Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-03-25
Action Follows Debate Which
Occupies Much of the Day
May BE RecOnsidered Later in
Session.
MAY DELAY ADJOURNMENT
Several Bills NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
of Session Not Expected be-
fore April l, Possibly AS Late
AS April 6--B. & NJ. Bill Or
dered to Lie.

Montpelier, March ls--Evidently fear
tul that a primary law in any form
whatsoever would not he n benefit to-
the people. despite the referendum vote
in favor Of it two years agos the House
by a yea and nay vote of lis to 1O2 this
afternoon refused to pass the measure
providing for a direct primary upon
state officers, members of Congress and
presidential electors the vote following
a debate which lasted all the morning
and part of the afternoon
Mr. Atwell of Brandon predicted that
if the pledges of the legislators to the
people were not needed, republicans,
democrats and socialists would flock to
the Progressive party and republican rule
would he at an end If the people were
not given what they wanted and had
voted for they would take it two years
hence.
Nh. Moore Of Ludlow protested against
what he called the deliberate attempt
icing made to stifle the will of tn" peo-
pie and called attention to the advocacy
Of the primary by men Ike cN-Gov.
Charles +. Hughes of New York. Twenty
eight States of the MON had adopted
the system, said MIR Moore and not Il
L
Lunenburg demanded the yeas and nays
on the pending amendment offered hy
him. which made the primary effective
only as to State officers congressman
and electors, and which would still Ic-
tain the county conventions The amend
ment was adopted by a vote of 15n To -.
Mr.. Smith of Barre city offered an,
amendment which was adopted. providing
date on any ticket. and not lie obliged
to vote for a man of any one party.
Mr.. Wilson of Chelsea mad. a strong
plea for the passage Of the bill Ne
thought the ma jority should rule in thu
State, and the majority had certainly
voted in favor of the primary. MIR. Hap.
good of Peru expressed the belief thu
members should vote as they personally
believed. and Mr. Graham of Rocking
ham said the defeat of the hill would
stamp the Legislature as a reactionary
body.
Mr. Lund OF Canaan closed the debate
with an argument against the bill. lie
had voted against the third reading and
after listening to the evidence to-day
had not changed his opinion. He said
the primary law had been a failure in
New Hampshire and believed Vermont
would be sorry If the system was
adopted here.
Owing to the closencss Of the vote.
there is possibility that a reconsid
Grafton may be made before adjourn
lnent. for ON no other measure this
season has such a stubborn fight been
made and up to final action this after
noon, advocates of the bill were more
than hopeful for its ultimate passage.
II. 437, relating to liens on colts
brought forth diversified opinions as to
the value of thoroughbred horses and
after much discussion and the adoption
of three amendments, the bill was dis
missed II was a special order.
A bill was introduced in the Senate
appropriating the sum Of $4,000 for
the maintenance of the Randolph Agri
cultural school
A number Of bills were introduced
in both houses day and Adjournment
seems to have been lost sight OF If
the Legislature adiourns before tho first
Of April it will be a surprise to nine
tenths of the solons, and many are pre-
dieting p session until after the sixth
of next month
{ clock to listen to selections NV the
band made up Of boys from the Indus
trial school, which appeared through
the courtesy of speaker Weeks The
brief respite from the stern business
OF making laws was much enjoyed, and
the galleries were crowded with spec.
tators who expressed their apprccia-
ton Of the really excellent PLAYING of
the boys band. Governor Gates and
embers of the Senate listened with
very apparent enjoyment to the selec-
tions by the boys, who have been or
Sanized less than year. 1t was a
most unusual scene and many were
deeply touched
Discussion of the primary bin proven ed
much other business being taken care of
in the House in the forenoon. ~. III,
which appropriates the sum of $eOD for
the restoration and preservation of the
Old Constitution House, was passed with
out murmur. and Mr.. Iiapgood took up.
portunity to introduce a Joint resolution,
authorizing the sergea ant alarms to place
in a prominent place on the tablet of
Daniel +. Thompson, located just outside
the House chamber. the words. author
Of The Green Mountain Boys" Mr.
Hapgood explained that these all-impor
tnt words had been left off through some
oversight. Tho Powell bill relating to the
Publishing Of unsigned defamatory com.
municatons in newspapers reached the
House and has been referred to the judi
Ciary committee
The Boston Maine consolidation
measure which has had a stormy path 10
traverse in the Senate was read the third
time in that body but owing to the strong
objection Of Senator Simonds it vas or
dered to lie and made a special order for
Tuesday morning at 1910 o'clock SEM
tor Smonds said that he would like fur
Their opportunity to examine the meas
ure. For some unknown reason the Eos~
ton & Maine corporation Is attempting,
he said. to have the State surrender its
rights of control OF the leased lines of
the corporation. lines which are solvent,
like the Connecticut & Passumpic rail-
road and the Montpelier & Wells River
railroad Hc claimed that the Boston &
Maine wants to get hold OF the Vermont
roads leased by it to get s23, 900 900 to be
turned over to bankrupt corporation.
Probably because Of tho plea Of economy