election with the secretary
of state and county clerk a statement
OF all campaign expenses and receipts
an ltemlZed sworn statement of all
persons contributing to the candidate s
campaign and the amount contributed
within Is days after election, cand-
date shall file similar statement OF
!. receipts and expenditures no commits.
sion shall be issued to any candidate
elected who refuses to file such state
mentS.
The joint committee on public health
gave public hearing on House bill
226. an act to provide for medical in.
spection in public schools. John w
Redmond of Newport, represen tins
the Christian Scientists. with G. W.
: Peck of ST. Johnsbury and A H
Mattson Of Bethel, appeared in opposi
ton to the measure. Mr.. Redmond's
| chief grievance lay in the fact thai
section 3 of the act as drawn contem
plated the employment of assistant
A examiners, who shall be graduates il
medicine and licensed to practice il
this state and, during the school year
they shall devote their time solely to
this work, - after attending annually
an examiners school or special clinic
at the University of Vermont college
Of medicine, their salary being-per
! ish the thought 'only $50 Pc
: month" Mr.. Redmond fairly tremble(
"hCh IC 0o CiIe>dp pCI
n son examining the eyes and ears of the
e children of his clients. Medicine i!
! science and an art" he repeated a
s frequent intervals, and such cheal
r physicians are very likely to be incom
petent. He would, however, accept
the measure if amended to exempt hi
> clients from it's compulsory provisions
The DILL granting Orleans villag,
= the right to take water from Viii
loughby lake for village purposes ha
> passed both the house and senate.
= The House has passed the bill sub
. stituting electrocution as the dealt
penalty for murder instead of hang
ing, after amending the bill SO that tn
t death house shall cost 81, 500 instead o
e $5, 900. After once killing the bill t.
). pay John w. Titcomb, state fish an,
game commissioner, about $2100 fo
clerk hire, rent. etc., which he had ex
y pended, and reconsidered its action, tn
9 House killed the bill again by vot
= of 83 to Ill.