Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-28
Per Diem Arrangement Is Con-
sidered Observation-Disclosures
Proposals for Solution of the
Difficulty and Expediting Bus.
mess.
VAIL OFFER TAKEN UP
Representatives of Railroads
Protest against Proposed In
Interchangeable Mileage Bill
Claim 1t Would Cripple Eff
cheney.

Montpelier Jan. 8.-The legislative
committees and not the organized bodies
were the oynosure of attention to-day. !
and tie publ, hearings held by the com !
Injttee Oh state and court expenses and
the railroad committees We're largely at
tended.
After the forenoon adjournment the
first named committee held a meeting in
the reception room. where the salary
question was threshed out ct some length,
nearly score taking part in the genera
discussion or the subject. J. Rolfe
Seares of St Johnsbury, secretary Of |
the republican State committee. brought
the attention Of those assembled 20 the
fact that the party platform included
plank favoring a lump sum for the
legislators, and in his opinion $500 would
be satisfactory TO the public at large. |
While a desire was evidenced to meet
the demands and appreciation Of the peo-
pie still many were inclined to look
upon with favor the per diem arrange
ment Stanley c. Wilson of Chelsea,
chairman of the State committee. agreed
with Mr.. Searles in regard to salary
limit and while personally he favored
q lump sum OF $500. ne doubted il the
LEGISLATURE would agree on less than
$3.50
POWELL FOR SHORT SESSION.
Senator Max Powell Of Chittenden
stated that he was in favor of a short
session. although he would not de-
sire to be handicapped by a set time
Of adjournment and he would not
favor a sum of $500 for a session of
10 ha NJ
crease of dollar day over the old
basis, and he would insert because of
that fact n clause providing for 81
per day for seventy-five days. This
would eliminate the members receiv-
ing more than 81 per day il the ses-
sion did not last but sixty days.
Mr.. Eaton of Woodstock. the author
Of the bill calling for a lump sum Of
5000 thought that the members were
entitled to a premium of dollar
day extra If all business was completed
in sixty days. Colonel Foster of Cal
ais advocated siXty-day session and
thought 1t possible to have such
session if all would work hard; he
favored s. per day plan If such a
limit was adopted. Senator Powell,
while favortg a sum of $3.50 for the
$500 would not be so bad.
TOO MUCH SPEED BAD.
Mr. Hapgood OF Peru ventured the
opinion that a fixed sum of $500 might
cause unnecessary speed. which would
be fatal to good legislation. Mr.. At
we'll Of Brandon advocated $3.50, say
ing that $500 would hardly compen-
safe the members for their expenses
while here.
A resolution was introduced in the
House this morning for committee Of Is
to he appointed, consisting Of ten repre-
sentatives and Ave senator's. to invesu-
gate the offer OF Theodore n. Vail of Lyn-
don to give the Lyndon school and Speed
we'll Farms to the State to be used as an
agricultural school. The resolution which
was rendered by Mr. Smith of Barre city,
also authorized the committee TO visit the
school and farms
Tho House adopted the resolution call
ing for an Investigation OF the alleged Sc
cret control OF newspapers In the State.
the resolution. however. being amended
so that papers which existed since 1910
ntght be examined. This amendment is
aimed a the Montpelier Morning Journal.
now suspended, Z Is understood.
-Four bills OF minor nature were intro
duced in the House this morning; one Of
which, however, House Dill 14s, introduced
by NJ Putnam OF Middlesex will interest
the manufacturers OF maple products, in
asmuch as II fixes a standard weight, for
pail OF sugar at II pounds The dill fur
thermore provides penalty OF 500 for the
first violation and 500 for the second Of
Tense.
Speaker Weeks, durlns a quiet moment
to-day, called attention to the fact that
without unanimous consent OF tho House
no bills could lie introduced after the
first Tuesday Of next month. Supplement
tary to that announcement. he stated that
tho revisers of bills were at present prac-
tically without business.
OF the two bills introduced in the
House this afternoon, that Of Mr. Foote
Of Cornwall seems to have especial merit
providing as 1t does for the organiza-
ton Of cooperative fire insurance com
panies This bill has tho endorsement,
Of tho state Grange, II having been ap
proved at the December meeting OF thai
body. Mr.. Foote explains that the bill
introduced has been in force in New
York State for forty years and during
that time 10 such companies have beer
organized. In effect the bill would permit
the Incorporation of an insurance com
pany by any grange. town or county.
Mr.. Black Of Burlington submitted
hill to make uniform the law of sales o.
goods.
RAILROAD MEN PROTEST BILL
Claiming without exception that thu
railroads they represented were losinl
money and could not afford reduc
tlon in revenue, a group of railroad
men representing the Central Vernon
railroad. tho Boston q Maine. the Can
adian Pacific and the Rutland railroad
appeared yesterday afternoon befor'
the Senate railroad committee. to pro
test against the passage OF the bill
providing for interchangeable mile
age. which was the subject OF discus
zion.
Mr. Mccormack, appearing for tn
Boston e. Maine, stated in his atgu
sSnent for the defeating OF the measure