The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-19
Legislature Takes Adjourn
ment from This Morning
to Monday Night
|DUNHAM'S MARRIAGE
MEASURE CAUSES TALK
And Opposition to its Passage is Ex.
pected-Supreme Court Judges Elect
ed at Joint Session Observation-Disclosures
ing on Primary Law Workings.
Especial to The Reformer.
MONTPELIER. Vt. Ian

MONTPELIER, VT, Jan. 10.
The third week of the 1917 session
came to close this forenoon after the
house and senate had disposed Of the
business on the calendar Adjourn
ment was taken until Monday evening
at 730.
The house now has 100 bills under
consideration-26 less than were be-
fore the last session at the end of the
third week.
In the senate this morning there
was little brush over the bin appro-
priating an additional $4,000 to com
plete the new state building. The bill,
however, was passed and now awaits
the governor s signature.
In the house Mr. Day of Ira intro
duced another dog bill providing that
all revenue from dog licenses shall be
paid into the state rather than the
town treasury. All damages arising to
sheep from dogs shall be paid by an or
der drawn By the auditor of accounts.
ANY balance remaining in the state
treasury shall be divided equally be-
tween school and highway fund.
Another bill of state interest calls
for appropriation of $4,000 to build
scenic highway through Smugglcr's
notch
On Monday the first administration
measure will be introduced in the
the house by Mr.. Howland of Barre
City. This will be an act creating the
office of insurance commissioner and
amending the. law relating 10 insurance
commissioners and insurance experts.
The bill imposes upon the insurance
commission the duties and powers now
/ by law resting on the state treasurer
and secretary of state as insurance
/ commissioners.
There is much talk in the capital
city on the bill calling for publication
of intention to marry FIVE days before
the marriage ceremony. This was in
+ troduced by Mr. Dunham Of Brattle.
boro and will receive strong opposi-
sition. Martin of Winhall is especially
opposed.
Two very important committee hear
ings yesterday took the nature Of in.
formal discussions The committee on
suffrage and elections was given brief
talks by Frank Z. Howe of the Benning-
ton Banner, John I. Cushing, of the st.
Albans Messenger, Rev. Fraser Metzger.
Stephen Cushing of St. Albans and
Daniel E. o Sullivan, the minority lead
er of the house. These gentlemen re-
piled to various questions from mem-
bers of the committee.
The general opinion among the legis-
lators and state leaders is that the pri.
mary should have longer trial. For.
mer Lieut. Gov. Howe declared that
even the warmest supporters of the pri-
mary would not claim it a political
cureall. 1t is a step in the right di-
rection, less expensive than the old
caucus system and assures every voter
an opportunity to help select the candi-
dates of his party rather than allowing
the few, who can afford to attend con-
ventions, full sway. 1t seems that Mr..
Williams of Pawlet who cried so loud
for the repeal in the first days of the
Isession is coming to see that it would
be better to wait until there is a demand
from the electorate for such action.
Elbert S. Brigham, commissioner of
agriculture, appeared before the house
committee on agriculture and while his
official position would render it impos-
sible for him to announce his attitude
on Gov. Graham s bill consolidating all
departments having to do with agri.
culture under one head, it was evident
| from portions of his speech that he finds
: merit in the proposition. Mr.. Brigham
believes that it would be wise to have
/ department heads less associated with
) politics. Next week State Forester
: Hawes will appear before the committee.
Election of Judges.
Yesterday afternoon when the joint
assembly convened to elect the officers
called for at that time, all space for
visitors was filed and although the
spectators were largely women no little
, interest was manifest. 1t was expected
that there would be a contest for ser
geant-at arms, but it developed into a
Ewalk-over.
In proceeding to elect a chief Justice
of the supreme court of the state, to
succeed Loyeland Munson, Judge John
!. II. Watson was nominated by Stanley c.
, Wilson of Chelsea. Senator Fl. f. Eddy
, OF Brattleboro was prompt to second the
! nomination as Judge Watson was born
in Jamaica
/ Following the election of Judge Wat
! son, the assembly listened to an unusual
, nomination speech by Senator Linu,
, Leavens of Lamoille county, which
characterized Judge George NJ. Powers
of Morrisville as a clean, commanding