The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-02-18
PrOhibitory Measure Goes to
Third Reading by Vote
of 16O to So
HOUSE ALSO FAVORS
ABOLISHING ATTY. GEN.
Windham County Members in Line for
Both of These Measures-Their Out
come in the Senate is Now of Much
Public Interest
Especial to The Reformer.)
MONTPELIER. Feb. I

NUN II El4lEh, eD. 10.
The Perry prohibitory liquor law
was put one. step nearer passage in the
house this morning when ordered to a
third reading on yea and nay vote of
100 to 90. 1t will be acted upon tomor-
row morning The vote this morning
indicates that the passage of the bill
by the house is assured. What the sen
ate Will do cannot be said, but if the
house passes the measure by such
heavy majority as that by which it
sent it to a third reading the senate
may act on the supposition that there
is a great demand for a referendum
and will vote to submit the law to the
people.
The Windham county delegation
voted as follows:
Yeas: Smith of Athens. Perry of
BrattlebOro, Austin of Brookline, Snow
Of Dover, Leonard of Grafton, Thurber
of aifaX, Melendy of Londonderry.
Higgins of Newfane, Aiken of Putnev.
I Graham of Roe bingham. Johnson of
Somerset. Eddy of Stratton, Ware of
Townshend, Butterfield of Westmin-
ster, Wheeler of Nottingham, Corbett
Of Wilmington.
Noes: Howard Of Dummerston, In
graham of Guilford, Newton of Vernon
Jenison of Windham, Worden of Marl-
bOro.
i Not voting: Gleason of Jamaica and
Stocker of Wardsboro
i The Perry bill provides for a referen,
dun to be taken at the March meeting
III 1916 and will go into effect either
in May, 1916 or 1917 Because tho
Vermont constitution which has no pro
vision for a referendum any measure
that is referred to the people has
to be by indlrection. Legislative pow
ers cannot be delegated to the people
therefore when the legislature woult
submit a question by referendum i
first has to pass the law and then ash
the people when they want it to go in
to effect.
The present local option law wa
adopted by such a referendum II years
ago. Mr.. Perry of Brattleboro, fathe
of the present bill, said that there wa
q widespread demand for the referen
petitions from 5.tl4 voters and tha
. petitions from .4l4 voters and tina
among the petitions were those signe,
/ by Pres. John II. Thomas of Middle
bury and members of the faculty an,
undergraduates and by President Gu.
Potter Benton of the University o
Vermont, 36 members of the facult
and 300 odd members of the studen
body,
The members of the senate and hous
committees which have to do with stat
finances were in conference with Gov
ernor Gates this morning. and ways an
means of keeping the appropriation
within the revenue of the state wer
discussed. Governor Gates Is very an9
ious to have the state cut its coat a,
4 cording to the cloth and the commit
/. tees seemed of the same opinion.
; was found necessary to impose a stat
q tax of 10 per cent in 1912 and it
n hoped that n way will be found to elm
v mate this necessity this year.
II BY a vote of 164 to 50 the house We
V terday afternoon passed the house bi
q 1856 to abolish the office Of attorne
n general to a third reading. 1t was e,
pected that when this bill came mp fl
/? action the house would be deluged wit
u perfect flood of oratory. but its pa
sage was accomplished with but a fra
tion of the debate devoted to far le
important measures.
The bill came from the commit,
with a minority and majority repoi
its majority report unfavorable to i
"a passage.
Mr. Putnam of Middlesex opened Il
debate by short speech, expressir
y his opinion that it was not the prese
Is incumbent of the office who deserv'
u