St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-03-24
ADJOURNMENT NEAR
Continued from page /

state Industrial ScnOOl IOr the years
1916 and 1917; the sum of 100000
for the purpose of paying the inter-
est on bonds and interest on other
debts of the state for the years 1915
and 1917; the sum of $780, 900 for
the support of the executive depart
ment for the fiscal years 1916 and
1917; the sum of $75O,000 for the
support of the administration of JUS
tice for the fiscal years 1916 and
1917; the sum of $4,000 for the sup
port of the industrial school for the
balance of the fiscal year, 1915. The
state treasurer is authorized to bor-I
row a sum not to exceed 100000 for
defraying the expenses of the gov
eminent; he is also authorized to bor-
row not to exceed 81, 100000 for the
expenses of government and appro-
priations made. In case any of the
appropriations are inadequate, the
state auditor with the approval of the
governor may draw orders for sup
port of-such institutions, but such or
ders shall not exceed 100000 in
either or both fiscal years.
The Primary Bill.
On Wednesday the primary cleo
tions bill was ordered to a third read
ing by a yea and nay vote
of 172 to % in the house af-
ter the legislators had been strongly
reminded by several speakers that it
was the will of the people and party
pledge that the bill be enacted. Mr..
Melendy of Londonderry stood almost
alone in opposing the measure, CIV
ing as his reasons that the primary
would increase the power of the big
towns to the detriment of the smaller
ones.
On Thursday the house by a yea
and nay vote of lis to 102 refused to
pass the measure, providing for di-
rect primary upon state officers, mem
bers of congress and presidential cleo
tors, the vote following a debate
which lasted all the morning and
part of the afternoon.
Friday morning the following mes
sage was sent to the house by Gov
C. w. Gates:
II feel it my duty to call the at
tention of your honorable body to
the recent vote upon the direct pri-
mary bill and earnestly to express
my hope that you will see fit to re-
consider your vote whereby you re-
fused the passage of this bill. It'll
seems to me that this legislature is
in honor bound to pass a direct pri-
mary law in order to keep faith with
the people who have expressed their
desire for such legislation by their
endorsement of party platform which
had promised to support such al
measure and by their vote at the
March election 1914.
Conditions have changed since
the people expressed themselves in
regard to this law, and there seems |
to be some indication that such a !
law is not desirable at this time and
In order that there may be no mis-
take made or misinterpretation of |
the vote of the people of a year ago
L feel it would be the wise thing for
your body to pass this act with the
addition of a referendum clause so
that the voters of the state may again
express their views upon the sub
Ject at the March election next year.
In this way every voter will have an
opportunity carefully to consider the
provisions of the act and to register
his approval or disapproval at the
polls"
This was followed by a reconsidera-
ton of Thursdays vote, the bill
amended so as to provide a referen-
dunn at the next March meeting and
II the people vote in favor of the bill
it will become effective March 20,
1916, otherwise, in 1927, and the bill
passed by vote of 146 to rs.
Scope of Educational Bill
The substitute educational bill was :,
introduced last Friday. 1t was pre- {
pared by the committee on education {
as substitute for H ITO, the meas
ure drafted by Lieutenant-Governo ]
Darling for the educational commits t
sion. The basic principle of the new y
bill is the Strengthening of the rural (
schools and to that end secondary
schools, normal institutions and col s
eges are not considered under the {
provisions of the proposed act. How {
ever, an accompanying bill was s
presented providing for the es- |
adjustment of junior and Sc i
1ior high of four and two 1
years' courses, respectively, following '
elementary work of six years. The
of such high schools, in !
which vocational training may be in
'luded in the courses, is optional with
he town. While the new bill differs
n many respects from the commits
ions measure the fundamental prin-
iple of the restoration of the rural
chool is retained. The several agen-
'osed act are to repose in the state
'oard of education, body to consist
# five members, appointed by the
governor. The bill provides for re-
,ional system of supervision based to
large exent upon typographical con-
itions. Provision is made for SUI
'ervision of all schools and the cost
f such supervision is to be borne en-
rely by the state. The measure
laces the minimum salary of teach
rs in elementary schools at So a
7eek and provides an arbitrary clas-
ification for the first year of the OPP
ration of the act and after the first
nnual period a merit system is to
etermine the matter of salary. Pro-
ision is made for aiding small towns
y an approp. iation of $4,000, pay
1g for supervisors; the state pays all
Expense of transportation in towns
aving a grand list of $4,000 or less.
he school age is placed from 6 to