The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-10
SHARP DEBATE HELD
ON MEASURE TO-DAY
However, Com mi S ion e I
Henry Has Some Strong
Supporters

WOutu dUDIleH Tie lItESuI ULlCF VI III
! spector Of weights and measures, nov
headed by Hugh Henry of Chester, and
transfer the duties to the commissioner
Of agriculture, f. S. Brigham, the House
finally passed the bill to third reading
by yea and nay vote, l44 to 81.
The bill was a special order for 1890
o'clock and before the House settled
down for a vote, score or more mem
bers took turns at defending the bill
and assailing the present commissioner
of weights and measures. The discus
sion of the bill prevented little other
business being transacted and a long
afternoon session is promised.
Mr.. Foote of Cornwall explained that
| the bill would not abolish the office but
would simply transfer the duties to the
commissioner of agriculture. Twenty
states, be said, have a seF<rate commits
sion; 20 delegate the duties to the towns
and cities, and eight have the office un-
| der another department. He quoted cir
culars signed by the present commission
er, Hugh Henry, urging every man and
woman to use his or her influence against
the bill, that thousands OF such letters
bad been circulated throughout the
state. Every means, he asserted, had
been resorted TO by the comissioner in
an effort to get the bill killed, and he
charged that not all had been fair. The
commissioner and his deputies had been
around the State House trying TO get a
100000 appropriation. Commissioner +.
s. Brigham of the agricultural depart
ment has nothing to do with the BILL
Mr.. Black OF Burlington interrogated
Mr., Foote as 10 whether the sgrieultur
al commissioner could handle the duties.
He was afraid the work would be dele
gated to a 5000 clerk, that being the
amount set aside in the bill for the
work He favored the Maine system
which gave local officials the right 10
inspect the weights and measures, with
two deputies 10 travel over the state
and examine at will. This system would
BE- more economical. but would be i'm
possible in this state under the existing
statutes. The bill provided for but a
$1,000 appropriation, which in his opin- 1
ion was absolutely inadequate. He also 4
charged that the present commissioner 4
had not been given an opportunity 10
present his side until after the bill had
been introduced by the committee.
Mr. Black continued that il would be-
a gross injustice 70 pass the bill until
Commissioner Henry could be allowed
an opportunity to be heard. He told OF
q talk with Commissioner Brigham. who
stated that he would have to delegate
the duties.
Mr.. Jones of Shrewsbury said il looked
like a good chance for the state 10 save
S20000 He suspected the commissioner
was a good fellow and that fact might
have been in mind when the office was
created. But, unfortunately, the state
Is unable to take care Of all the good
fellows
Mr. Moore Of Ludlow attempted 10
amend the bin by striking out the part
providing for a salary for the commits
siouer Of agriculture but the House re-.
iccted the amendment By a vote Of ~
10 9l.
Mr.. Taylor al Springfield opposed the
Iill he said that he did not believe in ]
lbolishing a department, because the !
head OF il might not BE- satisfactory. ,
he attempted 30 have the bin recon ]
nitted TO the committee. bat his move !
.ailed hv a voc of us 10 g. Mr. Berry J
Il Milton wanted the bin ordered % he I
lut this was almost unanimously defeat i
a and Mr. Jones called for the previous :
Question. Mr.. Miller Of Bethel called :
NI ANN Was anu nav - laftHIH fNf NNiA-
All was taken Mr. blanchard Of Ncrshirc Z
inquired how many towns have equip Er
neut fOf testing weights and measures
,Ir. Foote answered that the city Of Z
Burlington had q complete set which q
"a member t0 saw that t bad been /
ssertcd at the hearing 50 tie bin last Z
fepk that Burlington was the only plar 8
h the state having fuli set Mr. era
!.
ficc was next 20 the town clefk'e ID
bellows Fals ana tha onlv equipment I,
herc was rusty tn d.ppe
.enats Passed BIZ Of Ladinr Measure j
The senate after = laae dlseussi0n 2
naily reached q vote On tie hIi making g
inform the lav for the blils - lad.ue =
a-.iur tie measure hy fhe close tate 7
! Ig o. ~ #t
Senator Shau favored tlF hH 81 81 @
ressinc tie irliri tiat tae go uii tiar- a
3 understanding 81 BIS d laaInN end rf
toid litigation. EH1E1nE experience Hf e.
Der statrs in tlst direction Senatrr ft
oHsrt orr1sn3 isaeauar y 5aff -
frrnurf has go Hred fm tHs measrra. 81
) 90 nrf nut easily understood
.m ~hu upheld ~fFatr frnan -
sons ffaf th h
Fff rHffiattun rnnn e1fr hafar
at aHfrF thf masse ha
nuid o. nn murffrt
@smHtn sHHns a
fasrrr nrewefr1 ttF tmt tfst
NtiErt8 hNs Hr
arr Del atr
r fria8Hra
rrsf ~
-trrfnr nHr faHn- -.