Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-11
House Kills Bill Providing Sal
airy in Lump Sum--Action
Later May Fix Pay for Fu-
ture Sessions.
BALLOT REFORM DEFEATED
Proposal to Require Cross OPP
pOsite Every Name on Ticket
Fails of Passage by Vote of
147 to 71-Measure Intro
duced for Eugenic Marriages.

Montpelier. Feb. 4.-The legislative pay
matter was finally laid to rest to-day
when the lump sum compensation bill
WIS dismissed b. a vote Of l6i to Il.
The issue was clear. Mr.. Hapgood moved
to dismiss the s300-lump sum bill, the
1850 and other amendments. and a yea
md nay vote was taken. There was a
similar fight in the Legislature of 1912,
hut the opposition was greater than at
this session. If this session is a short
and businesslike one, the action in re-
iectinS the lump sum will probably NOT
ne a great cause OF reproach.
The pay question is not settled We,
however. Mr.. Moore's bill is Il compio.
mise measure that can be amended so as
to appeal to all members who consider
an early adjournment desirable and pos.
sible. 1t provides for 81 a day for so days
and s. a day thereafter.
The theory of the lump sum opposeis
is that they were hired for 81 "A day
and they propose neither to raise nor re-
duce their wage. Later in the session
they may fix upon a sum or limit which
may not affect them but which may es-
tablish a healthy precedent.
HOW THE LEGISLATORS VOTED.
Those who voted against Diminishing
the salary bill and all proposed amend
ments were: Anderson, Bagley, Black,
blanchard of Groton, Blanchard of Yer
shire, Blodgett of Newport, Bolster of
WInhall, Carrigan, Caswcll, Chalmers.
Coates. Coburn, Colburn, Davis, Duns-
more, Eaton, Eddy of Monkton, Fair
child, Fish. Foote, Gaines. Gleason,
Graham. Hamblet, Hapgood, Hendee,
Hewitt of Berlin. Hewitt of Plainfeld,
Hicks, Higgins. Hinsdale. Hollister,
Hubbard, Hunt, Hutchins. jackson. Jones
of Shrews bury. Lovejoy, Mackay, Mayo,
Melendy, Miller. Moore of Ludlow, Morse.
Nichols of Essex, Norton, Parker Of
Cavendish, Perry, Pierce of Rochester,
Powell. Rixford. Russell of Kirby. Ryan
Of Georgia, Sanborn. Slavery. Smith OF
st. Adams city. Soule. Spalding of Hart
land. Spaulding of Plymouth. Stacey.
Stickney. Taylor, Thomson of I.andgrove.
Ware. Wollman. Wells OF Randolph,
Wilcox. Williams. Wilson, Wright. Total
q.
Absent or not voting: Brown Of Goshen.
Dubois. Fogg. Gilman. Msears. Peckham,
Perkins. Proctor, shores, Smith OF
Starksboro. Total 10.
All others were opposed to the lump
sum and favored dismissal. Total 1A.
BALLOT REFORM KILLED.
An interesting debate arose on the
subject of the Hapgood ballot reform,
House hill 81, which the House moved
TO reconsider this afternoon. 1t would
do away with the voting of a party
"a. 1 boo ~ III
column. but would make 1t necessary
for every man to place n cross OPP
posite the name Of every candidate for
whom he wished to vote. The motion
10 reconsider was lost. Mr.. Moore of
Ludlow strongly advocated 1t on the
ground that it helped to put men above
party, and read some advice from
washington's Farewell Address, on
that subject.
Mr.. Wilson of Chelsea noted that it
was intended to break down party
lines, was "A direct drive at party gov
ernment to which past history and
present practice has committed us. He
also said that it would make the work
of voting much more complicated, it
would require longer for each voter
and would necessitate more or larger
polling places. Mr., Moore in reply
said that Massachusetts had gone even
further n had wiped out the party
column on the ballot entirely, but that
It had not wiped out party lines. Mr..
Lance Of Cabot said that "Massachu-
ietts politics are stepped in corrup-
hon" Mr.. Hapgood said that his pur-
pose was simply to make the parties
nominate better men. The bill was
killed by a vote of l47 to Il.
The House put in a very busy morn
ing. passing n bill to eliminate gamb-
ling from fair grounds and an act to
provide payment for town grand jur-
ors in the detection of crime. both of
Mr.. Hapgood's creation. House 106,
which gives monument makers a line
on monumen and gravestones. me,
with decided opposition but was or
dered to a thirp reading.
The Senate passed a bill. Senate SO
which would require voters to pay
their poll and other taxes before Feb
ruary Is In order to vote in the Marcel
meeting. 1t was said to be In the in
terests of clean politics. 1t also pro,
vides that those attaining the age OF
u subsequent to the last annual as
can vote In the March meet,
ing.
The bill giving the factory inspector
greater powers and enabling him to in,
spect mercantile establishments hotel.
and other places Of business pa ssed tn,
Senate, 1t is known as Senate IS.
The Senate child labor bill, No. 40
was ordered to lie for a few days since
Senator Powell was OF the opinion tina
1t might work a hardship to some chit
dren between "A and l6 who wished L
earn money during vacation and la
wished time for more study and con
sideration.
The Investigating bee hit the senat'
to-day and the purchasing agent wa
the mar whom they proposed to invss
tigats. A resolution was introduced b!
Senate Divoll to see il the office OF pur
chasing agent had justified its continues
existence.
FOR EUGENIC MARRIAGES..
a eugenic marriage bill was the feat
ure Of the day among the new bills In
Produced.
il nracludss imbeciles. epileptics