The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-03-04
BENNINGTON CouNTY's
REPRESENTATIVES, BUSY
The Journals Special Representative
al Montpelier Writes OF Ahairs a.
Ue Sees Them.


He Sees Them.
Non,pelier. March s-Ihe ninth
week Of the session Of the general
assembly Of the State Of Vermont Is
nearing its close and the question OF
final adjournment looms . little larger
ON the legislative horizon, although IN
spiie Of the fact that i is understood
that the chairmcn Of FIVE Of the inn
portant committees Of the house and
senate have expressed their opinions
"a the Governor that affairs would be
in shape for a final adjournment on
March goth. il seems hardly probable
that such action can be taken at least
before the first Of April, as several
very important matters, such as the
proposed reorganization Of our educa-
tional system, the taxation problem,
workman's compensation, direct pri-
mary and others which are still IN a
more or less embryonic state and are
likely 10 provide discussion and re-
ouire compromise, are still pending
The question Of equal suffrage, so
called seems TO have been settled del
initely so far as this legislature is con-
eerned. but II may appear again IN
the guise Of a bill to allow women 10
vote on the liquor question and Tor
presidential electors. The question OF
municipal suffrage cannot again come
before the house this session as the
ioint rules would prohibit such a move
When the senate bill granting
women over q years of age the right
TO vote at municipal elections and hold
municipal Offices and for presidential
electors and which had been passed by
that body, came up for action IN the
house the question of the necessity OF
the payment of a poll tax by women
desiring to vote was agitated. Ihe
question finally simmered down to the
,dontion of one or the other of two
amendments, one by Mr.. Miller oil
Bethel, providing for a poll tax oil ~
and the other by Mr.. Morse Of Hard
wick, providing for list of 5000, the
Miller amendment, which was finally
adopted on a yea and nay vote OF 10
to al. making il optional with women
as to whether they would have their
polls set in the last or not but re-
curing such action by those who de-
sired TO vote. Although the amend
ment had been adopted by a large
majority the question of the third
reading Of the bill as amended appear
ed TO be quite different matter and
it was refused by yea and nay vote
of 129 to 100 and an attempt at re-
consideration failed two days later by
a vote of 1873 to 49, Bennington coun'
ty was opposed to third reading by
a vote of 10 to six. The vote was as
follows: In favor of third reading
Dimond of Manchester, Hapgood OF
Peru, McWayne Of Dorset, Peckham OF
Pownal, Thomson Of Landgrove, Dunn
of Stamford. Opposed to a third read
ing: Hulett Of Arlington, Bagley of
Searsburg, Bolster Of Winhall, Hay OF
Rupert, Horton Of Readsboro, Matti-
son Of Glastonbury, Mears of Sand
gate, Rice Of SALISBURY, Stone of
Woodford, Ward Of Sunderland. Mr.
Hollister Of Bennington, did not vote
having been absent for a few days on
account Of illness.
The move for retrenchment in state
expenses has found expression in bill
TO abolish the office of State Factory
Inspector The present incumbent Is
Allan Calhoun Of Middlebury. The
contention is that local boards of
health can care for sanitary conditions
in industrial plants while accident in
surance companies compel employers
who carry insurance with them 70
equip their plants with safety appli-
ances so that there is no real demand
for the office. Another bill in the in
tcrests Of economy would consolidate
the Offices Of commissioner Of agricui-
ture and that Of weights and meas
urcs and would limit the expense Of
the entire department TO $4,000. Still
another stroke OF economy is found in
the favorable report by .he public
buildings committee on the bill to
repeal the appropriation Of 100000
for new state building made by the
legislature Of 1912 The report Of the
committee recognizes the need for
more room for the state library and in
other particulars in clause appended
10 their report. The question cf Q
third reading will be decided later in
the week. A special ccianiitec is nov
investigating the subject and It il
probable that some appropriation viii
be made for the purpose in accordance
with their report when il is presented
The question Of taxation has beer
brought before the Legislature IN the