Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-01
ORDERS WORKMAN'S
COMPENSATION BILL
TO THIRD READING
House Votes 143 to 73 on Much Amended Measure
Saturday at 10 a. m. Expected to Be Time of
Final Adjournment.

Montpelier. arch 31.--To-day, the
| Soth day of the session. was n day Of
accomplishment in both houses of the
| Legislature Large questions were
| tackled and disposed of. An evening
session also put both bodies ahead in
their work. and all are agreed that
| final adjournment can be reached on
Saturday morning at 10 a. IN. without
undue haste on any important meas
ures, and both houses have passed a
joint resolution to that effect
The passing OF the workmens COM
pensation bill to a third reading by
the House by 2 to I vote, and the
passage of three of the general cor
poration bills were the features of the
| House session. The Senate In the
| meantime passed the direct primary
law which now includes county Off
GERS. with a referendum attached. The
education bills were passed by the
Senate with amendments
| Tho Boston & Maine bill was put
| over for another day on the ground
that awaiting action in New Hamp-
shire and assachusetts would en-
| tighten the Vermont House and help
| to determine its course The vote on
postponement of action was IS to p.
The primary bill rs passed by the Sem
ate now allows a primary for all elective
officers. 1t also wipes out the amend
ment Of the House which allows a man
to vote for candidates in any or all
columns at the primary election. The
referendum attachment remains.
three OF the corporation bills were
passed, the measures dealing with insur-
ance companies, savings banks and trust
companies and foreign corporations A
fourth. private corporations, was ordered
to third reading, but haste seemed in
advisable on this bill and 1t was not
placed upon Its passage The bill reat-
ing to public service corporations, which
aroused most OF the discussion in the
hearing will come In tomorrow from the
committee with proposed amendments.
CHANGES IN SCHOOLS BILL
In passing the elementary school bill
with many amendments the Senate had
but one serious split That was on the
proposition TO allow the State board of
education to be composed of persons
instead of "men.' A yea and nay vote
was demanded. and the result was with
two exceptions the same as the woman
| s iffrage vote in the Senate. and the
amendment which would allow women on
the board was adopted
one amendment affecting Burlington al
lows town or Incorporated district
having q or more legal schools To ap-
point its own superintendent at salary
of not less than hfteen hundred dollars
BY the amendment school superintendents
oil
| original bill Such a change was desired
J by larger towns and cities in the interests
of harmony and efficiency A provision
authorizing a centrally located normal
school was inserted. the same to be estab-
lished if suitable buildings or funds are
provided by private bequest
| The Senate appropriated $1,000 for a dor
! mtory at the Randolph Agricultural Col
| lege. The Addison county senators Of
fered opposition for time. but its neces-
sity was shown and the bill was passed
without opposition.
Senators Dunklee. Powell and Seaver
are the Senate conference committee on
the tax measure. Upon the ability of this
committee to reconcile two diametrically
opposed propositions rests the question
Of what will be accomplished in tax legis-
lation.
The entire House, Mr.. Hapgood except
ed, was aroused against the five per cent
money when the Senate tax bill came in.
Mr. Caswell OF Derby observed that the
Senate bill was not a tax measure: II
was tax exemption measure. 1t looked
as II every county was about to be heard
from in the defense of the offset and in
non-concurrence with the Senate five per
cent. exemption but Mr.. Jones of Shrews-
bury moved the previous question and a
possible hours steam OF oratorv on off
| sets was choked OFF
| Adjournment is now set at Saturday
morning at ten O'Clock and the House.
encouraged by Speaker Weeks, was pre-
vailed upon to set this hour, pass upon
it. and was later adopted by the Senate
Speaker Weeks reminded them that as
business men they must set certain dates
ahead and accomplish tasks within the
time so set and such a business principle
should now be applied to the session.
| COMPENSATION Bill. ALTERED.
| The workmens compensation bin
altered by committee by amendments
| was ordered to third reading in the House
| by a vote of 143 to 73. Forty amend
| ments were proposed bv the committee
| and adopted by the House. all tending
| to make the bill favorable to employers
| The Objectionable clause requiring work
| TO pay half the cost of insurance was
| removed In lieu of II the schedule OF
benefits was reduced below those granted
| in any other State, the bin was made
| to exempt employers with ten employees
| or less. and n few more provisions were
made so that the bill would be not only
sugar-coated but all sweetness.
Among its amendments are: State and
county employees not included in the act
municipal bodies shall be required tC
| vote in order to come under the terms
of the act as far as municipal employees
are concerned; an employe Is deprived OF
compensation If the injury laws causet
| by his failure to use a safety appliance
provided; no death benefit more than
$500; dependent widows and orphans ge
% l-3, 40 and IS per cent of the weekly
wage, according to the number of chill
dren; n dependent child to receive but 9
per cent. and in no case for more thar
2GO weeks: the minimum weekly beneh
In case of injury is three dollars instead
Of FIVE: $i,60O Is the maximum allowed
for permanent total disability; the benef
for the loss OF limbs is further reduced
and more specific benefits are given fol
loss OF digits; employers are permitted
to secure compensation to their employees
without insurance and without bonds
| II they can satisfy the Industrial acciden
} board as to the financial responsibilit,
: OF the employer so far as the act is con
! cerned Employers with less than tel