Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-01-22
GOV. FLETCHER PRODS EN-
Governors Influence Felt. Woman's s
Suffrage Bill Fails to Pass. Veto
Sustained

Governor Fletcher is making his in
fuence felt at Montpelier. Last week
he sent a short and business-like mes
sage to the solons. 1t follows:
Gentlemen:
81 wish to renew my suggestions
made to you somewhat earlier in the
session in reference to the following
subjects:
Il report what l said to you in my
inaugural address, that no charter
carrying with it the right of eminent
domain should be granted. which does
not place that corporation under the
control of the public service COM
mission which should lay down such
rules and regulations as would give
the people of Vermont the first right
to the use of the developed power,
subject to fair and equitable condi-
tions, and the same principle should
be incorporated in general law.
Il, also, at the opening of your
session, called your attention to the
need of some change in our court pro-
cedure and strongly recommended the
enlargement of the jurisdiction of our
municipal courts as means of ex-
pediting causes. and lessening the ex-
pense to litigants.
1uS lCS toidCulCs III lily JuuSul0uI,
should not adjourn without taking
definite action on these subjects. The
best interests of the state demand
will be satisfied with nothing less, and
neither personal nor corporate interest
should be allowed to interfere with our
duty in that regard.
Il have the honor to be your obedient
servant
"Allen M. Fletcher,
Governor.
The governor also vetoed his first
bill last week and he was sustained in
the house without a dissenting vote
| The bill vetoed was one granting GER
tain changes in the charter of the E.
i and I. Fairbanks Company of ST.
Johnsbury. In returning the bill
without his signature Governor Flet-
cher said:
1.-The effect, if not the intent of this
! bill, is to create a holding company
without limitation and to legalize a
trust. result contrary to the spirit
and the letter Of the law as laid down
in the decisions of the United States
Supreme court in the recent Northern
Securities company's case. the Ameri-
can Tobacco company and Standard Oil
company cases.
''It may be that the result desired
by the advocates of this bill is just
and legal one but it should be reached
without the infringement of the laws
in relation to combinations of business.
If the intent were confined to the pur.
chase or holding Of the stocks anC
bonds of the St. Johnsbury Aqueduct
company there might be no objection,
but that company has been owned by
the E. and T. Fairbanks & Co., fol-
some time as shown oy previous char
ter amendments. But the grant il
this bill is extended by the broad word:
"or of any other corporation, and
those words open the field for the in
veStment in other corporations of any
sort, to any amount, and the creation
Of monopoly in violation of the Sher
man law and the best interests of thu
state.
The bill requiring the publicity O
campaign expenses has passed tn
: suffrage to women failed to pass tn
house The bill calling for stricte
fire escape laws was brought up ant
discussed but was ordered to lie Th
5 opinion seems to prevail that the pres
ent law in Vermont is plenty stric
enough for this state.
, The fat rate tax bill was agai
=, taken up for discussion in the senat
, Friday and greater part of the da.
was spent in debate. A number O
amendments were proposed but tn
bill was finally made a special orde
for today, Wednesday.
The report of the committee on fins
2 adjournment stated just before ad
journment over Sunday that ther
were 254 bills in the hands of the com
: mittees of both branches of tn
Legislature. A number of new bill
are expected to be introduced.
A number of bills calling for speci;
aid to several towns for road wor
g were killed Friday. among them bein
= the bill asking for state aid to bull
: a lake road in Westmore -@s
! RARTON f,