Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-08
ompleted Session in SO Days, a
Showing That Is Better by
One Month Than in the Year
1912.
VOLUME OF LAWS REDUCED
ig Saving in Number and Bulk
of Statutes Passed Was Eff.
fected by Doing Away with
Necessity for Separate Incor.
pOratiOn Acts.

Montpelier, April with final ac
IN taken upon several importan
fasurcs in the closing hours of tn,
'neral Assembly, the work of tn
gislature of 1915 can be summar
I'd, and now. alor the first time. q,
innate of its achievements can b,
rmed.
Some progressive laws were pu
on the statute books, and man!
'ge problems were handled and dis
sed of in n session of IS days. which
rs 80 days less than the 1912 session
o work of the session was reduced
a large extent with the removal b!
,ent constitutional amendment o
necessity for special incorporation
It's. The number and volume of tn,
itutes passed were thus reduced by
out one-third. At the same tim,
session could have been mucl
orter three importa~t bills hat
In an earlier appearance. The de
in the introduction of the work.
MS compensation. education anC
neral corporation measures was not
cessary, and was largely responsible
the length of the session. The fiat
airy bill was not passed, but it was
needed this year, since all were
Firous of the shortest session con
tent with judicious legislation.
n enacting statewide prohibition,
Icational reform. workman's com
nsation. and direct primary acts.
Legislature stamped itself as a
aggressive body. The reactionary
denotes that appeared at the middle
the session when the House seem
ready to abolish anything that cost
vthing or interfered with business
re gradually overcome.
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION.
he workmen's compensation law is L
y important act. In theory it is IA d.
departure from the present regime,
Vermont law while a very mild be-
ming, is considered a good beginning.
effectiveness will depend largely upon
character of the Industrial accident
rd, which Governor Gates will appoint
month. This commission will adj
lister tho law and will be n tribunal
adjust settlements between employers
employees in case of accident. The
edule of benefits in case of injury or
tn is from so to 45 per cent. of the IN
ed mans wages, according to the
hber Of dependents No benefits are
i during the first two weeks after an
ident, but the employer must provide
lical attendance. The weekly indem
cs run In no case longer than four
RS.
he act Is in Il sense elective. but prac-
lily requires employers that elect to
10 under it. If the employer elects not
come under II, he is deprived of his
hmon law defenses in case of a dam
SUIT brought by an employee Every
boyer and workman is presumed to
be under the act unless the board is
1ned to the contrary in writing
Try employer must furnish security
payments to the workmen in case Of
dent, by carrying insurance or fur
ing a bond. The act does not applv
employers of ten men or less or IN
licipalities unless they so vote. 1t be-
es effective July /, 1915
DIRECT PRIMARY.
direct primary law was put unor
BOOKS IN spite OF reactionary senti.
ht. A referendum was necessary IA
the measure. What will be the re.
Of the referendum next March is
Y problematical. The law if adontcd
he people will abolish party caucuses
provide nomination directly in
nary elections. 1t is an omen
harry, that is, it does not require a
to declare his party affiliations when
wing his nominating ballot. He must.
Fever, confine his votes to one party
mn at tho primaries. In accordance
the wishes of the Senate the act
apply to all elective officers.
STATE PROHIBITION.
ate-wde prohibition was enacted,
ect 10 popular approval. at the polls
text March meetings. The passage OF
Perry bill was in response to a
rg public sentiment, the force Of which
not evident at the opening OF the
ION. The law is like the present law
the local option and license features
out. The question before the voters
March will be: Shall the prohibition
become effective on May /, 1916 or
May I, 1922"
EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATION
ucatlonal matters occupied much of
attention Of the legislators. as might
expected after two years of investiga-
by the Carnegie Foundation and the
fation commission appointed by Gov
lr Fletcher. Two important educa-
acts were passed, modelled after the
mission bill. which met with
hendous opposition becausa Of It's
cal nature
he first relates to elernentarv
OILS. 1t creates "A new board of
alton of five members, to be an.
ted by the governor, who in turn
appoint commissioner OF edu-
bn. A uniform course of study is
o provided and the schools are to
supervised by superintendents APP
ted by the central authority, and
superintendents will be watched
by a limited number of super
IS. Cities and incorporated dis
with 20 or more schools may
t their own superintendent and
them in addition to the state pay.
g school unions are not confined
>wn lines but to groups of schools
u union may be composed OF schools
wo or more towns, The school
s raised to six years and the school
is increased from 80 to "a weeks.
inimum wage of SIS week for
a@rs in strictly rural schools is