Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-02-16
VERMONT'S GRETNA
GREENS DOOMED
Durham Marriage Bill, as Am end
ed, Passed by House I47 to 81
Does Not Require Five Days Notice
from Residents of State - Blind
Chaplain of Senate Apoplexy Victim.
Especial to The Phoenix.)
MONTPELIER. Feb. II

Vermont's Grctna Greens are slated
for place in history; in fact the indi-
cation is that they will soon be of the
bill as amended, forbidding the issuance
of marriage licenses to non-residents
until they had fled five days notice of
their intention to marry with q town
clerk, was passed by the house of repre-
sentatives. The only man to speak from
the floor against the measure was f. w.
Aiken of Putney.
Later Mr.. Aiken asked for recon
sideration which was granted and the
measure was made a special order for
Wednesday, at which time Mr.. Aiken
again opposed the bill and was support
cd by Robinson of Jamaica and Miner
of Sherburnc. The bill was strongly
favored by Rev. Fraser Metzger and
/ Representative Bond of Searsburg.
On the yea and nay vote demanded
by Mr.. Aiken the bill passed 147 to 81.
On Friday the house committee on suf
frage and elections held public hear
ing on the Metzger bill, allowing the
women of Vermont the ballot in presi-
Dental elections. The room was well
filed, but the speaking seemed to be
largely from the suffragists, only one op-
posing the measure.
Always before the workers for equal
rights have felt it necessary to argue
reasons for women having the ballot,
but at this time public sentiment seems
such that they need only to ask "Whv
not grant equal rights to women2'
Rev. Fraser Metzger, DR.. Grace Sher-
wood, Mrs. F. II. Rastall, Alexander
Ironside, Mrs. f. NJ. Denny, Miss Grace
Clark and Frank Rowland spoke in be-
half of the bill, while John b. Candon
of Pittsford would not force the ballot
upon the women of the state until he
felt that a majority of them desired it,
AT the next public hearing the anti's
claim that they will monopolizc the
time with evidence to prove that the
women of the state do not wish the
ballot at this time.
The measure reOrganiZing the state
militia to conform to the provisions of
the national defense act of 1916 which
was presented by Prouty of Newport
has passed the house.
Another military bill of far-reaching
Importance would make all able bodied
men between the ages of IS and 25 liza
bic to service III the National Guard.
The governor is given the power to
draft such men to fill the vacancies in
any company. This bill does not meet
with hearty approval and even some
of its friends question the wisdom of
such step when congress is consider
ing universal military training.
Ernest Moore of Ludlow seeks to
Icorrect the alleged abuses in the admin
listration of the liquor laws by the Ii
cense commissioners. Moore wants the
governor to assume the responsibility
for these men and so asks that they be
appointed by the governor rather than
elected by the assistant judges in the
various counties. The contention is that
commissioners selected by a governor
would be less closely affiliated with
local politics. The pay of the commits
sioners is fixed at 81 per day for time
actually spent i'll the work
The most recent administration meas
lure calls for reorganization of the
state board of health, imposing on that
board the duties now performed by
the supervisors of the insane. Fogg of
Underhill, chairman of the temperance
committee, was selected to present this
bill
The administration measure creating
the office of director of state institutions
was passed by the senate and after
wards an attempt was made to recon
slider, but the attempt failed on a vote
of % to I. In discussing the reconsid-
Grafton Senator Taylor of Windsor ven
tured to say that the senate was in a
stupor, suffering from an overdose of
administration dope.
Senator Demerritt of Washington
county said he did not believe the
changes proposed by the bill would be
for the best interests of the state; the
state cannot have an administration
like big corporation because of the
change every two years in the execu-
tive office, and he feared the state in
stitutions might suffer from politics
Senator Dcmerrtt believed that the
men capable of doing the work efficient
, iy would be worth much more than the
, salary of $4,000. Therefore, Senator
, Demerritt strongly urged rcconsidera-
ton.
!, No measure has attracted so much at
| tention nor received such strenuous sup
; port and opposition as the Hunt BILL
, making a five-mile dry belt around all
institutions of higher learning receiving
aid from the state.
After a public hearing, whoch was
monopolized by the faculty of the Uni
versity Of Vermont, many believed the
measure would pass, but this week the
other side has had their inning and the
result is that the Hunt bill is doomed
to an ignoble death 1t will die III the
= hands of the temperance committee, to
which it was intrusted.
+ When the second hearing opened in
the hall of representatives there was an
Y unusually large attendance, the hall be-
. ing well crowded. Judge Charles II.
Darling of RurlinptOn oDpnp1 fine case