The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-04-05
VERM0NT'S LEGISLATIVE RECORD
Summary of the Most Important Measures Enacted Into
Law and Some of the Bills Of Public Interest Which
Failed of Passage

lates to elementary schools and Gre
ates new board of education com
posed of five persons, to be appointed
by the governor, and who Will name
commissioner of education. A uni.
form course of study is provided and
the schools are to be supervised by SUI
pcrintendents appointed by the state
board. to be watched over by a small
group Cf supervisors. The school age
Is raised to six years and the school
year increased from 80 to "a weeks.
minimum wage Of So per week for
teachers in rural schools is provided.
and the state can pay additional sums,
according to qualifications of the teach
ers. The increase over the cost of
maintaining the schools in 1914 is es-
timated at So 900, which will be met
by increasing the state school tax from
eight to 10 cents
The second substitute bill relates to
the establishing of junior and senior
high schools and differs from the pro-
visions of the original bin inasmuch
as it makes optional the vocational
education, instead of mandatory.
Primary Pledge.
After passing a primary bill which
would apply only to the election of
state and congressional officers, and
that only after a message from Govern
or Gates calling upon the legislators to
fulfill q platform pledge to the people,
the house receded from its stand after
the senate had amended the bill to in
clude county officers and by having a
referendum attached the people will
vote next March to see whether the
primary law will go into effect in
1916 or 1927.
Mild Workman S Compensation Bill.
A workman 5 compensation act was
passed late in the session, but the bill
| is very mild compared to similar laws
existing in other states. The maximum
| death settlement is So, $500 and the
maximum death settlement is $500
maximum total disability payment
is $4,000. Employers having less
| than 10 employees may choose whether
or not they wish to come under this
act.
Drastic Step Against VenereaI Disease
The house refused to pass a eugenic
marriage law early in the session but
later passed q bill relating to the pre-.
vention of Venereal disease, which. if
strictly enforced, will be even more
| drastic, it is believed. If a person
marries knowing himself to be affiict
ed with such disease he NAV be fined
$500 or imprisoned in the house OF
correction for not more than two wears
a lesser penalty IS provided for a per
son who has sexual intercourse while
infected and physicians are required
| TO report cases treated. to the state
board of health.---,----.- -....
Public Printing Board.
\ board of public printing composed
of the governor, treasurer and auditor
Of accounts is created and shall au
thorize the printing of reports and su
perintend the same
Budget Act.
A budget commission composed ot
the governor, treasurer, auditor. state
purchasing agent and a member of the
financial committee of the two houses
vas created by the budget act, passed
early in the session, and drawn up by
a special committee. The act is in
tended to put the fiscal affairs of the
state on a strictly business basis by
preparing a detailed record of all state
expenses and revenues for the proceed
ing biennial period and an estimate foI
the coming biennial period. The bud
get commission shall at the opening
of a new Legislature prepare bill con
tanning all the appropriations and vii
thus tend to expedite legislation.
Corporation Uniformity.
The passage of the several corpora
ton acts was made necessary by tn,
constitutional amendments voted on il
1913, and these acts also are expecte,
to enable other legislatures to worl
with greater speed.
Lobby Bill Killed.
, An effort was made to pass bill
regulating lobbying, and the lowe
branch did, after me opposition. pas
with despatch in the senate The nee,
of such bill is not felt very strongl,
in Vermont, according to the feeling
of the solons.
Newspaper Bill Failed.
A bill to prevent letters being print
ed in the press unless signatures ar
attached to each passed the senate at
ter much urging by Senator Powell
but was denied passage in the house
The bill was considered by some as be
ing the first step toward curtailing tn
freedom of the press, a constitutions
right. and some did not hesitate in dc
claring the measure was presented be
cause OF personal reasons and expert
ences.
House Killed Woman Suffrage Bill.
j Woman suffrage, a feature of ever