Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-12
Taxation Measure Ordered to Lie
TO Abolish Offsets Is
One Amendment.
OUTFLOW OF PATRIOTISM
House Orders to Third Reading
Bill Appropriating $4,000 for
Gettysburg Semi Centennial.
Celebration.

Montpelier, Dec. 1t.--Taxation reform
made slight progress in the General
Assonb. to-day. The fat rate bill was
again debated this afternoon and was or
fored to lie that the numerous proposals
"f amendment made by Mr.. Hulett OF
Rutland might be printed. The most i'm
portant OF the proposals offered by him
Is that fiat rate of fve-tenths of one
per cent he imposed on all intaneibles
and that all offsets be abolished il is
being soaked into the consciousness Of the
members t'--'t a flat rate on intangibles
will reduce the income from that class Of
property already listed, and that It can
not reasonably be expected that all or any
considerable part Of the intangibles now
concealed will he brought fort h fortaxa ton
as soon as a fiat rate bill is passed. 1t
will be necessary therefore, to find some
means of Increasing the taxable property
ar to increase the tax rate in the towns
The abolition Of offsets will increase the
amount of taxable property, but it is
probable that such a proposal will be
'crcelN fought as it has always been.
The House this morning adopted a
resolution of sympathy with Mr.
Demerlitt of Duxhury on the death of mis-
.athcf.
The House pas ssed the Senate bill calling
for an annual census of the maple sugar
"ron and Of certain domestic animals.
Many of the farmers are obccting to this
Dill. which requires them to make re
turn of all the maple trees tapped and
uiso of the trees available for sugar maxi
ng purposes which are not tapped. a nd
unless some efficient machinery for en-
forcing the law is devised the desired in
formation will not be forthcoming,
OUTFLOW OF PATRIOTISM.
There was an outflow of patriotic ora
tory this morning over the bill to appro-
pirate money for a celebration of the
eeni-contenary Of the battle Of Gettys-
burg and the bill was ordered to third
reading by rising vote with no one OBJ
jcttlu-.
The bill providing for the continuance of
me publicity department In the Office OF
the secretary of State and making an ap-
propriation Of $1,000 was ordered to a
third reading without objection. Secre'
tary OF State Bailey has shown such con-
Nincing proofs of the efficiency OF thif
department, with the small appropriation
that has been available, that there mas
lecn no question in either house over 'h'
passage of the bill. The appropriation
f. less now than it should be, but II Is
substantial increase over the Original ap
proprlation and administered economic
ally, as the current appropriation mas
been. il ought to bring valuable results
The speaker of the House and presi-
dent of the senate have appointed th'
committees under the resolution relat
Ing to final adjournment. These com
mittees have no power to hasteh "e
tion on this matter. but VIII report u
their respective houses each Wcek' ~
ihat there will he an exact know|eus'
Of the onlton of business.
The bill appropriating $4,000 FOR
monument to Gen. william Wells oi
The Gettysburg battlefield was ordere'
10 a third reading without ob]ecuon
colonel Billings of Woodstock, chair
man Of the appropriations committee
having passed upon some OF the I'm
oortant matters before his committee
has been obliged to go to his home il
Woodstock. suffering from troubl
with his eyes.
SENATE KILLS LAND PROBE
The Senate bill calling for an inves
Ngation of the status of the orig'nd
grants of lands for public purpose
was killed in the senate this morning
There is no doubt tnat such an inves
legation ought to be made, for IN
rtatus Of these grants has been great
" complicated by transfers and di"'
SONS. 1t was pointed out that IN
state had no interest in the matte
And that such information as might b
,cquired under the ill was likely I
Sc false AMI misleading.
In discussing the bill in the Senate M
Laird stated that Caledonia count
lawyer had been paving special attentio
IT, this matter and had been eJectT
people from lands held under such grant
that he had a hand In drafting the b
which would furnish the very inforni
ton he desired Mr., Roy, the introduce
TT the BILL asked Mr. Laird II he cou
prove his statement in regard to IN
matter. Mr.. Laird said that if the senat
from Caledonia would deny that this la,
ger had a hand in drafting the bill
would withdraw his statement, but NJ
Roy made no denial, merely calling
Mr.. Laird TO produce proof Of his assc
hon
The senate tins afternoon went in
committee Of the whole an unusual b
not unprecedented proceeding for the u
per house. on some bills to pay mcmhe
Of the National Guard the expenses |
CURED on account of sickness Whil" Z
tending the annual mhnoeuvrcs. one
these cases was tina, OF man taken
with typhoid fever two days after !
roturn from the lnauocuNrcs, and 1
other two Weic appendicitis cases ncce
sitatinp operations.
BILLS ARE ORDERED PAID.
Acknowledgement Tllotson appeared
fore the committee and explained I
rdses. saying that ne felt the expense
be proper charge against the militia
department but there seemed to be
warrant of law for the payment of The
Expenses The bills were amended to p'
%~> A@.- A4s I.uAl. Al.aH ue Vald 10