Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-01
Senator POwell's Newspaper Bill
Thrown into the Discard by
Vote of Sc to As After Con-
siderable Debate.
HOUSE REVERSES ITSELF
Rejects Conference Report, Then
RecOnsiders 1t. All Within 20
Minutes-Senate FavOrs Lin
tied Offset of $1,000 for Debts
Owing.

Montpelier. March 2s.-The House yes
lerday afternoon gave n exhibition of
gymnastics, when within the course Of
twenty minutes. it first rejected the con-
ference report on II, 40i, known as the
State fair bill, and then turned around.
reconsidered its vote and wound UP by
adopting the report by a larger majority
than by which it had Just turned it
down.
The situation was unique: Mr.. Hapgood
got first crack at the report and vigorous
~ opposed it, Mr.. Dunsmoor of West
Windsor favored the project and to hurry
along the vote. which everyone supposed
would be favorable. moved the previous
question: Mr.. Moore of Ludlow. who was
on his feet at the same instant as Mr..
Dunsmoor. was recognized to permit his
explaining his vote. which was tat
while he did not approve the appropria-
ton. he did object t, having the sum
made a fixture for future LEGISLATURES.
The House at once proceeded to Kill the
report. refusing its adoption by a vote
Of - to 70: Mr.. Stacey of Hartford.
vitality Interested in the bill and its
strongest champion, wanted to know IL
Solil'lHlIlS u l We III ~ saw Nv
measure; Mr.. Moore responded by stating
that he had no idea hat the House
would and certainly did not want it to
kill the project, and asked the House to
reconsider its vote: this It did by a vote
of 81 to 50 and then adopted the report
by the still more emphatic vote OF 81
to 81.
THIRD READING REFUSED.
The House also adopted the conference
report on IT,. $40. which provides for a
uniform law for the grading Of apples.
The popular body also took another
crack at one OF Senator Powell's bills,
when 1t refused q third reading to S. Is.
the bill to prevent the publishing of
Anonymous communications Mr.. Hap
goods effort to make State penal in
situations more undesirable places OF
abode was also turned down in the
House. MIR. Taylor of Springfield. for
the committee members, stating that they
believed rather in an earnest effort to
reform the criminals. than to contine them
IN dungeons and stocks.
The tax bill will have to go to a
conference as a result OF the action of
he Senate on Saturday afternoon.
That body favored a limited offset OF
NJ 1000 and substituted the House com
nittee bill for the Moore offset bill
which the House passed A few days
committee deliberation and q few min
Ites of discussion in the Senate were
enough to dispose of the tax question
and a spirit of compromise was in evil
aence.
AMENDING BURLINGTON'S CHAR
TER.
Tlz IJ,,l;o-,&a olork1r LilI q 1A hoe
now come to the House with It's q
amendments and is referred to the com.
rittee on municipal corporations. Thu
ess important charter amendment bill
II. 43i has now become a law by tbs
Governors signature. This act provides
That the city may contract with the
Medical College for treatment of the
city's sick poor. provides for certain
Executive sessions OF the city council
provides that school commissioners terms
shall begin on July J. and gives the
ago certain powers in fixing the per.
sonnet of the police force.
The House overhau.ed the department
bf weights and measures again and lef
in impaired health. Two actions wer,
taken which will reduce the efficiency o.
he department. The hrst was a resolu
lion which reduces the annual appropria
ion of the department from $1,000 L
5000, The second was the passage o
H. 1874, originally drawn to raise the com
knissioner's salary and to increase tn
appropriation. but emasculated or tn
ioor of the House 50 that It worked tn
bther way, The resolution was passed I
spite of opposition of MIR. Morse O
lard wick and Mr.. Stone Of Woodford
Mr.. Morse said that to cut the appropria
" I,r ---t , ..,n
most Of the sum appropriated. He be
ieved that the State ought to have u
Efficient department or none. Mr.. Ston
bf Woodford wished to have the ar
propiation at least continued so the
pothecaries' scales, the accuracy c
which is very important for public We
ARE, could be inspected. The vote o
he resolution was 1T to 81.
A tired and hungry House took anothe
ling at the department of weights an
measures late in the morning when a bi
lrawn BY the commissioner increasin
Ills salary and appropriation and er
arging his duties came up. The Hous
hdopted an amendment proposed by e..
ones of Shrewsbury, ans favored b
Pther watchdogs Of the treasury. whic
<epe his salary at 81, 60O and limited h
otal departmental expenses to 5000. Tn
vas tackled on to a proposed amend
nent by Mr., Stone granting 5000 add
ional for inspecting apothecaries' scale
After a wearysome and complicated d,
pate the bill was passed with all ament
nents. A motion of Mr.. Fairchild
Fairfield also prevailed, He moved
mend the last section which would NAL
h possible for the commissioner to secul
Convictions without proving intent to d.
raud. MI. Fairchild amended 1t SO tn,
he present law is continued. and Il
Commissioner must prove intent to d
raud. This clause has made It almo
impossible for the commissioner to s
ure convictions in many cases. NJ
'airohild argued, however, that acciden
III happen and many short weights we
iven by a merchant who did not kro
hat his scales We're wrong. lie said tn
UGH a mistake II discovered would ma
I'm a criminal under the proposed la
ANTI-LOBBY BILL. KILLED.
Mr. Rixford's anti-lobby bill receive
,lI,. t,oatpnnnt Ia tba Sanatp II Wq