Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-18

labor day. On such day the men of the
several towns Of the State may assem-
bic and under the direction of their
respective Dad commissioners may
perform work, free of charge, on such
highways of the town as may be desig-
mated by the town road commissioners;
provided, that such highways shall not
be any part of a highway set apart
and designated as a State road"
1t originally read "shal, assemble
and shall perform work. making
work mandatory. but was amended.
Although it was opposed by Mr.. Atwell
of Brandon on the ground that a man
ut present has the privilege Of work.
ing at anytime, yet it's advocates point
to the parallel that a man could for
merly plant a tree at any time, but not
many trees were planted by average
citizens until the Governor named Ar
Dor Day as a custom.
The McCleary bank stock taxation
bill, House 2S2, was ordered to lie in
the House to-day, pending considera-
ton of Commissioner Plumley's bill.
House 217. The ways and means CON-
mittoe hopes to bring these matters to
a head the latter part of next week.
The bill prohibiting gambling at fair
grounds was killed in the Senate to-
day. 1t was characterized as freak
legislation and was treated facetious-
ly before being Killed.
COST OF PRISONERS CARE.
The bill which would reduce the pay
of the sherifs from G to so cents a
day for furnishing meals to prisoners
was the subject of a hearing Of the
judiciary committee this afternoon and
facts were revealed which showed the
members of the committee hat the
sheriffs' Jobs Were not beds of roses
and that they were not all getting rich
quick. The other things than food which
are covered by the Go cents a day formed
the cruX Of the argument. Sheriff Allen,
for example, showed how much time the
office required, the salary and the du-
ties. He showed that two turkeys, a
cook. lights, cooking fuel, soap and dis
infectant were among the expenses which
we're covered by the Is cents per day.
One sheriff said that for the first three
years he ran behind on the board for
prisoners. The dIstastefulness of caring
for filthy and diseased prisoners was
brought out. Until this information
was brought out, many of the member
of the committee had been strongly in
favor of the bill.
The following sheriffs appeared before
the committee: Hill of Orleans, Allen
Of Chittenden. Reed of Orange, Beattie
of Essex, Tracy of Montpelier, Godfrey
of Remington. Canary Of Windsor,
Holmes of Franklin and Worthen Of
Caledonia.
The principal discussion of the morn.
ing came on the question of the execu-
tive clerks salary. A bill to fix it at
500 was at first refused a third read
ing, then was reconsidered and passed.
The date of payment was the point at
issue, some favoring payment at the
close Of the tWo-year term. 1t was
shown, however. that his work was
over when the Legislature adjourned. 80
the measure to pay him 500 at that time
was passed.
In the name of econom the House cut
down the appropriation in Senate %
which provided $4,000 annually for coop
Grafton with the L. S. geological survey
to be expended In making topographic
maps Of the State. The amount was
shaved down to $50 annually. at the
suggestion of appropriations committee,
The geological survey furnishes half the
expenses of surveying. all the expenses
of printing the maps, and sells them at
five cents apiece.
FOOTBRIDGE AT BURLINGTON,
The footbridge at the Burlington union
station 16 feet instead of 30 feet above tbs
rails, WIS provided for in Senate 80,
which was ordered to a third reading in
the House this morning. An amendment
was added which would prohibit freight
trains from using the tracks below.
Corporation of the State In erecting
a memorial to Commodore Perry is pro-
vided in a resolution introduced into the
House by Colonel Foster of Calais. The
memorial is 70 he erected at Put-in-Bay
on Lake Erie. The national government
and nine States nave now appropriated
$3.50. 600. A Vermont appropriation OF 49,
600 and n commission of three are proVid'
ed for under the resolution.
The uniform partnership act was re
fused passage in the Senate. II would
codifv the existing law and add some
provisions and make a law which lay
men could understand. 1t came from
the judiciary committee with an unfavor'
able report. some members of that COM
mittec not being in favor of uniformity
In legislation. Since the partnership act
was lust recommended by the commits.
sion on uniform legislation. and since II
has not yet been passed by other States
no effort was made to pass II at thin
session.