The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-03-11
BENNINGTON COUNIi'S
REPRESENTATIVES, BUSY
The Journals Special Representative
al Montpelier Writes Of Affairs az
He Sees Them.


recess good amount of work was
accomplished and this week has seen
matters Of importance still further
advanced toward reasonable pros
pect Of final action. Ii Is true that
the problem Of desired reorganiza-
tion Of the educational system Of the
State which is perhaps the most inn
portant bill with which the Legislature
will have TO deal. is still unsettled, all
though four public hearings have been
held At which the question was ably
discussed in all its bearings by prom
ineni man and educators throughout
the State. Al the last hearing held
Lieut.. Gov Hale r. Darling gave an
exhaustive analysis Of the bill now be-
fore the Legislature in which he COM
pared many sections Of the intended
law with the existing statutes, show
ing that in a majority Of cases the
provisions Of the intended law had as
basis the already existing laws. 1t
seems highly probable however that
the committee will report substitute
measure which will not be quite as
revolutionary in its character
The taxation problem, an attempted
solution Of which appears in the bill
introduced by the special committee
on taxation and which provides for a
fiat rate tax of sevcn-tenths of one
per cent on intangibles, honest offsets"
of seventy-fiye per cent, has been the
subject of much debate in the house,
but was killed by vote of 154 to &c
on Tuesday. When the bill came up
for final passage on Tuesday after
noon some further discussion was in
dulged in and attempts were made
toward further amendment, but all TO
no purpose, the house was determined
TO kill it and this was done. Benning
ton County voted Ia to 3 against its
passage. The three members voting in
favor of the bill were Peckham of
Pownal, MeWayne of Dorset, and Rice
of SALISBURY.
The bill relating to the carrying of
lights at night by vehicles on the pub
lie highways occa ioned more debate
possibly than its Importance warrant
ed. It was argued that its passage
would be equivalent to imposing tax
OF three or four hundred thousand dol
lars on the users Of vehicles as it
would cost from three to four dollars
10 equip each Of the estimated 100000
vehicles in use in the State. The bill
was dismissed by a yea and nay vote
of 1877 TO Sc
The house has passed the act repeal
ing the act of 1912 which appropriat-
ed 100000 for State buildings and
which has been referred to rather un-
justly as the "State house steal" 1t
is expected that a substitute measure
naming a lesser amount will be intro
duced by the special committee APP
pointed TO inquire into the needs of the
State in that particular
The bill to create committee on
budget which was prepared by a
special committee appointed for that
purpose and which provides for plac
ing the fiscal system of the State upon
a scientific basis. The budget will be
arranged by budget committee of
who will act as board Of es-
fimate and will have power to recon-
mend all appropriations by the Legis-
lature which will be made by one bill
introduced by the budget committee
after consultation with the various in
dividuals and State institutions requir-
ing appropriations from the State II
is considered the most constructive
piece of legislation that the Legisla-
ture has yet passed.
An act which is meeting with con
siderable sectarian opposition is the
one providing for the reading of the
DADAt iu Nit phbltN HCHtutS NiliCH Ndh
introduced and passed by the senate
and is now in the house committee.
Petitions against its passage signed
by number Of residents in various
parts Of the State have been presented
and there is to be hearing before the
house committee on State schools the
latter part Of the week,
The workman's compensation bill
has been the subject of several hear
ings at which representation Of the
slate and granite industries have APP
peared and there seems TO be senti-
nent among some Of these represent
atives that employees should contribute
a certain portion Of the expense Of the
insurance provided for by the bill;
others, however, express a willingness
10 bear the entire expense.
The joint resolution from the senate
accepting the splendid offer Of Theo-
dorc NJ Vail to deed Speedwell Farms
and Lyndon Institute TO the State has
faen adnntaa hy fhc hnuSe ia rorr,fr-