The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-02-25
BENNINGTON C0UNTi'S
REPRESENTATIVES BUSY
The Journals Special Representative
at Montpelier Writes of Affairs as
He Sees Them.

that last weeks session would be tn
busiest one yet encountered was ampl
verified, and everyone in any way con
Inected with the running Of the legisla
tive machinery from the coat room at
tendants to the presiding officers, ha
been on the jump from early morning
to late at night
The introduction of bills has o
course, practically ceased, as the tim,
for such introduction except by unan
limous consent or through committee
has expired, but occasionally bill OF
two makes belated appearance from
committee, like the foolish virgins Of
holy writ, at the legislative feast
Some of the very important measures
have come up for consideration, sucf
as the Perry" prohibition measure
the bill abolishing the Office of attor.
ney general, and the eugenic marriage
bill. The first two mentioned have
passed the house, but the latter, which
has had considerable discussion in the
house sitting as committee of the
whole, is not yet disposed of.
The Perry prohibition measure
which passed the house on Friday last
by a vote of 1913 to 76 is, according to
its opponents, very drastic measure
as it contains no provision for the sale
of alcohol either for medicinal of me-
chanical purposes. 1t was originally
introduced with a provision for ref
erendum vote to be taken next Novem-
Der, but this was amended by the com
mittee SO as to provide for the refer
endum being taken at the regular
March meeting in 1916 on the score
of economy and because a more COM
plete expression of the people might
be expected at a regular meeting
The bill was ordered to third reading
on a much larger vote, namely 100 to
80, than the vote on its final passage
and the argument which won so many
votes was that it was time, after IL
years trial Of local option to vote upon
this subject again. Mr. Perry of
Brattleboro, the father Of the bill !,
announced that over 5,400 persons had
signed petitions requesting the legisla
ture to refer the question to a popular
Among the signers was
Pres. Guy Potter Benton of the Uni
versity Of Vermont, and over 80 Of
the faculty and Pres. John NJ. Thomas
Of Middlebury College. When the bill
came up for final passage the debate
was largely on the referendum pro-
vision, many members thinking that
The referendum really meant nothing
rs the law would go into effect in 1917
whether the people voted yes or no. IT.
was explained that the making of laws
1eing a legislative function, the people
'ould not vote on the question Of an
lct becoming law but only on the
question as to when it should become
/ law and even in this case the vote is
lot binding on the legislature, the
dea being that a vote putting off its
,oing into effect until 1917 would al
ow an intervening legislature to re-
zeal the act. The bill was finally
assed with an amendment offered by I
lr. Hapgood Of Peru, which provides
hat if the people vote not to have it
o into effect in May 1916 it shall not
ecome operative until 1927, thus al
owing five legislatures to intervene,
ne Of which would undoubtedly re-
cal the act.
The Bennington County members
oted as follows on the passage Of the
ill:
In favor of its passage; Hapgood Of
cru, Horton Of Readsboro, McWayne
{ Dorset, Mattison of Glastonbury,
ice Of SALISBURY Thompson Of
andgrove. +;
Opposed to its passage: Bagley Of
earsburg, Dimond Of Manchester,
ollister Of Bennington, Hulett Of Z
rlington, Stone of Woodford, Warl Z
Sunderland. Z
Absent and not voting: Bolster Of t
'inhall, Dunn Of Stamford, Hay Of c
upert, Mears of Sandgate, Peckham Y
Pownal. )
McWayne Of Dorset, and Mattison n
Glastonbury. changed from no t
tie on third reading TO a yes vote t
its passage. is
The bill abolishing the office Of at b
rney general has been passed by the b
use by vote Of 1S2 to az with an q
nendment offered by Mr.. Jones Of u
irewsbury, making it take effect on II
ly lst, 1915. The general sentiment /
emed to be that the Office was a n
ther expensive luxury and that the n
states attorneys could take care Of u
e business or If necessary the gov OF
nor can employ specially equipped IT
torneys as counsel when needed, and II
ire economically. The large expense p'