The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-03-25
BENNINGTON CouNTY's
REPRESENTATIVES, BUSY
The Journals Special Representative
a, Montpelier Writes Of Affairs as
He Sees Them.

Montpelier. March 25-The two
principal features Of last weeks ses-
sion were the passage by the house OF
a direct primary bill and a taxation
mea~urc. but the passage Of the form
er was no, accomplished without great
effort on the part Of its advocates,
strong appeals on the floor Of the
house for the fulhllment Of platform
pledges and a message from the Gov
ernor strongly urging a reeohsidera-
tion Of the bill which had been killed
by the house By a yea and nay vote of
IFS 10 l02 After receiving the Gov
ernor's message in which he stated
that this legislature was IN honor
bound 10 pass a direct primary law IN
order 10 keep faith with the people but
that as conditions had changed since
the referendum it would be a wise
thing to have the present bill passed
with a referendum clause so that the
voters might again pass upon the
measure, the house decided to recon-
slider the bill and finally passed II by
a yea and nay vote of LAG to 200. Inc
bin as passed, however, is somewhat
different from the bill as introduced.
Its provisions are now applicable
only to state and congressional Offices
and presidential electors, the clause
which would confne a voter TO party
vote is stricken out and there IS a ref
ercndum clause providing that the
measure shall be voted on at the next
March meeting to see whether the law
becomes effective March 20, 1915, and
IL voted on unfavorably the law, unless
repealed, will 20 into effect March ~,
1927.
The vote of Bennington county on
the bill after reconsideration was as
follows: In favor of the passage oil
the bill: Dimond of Manchester, Hap
good Of Peru, Hay of Rupert, Hollis
ter Of Bennington, McWayne of Dor
set. Rice of SALISBURY, Thomson Of
Landgrove. Opposed to the passage
of the bill: Bagley of Searsburg, Bols-
ter of Winhal, Dunn of Stamford,
Horton Of Readsboro, Ward OF sun
derland; not voting, Hulett of Airing
ton, Mattison of Glastonbury, Mears
of Sandgate, Peckham Of Pownal,
Stone of Woodford.
A taxation measure which will ex-
empt money loaned within the state at
five per cent or less from taxation ana
providing for rs per cent offset on
debts owing within the state except
such as bear a note of interest Of less
than six per cent and further provld-
ing that no offset in excess OF S3,0Oo
on debts owing outside the state, has
been passed by the house by vote oil
125 to 81 after long debate IN when
every phase of the question was DIS
cussed. The original committee bill
II 44S which provided for offsets but
not for exemption for five per cent
money was amended by substituting
the bill which finally passed. Some
members favored the original bill,
among them being Mr.. Graham OF
Rockingham and Mr. Ware of Town
shend, and Mr.. Pitkin of Marshfleld
Others. among them Mr.. Proctor OF
Proctor and Mr.. Stone of Vergennes
wished TO leave the law just as 1t is for
further trial, but there was strong
sentiment for the restoration OF on
sets and also for exemption for ilve
per cent money which probably was
the real cause for passage of the Dill
providing both instead of the commit
tee bill which made no provision foi
the latter. Mr.. Demeritt of Duxbur!
the father of the committee bill, made
n strong plea in its favor stating tha'
there was strong demand for offsets
but that he feared both offsets and five
per cent money would not work ou'
well in practice.
The substituted educational bllli
were rushed through the preliminarie'
under suspension of the rules ant
have been passed to third reading D!
the house. The provisions are les'
revolutionary than those embodied II
the original bill but retains the funda
mental principle Of the restoration O
the rural schools and the only in
crease over the present system OF ed
ucation is the provision approprlatini
$50. 600 for aiding rural schools. 70
cational training in junior high schooi
ia also made optional with the towns
In place Of the so-called eugeni
marriage bill substitute bill "hlel
provides for a severe penalty for an
person who marries or eohapit
knowing himself to be afflicted WIT
ycncreal disease and requiring physi
clans treating such cases to repor
them to the board Of health has passe'
both houses. The board may when ad
visable quarantine such cases and tax