Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-18
Provides for Suffrage at Munich
pal and Presidential Elections
Powell Amendment for
Popular Referendum Fails.
VOTE ON MEASURE 20 TO 3
1t Is Expected to BE Handled on
Its Merits in Lower House
Child Labor Bill Is Voted
Down-ImpOrtant Work Yet
to BE Considered.

Montpelier, Feb. 1.-THE woman suf-
frage bill was ordered to a third read
ing in the Senate this afternoon in the
only spirited session which that body has
yet held. The vote on the bill was %
to Q. An attempt to suspend the rules
and put the bill Immediately upon its
passage was made but it failed by three
votes. So the bill will he passed by the
Senate tomorrow afternoon. An attempt
was also made by Senator Powell of
burlington to amend the bill so as to
include a popular referendum on the bill
In March, 1916, but this failed.
The bill provides for suffrage at NUM-
ripal and presidential elections. and was
introduced by Senator Campbell, acting
In the interests of the Vermont Equal
Suffrage association. The favorable vote
in the Senate, which was better than
two-thirds of that body. gives greater
promise OF success in the House. 1t is
not expected that the Senate will refer
the bill to the House with a plea to
kill It, as in former years, but that the
measure will be treated strictly on its
merits In the lower body.
REFDRENDUM
The debate which took place was on
the referendum amendment which was
Favored by the opponents of the bill.
Senator Shaw opposed the referendum,
he said. on the grounds of expense and
because 1t was IA Sinking of re-
sponsibility. Senator Powell, who pro-
posed the amendment. said that he was
n favor of woman suffrage if the women
wanted 1t, but he knew that 80 per cent.
of them did not, and the referendum
would attest that fact. Senators Seaver
Ind Simonds opposed the referendum,
saying that 10 per cent. of the men did
not want to vote, but that it was not a
question Of percentages. If any women
wanted to vote and felt that they need
kd the vote to accomplish some good
hey should have 1t. Senator Divoll said
he was in favor only of a referendum
IF the women, the ones affected by the
aw. Senator Carver said: The ques-
ion Is, are there women in Vermont
Who want to vote" The referendum
amendment was then voted down.
The roll call on the suffrage bill,
senate 16, was then taken. and resulted
n its being ordered to n third reading
" a vote of 90 to 9, The vote was
80 DH'D''' iio"H' 'a'N tdIlI'Dtll
'arver, Chedel, Divoll. Dunklee, Hins.
nan, Martin of Chittenden, Page, Reed
Roberts, seaver, Shaw, Simonds, Steb
bins, Thomas, Wilcox, Wright. No
bentley, Blake. Conant. Holcomb, La.
ranchise, Martin of Washington, Noonan
Powell and Smith; not voting, Locklin.
CROWD OF SPECTATORS.
The Senate chamber was crowded witt
pectators Interested in the suffrage bill
here was some tension, which was re
eyed as soon as the vote was AIKEN, bu'
here was no applause. Since the Senat,
as all present and discussion was over
seemed a proper time to some to pass
he bill under suspension of rules. Thi!
i'd not receive the required three-fourth.
ote, the vote to suspend the rules stand
ng IS to 10.
The bill had been made a special orde
pr 1890 in the morning and action wal
expected at that time, but Senators Co
ant and Roberts moved to nave actor
ostponed until Tuesday afternoon. Sena
br Conant's reason was that Senate,
Dwell was in the chair in the absence OF
ne MISUNDERSTANDING, and he wa,
therefore, unable to speak on the measur,
s he wished, This was a disappointment
lhli NV ''ii' ~ anu ~ " a
alled up in the afternoon.
CHILD LABOR BILL.
The Senate had shown some reactionar,
Andencies earlier in the afternoon. vot
lg down a child labor bill which ha'
ben introduced by Senator Carver an
hich was draw by the national chill
Dor legislation advocates. 1t was dras
c in some Of its provisions and wa
mended so that the present p%rovisio
lat mo child under fourteen shall b
nployed In any quarry, mill. or sho
here ten or more men are employed.
he bill was in the direction of uniform
y and was opposed on that score, Yer
ont being a peculiar State with no In
lstrial problems, it was alleged.
Guild make the hours of work for chi
'en between "A and Is somewhat shorte
nd would require "A permit from tn
hool superintendent which provisio
me considered cumbersome. A roll ca
as not taken. but it appeared that Sena
RS Carver and Shaw We're the only sci
ors i'm fa vor IT.
The Senate had another breezy tim
,er the question of paying Homer
<eels about so for his services In oper
g up the session of 1915 as former sec
tarv of the Senate. Senator Powell or
,sed it in the interests Of economy an
ecedents. Senator Simonds favored /
was finally killed by a vote u to r.. Owe
llf an hour OF time was spent on III
atter,
The Legislature finds itself on the hrin
some important legislation which ca
bt be avoided many more days unle!
ore bills are ordered to lie or be recon
TIED to committee. Prohibition refe
dum, a budget, suffrage, fish and gan
WIS as finally determined by mar
arings and compromises, and dire
imary bills will soon be unloaded {
q two houses and must be passed upo
FREE ROAD WORK DAY.
A Free Road Labor Day is provide
r in a bin which passed the Hou'
day. This Is in line with a custo
several Western states which hi
en productive of great results
untry roads in those states, III
h. House 27s, reads as follows;
1.-The Governor is hereby directed