The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-01-20
Fate Of Judgeship Bill Eager
ly Awaited by the
Legislature
RUMOR SAYS THAT
HE WILL VETO IT
But Others Say That The Wish is
Father to This Thought-Ware Bill
Up for Discussion This Morning -.
Woman Suffrage to Have Fair Play.
Special to The Reformer.
MONTPELIER. Jan.

Up TO noon today no word had come
from the executive chamber as to the
fate of the celebrated iudgeship bin.
which passed through both branches of
the legislature unde- suspension of
rules and has been in the hands of
Governor Gates since Friday. it is ex-
pected. however, that before the close
of today's sessions news of it win be |
forthcoming.
There are those about the state
house who claim that the governor viii |!
not sign the bill unless he can be as |
sured that ITS enactment into law will I
not leave him with two courts on his |
hands. Others claim that he has re- |
-eived legal advice TO the effect that |
no serious complications win arise from |
such Il contingency. Whatever the at |
| titude of Governor Gates the judgeship |
tangle Is the overwhelming topic Of
| discussion, and tomorrow is the day
| when the legislature is supposed under
| ordinary conditions to eject judges of
| the supreme and superior courts. OPP
Ipcncnts Of the Powell bill say that the
| governor would not have to work if
| the bill were passed over his veto be
| cause he could refuse to commission
new judges if they We're elected.
Among other important matters con
/ q
| Joint resolution presented to the house
on Jan. Is by Mr.. Ware of Townshend
and which provides for a commission
to be appointed by the governor and
to consist Of three persons. the chief
Justice of the supreme court and two
Ipracticing attorneys. The purpose Of
Ithis commission j. to improve and stint
plity court procedure. They are TO
leXamine the public statutes and TO
lport to the governor on WAYS aud
means for this much-necded reform at
such date as will enable the present
legislature to act upon the report. The
governor would fiX the time within
(which the report is TO be made. The
joint resolution came back from the
house judiciary committee with IA
Ivorahle report and amended so as 10
lprovide for the appointment of Jus
tice of the supreme court instead OF
the chief justice as a member of the
commission.
The resolution was ordered to lie
Iupon motion OF Mr.. Black of Burliug-
ton. who is n member of the judiciary
committee and who stated he was not
. Ipresent when the resolution was con
sidered and thought ii might be advis-
able to substitute a superior Judge in
place of one Of the practicing attorneys
, provided for. This would make the in
vestigating committee consist of Il su-
E preme court Justice, a superior judge
land n practicin% attorney.
Mr.. ITOllister of Bennington intro
: dEced n bill to authorize the Henry W.
n Putnam memorial hospital to be located
. in the Hawks lot outside the village Of
Bennington.
An appropriation of $4,000 to repair
and restore the old constitution house
is the purpose of III IL introduced by
Mr.. McClary of Windsor and III 113.
L also introduced by him, provides ex-
emption from taxation for money loan
J, ed in the state ON mortgages on real or
j personal estate or by promissOry note
$ if the rate of interest in all eases does
Il not exceed five per cent.
: Several bills win come up for a third
y reading tomorrow. Among them is II
/. I2l. bill eXempting improvements on
@ abandoned farms. 1t defines an aban-
doned farm as one which has been neg
iected wholly or in part for period
of two wears. If ordered to be exempt
ed il must be not less than 40 acres in
extent This bill makes exemption by
r the town compulsory instead of option
al as at present.
Senator Powell is going to see that
. woman suffrage gets full hearing. HC
= has introduced a joint resolution grant
Il ing the use of the house chamber L
) the Vermont society opposed to wo
man suffrage. This society plans con
siderable activity against equal rights
This resolution was adopted by tht
house this morning in concurrence.
n The Congressional Vote.
- The principal legislative activity
~ yesterday afternoon was the joint ses
- sion held at $50 o'clock for the pur
- pose Of canvassing votes for member
y of Congress. The committee havin:
~ the matter in charge made the follow
- ing report:
FIRST DISTRICT.
Whole number of votes east e.. 30.5S
nc Frank Il. Greene ...... 1928
% Mr. Sullivan (D) . 6.SI
i Mr.. Mcfarland CP) ... 400
! Mr.. Armstrong ... %
Scattering II