Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15
Movement to Shorten Five.Mile
"Dry" Zone about Colleges
to Half.Mile Limit.
RETREAT PROBE LIKELY.
Ex-senator Potter Tells Committee His
Daughters Jaw Was Broken Mt
BrattIebOro Institution.

sembly, a fight will be waged against the
granting of State aid to the University
OF Vermont. SO that the provisions of the
bill may not apply to Burlington is the
startling statement made by member
of the House to-day. Whether or not
such an attempt to withhold all State
aid from the University of Vermont would
result successfully is, of course, very
doubtful
There is movement on foot to compro-
mise the bill by changing the limit within
which licenses may not he granted from
five miles to onc-half mile of any insti
tuition of higher learning.
Another suggestion which has been
made is to change the bill or to Introduce
another providing that no State appro-
priation shall be made for an institution
of learning, which is located in license
town.
The temperance committee will ballot on
the bill on Tuesday and it is probable
that a majority and minority report will
be returned. Whatever opposition there
is to the bill must come from the House
as the majority of the Senate are known
to be favorable to its passage.
RETREAT PROBE is PROBABLE.
Although the committee on State and
court expenses to whom was referred the
resolution introduced by Representative
Frank A. Wilson of Pownal to investi-
gate the Brattleboro retreat has not
made report, their hearing this morn
ing made it practically certain that an
investigation would be conducted. Not
only Representative Wilson and Dr. E. T.
Potter of North Pownal, whose daughter
is alleged to have been mistreated while
n patient at the institution are asking
for an investigation. but the retreat it.
self is asking for a probe of the charges.
DAUGHTERS JAW WAS BROKEN.
DR.. Potter. a former State senator in
1905. and father of Mrs. Hattie Guilford,
whose story of abuse received at that
institution in 1914 prompted Mr.. Wilson
to ask for the investigation, appeared
before the committee apd in a quiet yet
nevertheless impressive manner told his
story. Senator Potter said he was con-
WINGED that his daughter received
broken jaw while at the retreat and that
other injuries, scars of which remain on
her body. were inflicted upon her. and
declared that his daughter had been
knocked down by an attendant. After his
daughter had been taken to her own
home she regained her full mental facu,-
ties. Dr. Potter also told that the re-
treat officials paid Mrs. Guilford $1,000
In order to avoid a law suit which she
was contemplating.
INVESTIGATION WELCOMED.
Senator Eddy of Wndham county told
the committee that Judge j. NJ. Tyler of
Brattleboro. a trustee of the retreat, had
asked him to announce that in view of
the charges made. the institution would
welcome an investigation. Mr.. Durham
of Brattleboro also stated that DR.. s. T..
Lawton. superintendent of the retreat,
had informed him that while it might
be an injury to the institution to be COM
PEELED to undergo an investigation.
greater injury might result if one were
not had. Their only request was that
the investigation should be held in Brat
tleboro. as it would be difficult for the
physicians and nurses to go to Mont
pelier to testify.
The amended Durham marriage bill re-
curing non-residents of the State only
to give five days notice of their maria ge
intention. which was ordered to a third
reading yesterday, was passed by the
House this morning. Representative
Aiken of Putney opposed the bill and
Representatives Stearns of Burlington
and Durham of Brattleboro urged its
passage.
CONSOLIDATION BILL OPPOSED.
The administration agricultural bill
consolidating under the office of COM
missioner of agriculture the depart
ments of agriculture and forestry. with
those of live stock commissioner and
certain Others will encounter vigorous
opposition in the Senate judging from
the sentiments expressed at the hearing
on the bill before the Senate committee
on agriculture this afternoon. Il. S.
BrighamsOf St. Adams. the present COM
missioner of agriculture, appea red be-
fore the committee and was cross-ex-
amined at length regarding various
features of the bill. Mr.. Brigham
while apparently favOring the bill was
circumspect and qualified all of his an
swers with the remark that the success
of the measure would depend upon the
commissioner of agriculture and the
ability of the men under him. Mr.. Brig
! ham was Of the opinion that II the right
man was selected, the measure would
be successful both from the standpoint
of economy and of efficiency.
SENATOR WHEELER SKEPTICAL.
Senator w. A. Kicker of st. Johnsbury
has been openely opposed to the bill be-
cause of it's consolidation of the work
A.. OF the livestock commissioner. Senator
4 H. II. Wheeler of Chittenden county at
this afternoons hearing seemed to be
, doubtful of the value of subordihating
+ the forestry department to that of agri-
culture and told of the experiences of
t., certain other States which had adopted
this method. with poor results ma
81 jority of the committee are. however,
said to be in favor of the bill, so that a
favorable report is assured. An unof-
ficial poll of the Senate a ,fOrtnigh. ago
, showed sixteen OF the thirty members
!, to be in favor OF the bill and this mum
Der is said to have since been increased.
+ The attitude of the Senate towards
;. administration measures was shown
. plainly this morning, when the bills
), creating the office Of director of State
institutions and the department of in
=, surance were unanimously ordered to a
= third reading. Senator Kicker had OPP
= posed the bill creating the office of di-
rector OF State institutions at com
mittee hearing on the previous evening.
but just before the bill was reached,
Lieutenant Governor Hulburd asked
SIN to take the chair. The presiding
officer of the Senate does not vote ex-
:. cept to decide a question on a tie vote.
/, The Senate passed the bill inhicting
: a. punishment for misbranding food and
. for failure to state the net weight of
= packages. E.s
. The first House conference tommittee
. was appointed by Speaker Wilson this
/. morning to confer with the Senate re-
= the rebates OF insurance premiums. Mr..
:, Moore u Ludlow. Mr. Prouty OF Newport
T, and Mr.. Rublee of Berkshire were APP
!. pointed as the committee
. COMMITTEE ovERRULED.