The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-04


laws. and to provide for the payment
by the State of the costs taxed.
The Senate, although their day was
mostly taken up by the consideration
of the district court bill. managed to
transact considerable other business.
The act extending the powers OF
banks to invest in certain securities
was made special order for Wednes-
day.
The bill limiting the hours of en-
ployment of women and children in
manufacturing and mechanical estab-
lishments was also made special or
der for Thursday morning.
BY vote of II to 5 the Senate or
dered to a third reading the act auth
orizing the employment of general
town or municipal managers. Despite
the opposition of Senator Peck, the
amendment to exempt cities from the
provisions of the act was accepted.
The act relating to the open season
for hunting deer was reconsidered and
amended so that the open season will
be from November 10 10 20. The bill
was again passed in concurrence and
will have TO go back to the House.
When the legislature convened
Monday it found that there were l24
measures yet awaiting final adjourn
ment. The session may end April II
but some members predict that the
work can not be accomplished in time
to close the session on that date.
The principal interest af the pres
ent week centers on the administra-
ton judiciary bills and the budget
bill. The judiciar bin has been made
a special order in the senate for
Tuesday morning 1t abolishes the
present municipal courts and pro-
vides for 13 district courts.
The other administration judiciary
bill. which was introduced by Repre-
sentative Joseph T. Stearns of Bur-
lington, is the one about which the
bitterest fight of the session will CEN
ter. This bill provides for the abol-
ishment of the superior court and the
enlarging of the supreme court to
nine members. Ii also provides that
the judgment of the lower court shall
be automatically affirmed in cases
which have not been disposed of with
in two terms after they have been
sent to the supreme court.
The Vermont Bar association has
fought this bin determinedly, and
even large majority OF the House
judiciary committee in whose hands
the bill has been for some weeks are
said to be opposed TO it, Numerous
amendments and even one entire sub
stitute bill of SO pages have been pro-
posed but have always been rejected
by the administration men, who de-
clare that the bar association wants
to receive 75 per cent. in return for
25 per cent. allowance. The bill will
probably be on the calendar by the
middle of the week. 1t is under
stood that the administration forces
are willing to ooncede an enlargement
of the supreme court to ten members
so that all of present superior court
judges may be elevated and that the
number will not be automatically re-
duced to nine. The section providing
for the automatic clearing of the
docket will probably also be stricken
from the bill. These, however, are
regarded as the final concessions
which will be made and the measure |
will be fought out on these lines.
The bill prohibiting the railroads |
from engaging in the customs broker
age business. which was the occasion
of two briskly contested public hear |
ings, will probably be disposed of by !
the Senate this week. Another bill !
which is much in the public eye is |
the woman suffrage measure, giving |
women the right to vote for presiden- |
tial electors and in town meetings, |
but providing for a referendum by the |
men and women of the State on the
equal suffrage question. The measure |
passed the House despite the opposi- I,
ton Of the suffrage leaders, but is ex-
Dected to be killed by the Senate.
H. NJ. Mcintosh of Burlington has
been appointed State engineer at |
salary of $4,000 annually. This is the |
first appointment made for this office |
which was created by an act of the
present Legislature. Henry b. Shaw
also of Burlington has been reap |
pointed member of the board of uni
'orm legislation. The only important
yet to be made by the !,
Governor are those of insurance COM
missioner and commissioner of agri- |
culture. There are several important
appointments yet to be confirmed by |
he Senate including Park H. Pollard
If Cavendish as the fifth member of
he board of control and Frank c.
Williams of Newport as bank commits
siOnpr bnt If is NOT he1iavad that tho