The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-01-23
PRESENT SESSION
HAS BROKEN
ALL RECORDS
This is the Gath Day Of the
Legislature
| 0NGEST IN STATE HISTORY
Chairman of Ways and Means Com
mttee Urges Labor on Saturday
and Monday
LONGEST IN STATE HISTORY

Montpelier, Jan. 23.-The fiat rate
bill, which was ordered to lie in the
Senate yesterday afternoon came up
in the House this morning and f. S.
Billings of Woodstock read a letter
from the attorney general, to the eff
feet that there was danger of the
amendments, which make the meas
ure an essentially new bill, being
held unconstitutional, in case the bill
is passed The bill was ordered to
lie. jes
Mr.. Weeks of Middlebury. chair
man of the House ways and means
committee, announced this morning
that today was the oath day of the
session, which goes on record as be-
ing the longest session in the history
of the state. He urged that the leg
islature work Saturdays and Mondays
for the remainder of the session.
The primary elections bill, came up
as a special order in the Senate this
morning, but as Lieutenant Cover
nor Howe, was unable TO be present,
IL was ordered to lie and was made
special order for next Wednesday
in order that the lieutenant governor
might be present when 1t is taken up.
Montpelier. Jan. 22-The re-writ-
ten fiat rate" bill, with further
amendments. was passed by the SEN
ate today The vote was II for and
~ against. The measure came into
the House at the afternoon session
and was ordered to lie and be print
ed. This was absolutely necessary as
the original bill has been riddled Pro
vision is made for the abolition of off
sets and the active principle of the
Rabbit bill, which would exempt all
money loaned on Vermont real es-
tate at per cent or less, has been
incorporated in the bill.
The Senate has passed in concur
renee House bill 400, relating to the
punishment for murder, thus return
ing to the old law which makes the
penalty death and does not give jur-
les any power to recommend lenien-
cy,.
The Brattleboro overpass bill has
passed both branches after the
House this afternoon amended the
bill making ii take effect March /,
1913. This is done in order that the
public service commission may not
act in the case until after the COVER
nor appoints the new member of the
commission which be will probably
do within the next two weeks.
The Senate has made a special or
der on its bill creating a conserva-
ton commission and appropriating
funds for building and developing re-
servoirs for the storage of flood wa
tiers. The bill will be taken up again
next Tuesday afternoon.
The Senate took up it's own bill,
No. III, to regulate the sale and dis
tribution OF electric energy. Mr.. Bat
chelder offered amendments request
ing petitions under this act to be
brought in the first instance to the
public service commission instead of
the Supreme court
Mr.. Blanchard of Orleans moved
that the bill be made a special order
for Tuesday morning and was sup
ported by Mr. Dell Mr.. Batchelder
Mr. Johnson and Mr.. Laird opposed.
On explanation the opposition was
withdrawn and the motion prevailed
Senator Batcheider explained Charles
a. Prouty of the interstate commerce
commission was vitality interested
and wished to be heard in the matter.
The committee on ways and means
brought in bill this morning.
House bill SPA, relating to the rate
OF taxes assessed on railroad proper
ty. 1t provides that railroads operat-
ed wholly or in part by steam, locat-
ed wholly or in part within this state.
shall be assessed one and one-half
per cent of their appraised value. pay
able semi-annually. Roads operated
otherwise than by steam shall be as
sessed one and one-fourth per cent.
The bill was ordered to lie and be
printed
The lower branch lost no time in
refusing reconsideration of the bill TO
regulate BARRIERS and to provide for
the sanitation of barber shops.
The report of the special commit
tee on constitutional amendments dis
cussed at the morning session in the
House article IL, relating to approx
ing, signing or vetoing bills. Mr.. Bill
lings objected to the adoption in con
currence. Mr.. Miller Of Bethel had
hoped the committee migt have re-
commended the adoption OF all the ar
ticles, that they might be passed on
to the people for approval or disap-
prevail Mr.. Billings believed the pass
age would greatly weaken the DOW er
OF the governor. citing the three fast
yea and nay" votes taken al the
session Of 1910. Mr.. Ryder OF Rock
ingham favored the amendment. as in
the main, 1t strengthened the hands
OF the governor Mr.. Weeks Of Md
dlebury. chairman OF the special com.
mittee said the committee preferred
the present Law, but was not wholly
unanimous Personally. he favored
its passage. Mr.. Jose OF johnson be-
lieved the people should decide CON
sutuuonal questions. hence he favor
ed giving them opportunity. Mr. Hap
good Of Peru favored Il and il was
adopted in concurrence BY a vote Of
yeas" ia. NAYS" 20