Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-03-11
&
FOR
Law MAKING
Action on Tax Bill, Ordered to a Third Reading on
Friday, Again Postponed-More Amend
ments to Burlington's Charter Proposed
Creamery Bill Passed and Budget Bill Signed.

Montpelier. March S.-The House
cleared the decks for some important
legislation this afternoon, but took no
action on the tax bill which was ordered
TO a third reading on Friday by a scant
majority.
Another bill amending Burlington's
charter was introduced. It allows the
,ity council to hold private meetings in
consultation with the city attorney: it
provides that no commissioner shall be
eligible to any office named by his COM
mission while acting as a member a
three-year term of school commissioners;
a deputy chief of police and other oro-
visions of 1874. The board of ,h1rities
is authorized to contract with the Medi-
ral College to care for the sick poor If
the city. The hca th officer Is required
TO devote his entire time to the duties
of his office.
Mr.. Phelps Of Fair 'iaVcn led the
debate which resulted in the defeat of
Senate II, relating to causes Coz divorce.
This bill was drawn to add another
cause-drunkenness in either party for a
period of three years.
Mr.. Phelps insisted that the bill was
discriminatory and unfair, in that it per-
mitted the freeing from the bonds of
matrimony for drunkenness while the
parties tied up to morphine, opium and
dope fends generally. must still suffer
out their existence with no hope of re-
lief. Mr., Stone of Woodford favored the
pill. Mr.. Atwell of Brandon. who was a
member of the judiciary committee which
had the bill in charge, criticized the at
itude of some Of its members as well
rs other attorneys, and said that YER
mont was becoming a Gretna Green, to
which people of other States, particularly
New York, fed to in order to get easy
divorces; this he contended was owing
10 the number of causes. five. under
Which divorces are granted and again,
he short period of residence required,
,amely. two years, in order to establish
legal residence to obtain a divorce.
lie cited the fact that while North Caro-
ina never granted divorces. and that
New York granted them for only one
ause, that Vermont with wide open
oors had a record of one divorce for
very eight marriages: and argued that
he effect of the bill was simply to open
WIDER the doors for easy divorces; he
uoted opinions from former Chief Jus
Ice Rowell. defining the various causes
nd reasons for divorce. Mr.. Moore
+ Ludlow wanted 20 know the reason
'hy the speakers thought this addi-
onal cause necessary. when. according
. their quoted opinions, divorce could
e granted for intolerable severity, under
Fhich head drunkenness certainly must
e placed. The bill was finally killed
v a rising vote of 30 to rs, demanded
" Mr.. stone Of Woodford.
Automobile number plates will be made
lighter material and will be of a
istinctively different color each year,
ccording to II. 1876. which passed the
oise to-day. It further provides: No
automobile shall display the number
ates Of more than one State at the
hme time. Two number plates shall be
spleyed on motorcycles.
CREAMERY BILL PASSED.
The creamery inspection bill, H. pa,
troduced by Mr.. Eddy of Monkton,
las passed by the House this afternoon.
he bill empowers the commissioner of
griculture or his deputy to sample the
ilk OF all creameries. cheese factories, /
(ndensaries and receiving stations.
Three bank bills We're acted upon by
e House, although they seemed too
y to attract the attention or consid-
alton of many members. S. Sc. which
Divides that unclaimed deposits in saw
gs banks shall go under certain con-
tons to the State permanent school
nd, was killed by default. 1t was such
colorless bill hat the committee re-
sed to report it favorably or adversely.
BUDGET BILL SIGNED.
The Governor signed the Budget bill,
3S1, perhaps the most important piece
legislation yet enacted. He also
sned II. PSI, Colonel Fosters bill, to
Divide a headstone or marker at the
ave of Private Rufus e. Percy, who
hs killed in action at Vera Cruz last
bril. The only opposition to this bill
hen first introduced. was on the grounds
at such action by the State established
precedent. :,