Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-12-20
S0L0NS GOING HOME
Legislature Will Reconvene Jan.
uary 8
But Little Accomplished In the Way Of
Thanking Mrs. Larkin G.. Mead.

branches imbued with a desire to do
things and the week has been remark
ably free from debate i'm view of the
amount of business transacted.
The attempt made in the Senate to
raise the salary of the governor from
$500 to $4,000 failed when the measure
reached the House. 1t was a foregone
conclusion that Governor Fletcher would
veto the bill If it reached him, and the
lower branch saw to ii that his ex-
cellency was not annoyed to that extent.
Regardless of that $25, 900 appropriation
for a Vermont exhibit at the jamestown
exposition which has for several years
been talked about by the newspapers
the Senate has a bill to see If the state
cares to take part in another exposi-
ton. This time a resolution has been
introduced to find out whether Vermont
will participate in the celebration of the
opening of the anama canal.
A bill of interest to Southern Vermont
goes from the Senate to the House this
week. 1t relates to the regulation of the
distribution of electrical energy gene
rated within the state where the cur
rent is transmitted without the state. 1t
provides that Vermont industries shall
be given the preference in the sale of
current generated within the state.
Though the Senate will probably take
10 action on the flat rate" taxation bill
before the Christmas adjournment 1t is
not unlikely that the Babbitt bill will
eventually be the choice of the upper
branch as between the two measures.
Representative Crosby, chairman of the
committee on internal affairs, put in a
busy afternoon Tuesday. He presided at
the public hearing on the several wom-
ans suffrage bills and Intercepted many
of the speakers among the suffragettes
and ants. That evening when the suf-
fragettes appeared before the Farmers
club Mr.. Wright of Westminster made
a strong speech for the women.
The electorcution bill has passed both
branches of the legislature, and as soon
as the governor signs the measure work
can begin on the construction of a death
house and electrocution plant at the
state prison.
The governor has signed the bill APP
propriating $40, 900 to continue the pub
licity department established two years
ago.
After considerable discussion in favor
and in opposition the House has refused
to reimburse State Fish and Game Com
missioner Titcomb for something over
$4,000 which he expended for clerical as
sistance in his department without au-
thority. The opposition to the claim was
led by Mr.. Clayton of Londonderry, who
insisted that it was a bad precedent for
the state to sanction such expenditures
vi llIOiiOS lllIOu dullOlllys MI. 1ldy-
tons views were voiced by several other
House members during the debate We'd
nesday.
The sterilization bill has gone to a
third reading in the Senate, but will find
opposition in the House.
The members of both branches will go
home Friday to spend the holidays and
will return Monday night after New
Years. When the assembly r~econvenes
taxation and temperance will probably be
among the first of the important meas
ures to come up for consideration.
The elaborate codiication of the fish
and game laws, prepared under the direc-
ton of the state fish and game commits
%sioner, has been revised and returned to
the House this week. This bill is bound
to arouse considerable debate.
At the banquet and reunion of the
legislature Of 1910, Mr.. Wright of West
minister received the lions share of ap-
plause at the after-dinner speaking,
when he told a good story and made a
funny slip in the telling.
During the debate Monday evening on
the bill to tax express companies and in
dividuals doing an express business, Mr..
Cross of Nottingham spoke in opposition
and explained that he is engaged in the
business of driving stage. Mr.. Ryder
explained that the bill is simply a . rev.
enue measure.
Senator Barber started things in the
Senate Wednesday when he moved to
amend the bill relating to the ~injuring of
the property of gas, electric light and
telephone companies. He wished to in
sert the word 'maliciously" as character
izing those who would do such damage.
He aroused the ire of Senator Daley Of
Essex and Senator Johnson of Orleans.
The amendment was lost. Senator Bar
Der explained that he saw no reason for
heated" argument.
Mr.. Adams of Marlboro stood up for
the much-abused dog when an attempt
was made Monday to pass a bill so
amended that dogs without a keeper on
enclosed lands could be shot between
sunset and sunrise.
The House has passed the direct in
heritance tax. The substitute innkeep-
ers' license bill from the joint commit
tee on temperance is expected to make
its appearance soon. 1t differs from the
original bill only in the local option fea-
ture, which is added.
The bill to allow the Deerheld Railroad
company to extend it's line from the
Massachusetts line to Manchester has
passed the House.
Mr.. Crosby of Brattleboro supported
the claim of Mr.. 'Titcomb's and paid a
strong compliment to the work of the
fish and game department.
At a public hearing Wednesday even
ing the Rabbit workingmen's compensa-
ton bill was discussed.