Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-22

VI RUTLAND county, Defner1tt Oh WASH
ington county. Kicker of Caledonia coun-
ty and Villas Of Chittenden county.
The vote was only reached after bursts
of impassioned eloquence had been hurled
In vain by the opponents Of the measure
against the bulwarks of its supporters.
Senator Martin Villas of Chittenden coun-
ty In one of the most forceful speeches
said that the Senate was legislating not
for Horace Graham, but for the people
of Vermont and decried the passing of the
measure simply because 1t was proposed
by the administration. He also thought
the administration measures conferred en-
tirely too much power upon the Gov
crnor.
AMENDMENTS REJECTED.
Senator Kicker of Caledonia proposed
an amendment to the bill comforting upon
the commissioner OF agriculture all the
rights, powers and duties belonging to the
state fish and game commissioner and
abolishing the latter office. Senator Peck
of Chittenden offered an amendment by
inserting q clause that the commissioner
Of agriculture devote all Of his time to
his duties. which Senator Fairchild moved
to amend by adding land the Governor
shall be the time-keeper for the commits
sioner." None Of the amendments were
accepted.
AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS DEBATED.
The joint resolution which had been
passed by the House approving the con-
tinuance Of the Vermont State School of
Agriculture at Randolph and the Theo-
dore N. Vail school at Lyndon. was or
dered to lie by the Senate this after
noon after a very lengthy debate. In the
remarks Of Representatives Stuart OF
Lyndon and Metzger of Randolph who ex-
planned the conditions at the schools
located at each of their respective towns
many interesting facts werc disclosed.
Both of the schools have about IS stu
dents, but the estimated annual appro-
priation needed by the Vail school is
$4,000 while the Randolph school has
only been receiving $4,000 yearly. but
hopes to have the appropriation raised to
SIS. 000 Mr.. Stuart could not explain the
difference in the amounts. Senator Tay-
lor of Windsor county thought that one
good school, and he meant the Vail
school. was better than several small
schools. but tho remainder Of the Senate
appeared to believe that the small schools
could be made good schools also and that
this was the best policy.
MORE INVESTIGATION WANTED.
1t is evident from a report submitted
to the House this morning by the Rev.
fraser Metzger Of Randolph. chairman
Of the State institutions committee, that
the committee is not satisfied that they
have plumbcd to the depths the charges
of abusive treatment Of children at the
State School for the Feeble-Minded at
Brandon and also those of mis-manage-
ment of the institution. The report states
that the committee is Of the unanimous
opinion that a further and more complete
investigation is necessary and to that
! end 1t recommends that the committee
be authorized to continue the work and
that it be empowered to hear evidence,
! to compel the attendance of witnesses
by subpoena or otherwise and the produce
ton Of books and papers before it at the
| expense of the State.
Dr. Frederic J. Russell. superintendent
of the institution. against whom the
charges were made. was apparently COM
pletely exonerated as the result OF the
two hearings held by the committee,
private one at Brandon, where the school
was inspected and public hearing at the
State House last week. At the public
hearing it was brought out that all of
the testimony given in support of the
charges against the superintendent came
from an employee at the school, named
Burnham. who contradicted himself very
badly. p. w. Bragg of Rutland. plumber.
who had had some difficulty with DR..
Russell over some work which Bragg
was doing at the school and two work.
men, named Bostwick and Mayhem OF
Brandon. Mayhem was alleged to have
been intoxicated and to have had trouble
with one Of the attendants at the school.
Representative MetZger said this after
noon that no new evidence had been laid
| before the committee but that they
| wished to probe further into the matter.
syt1 nv fnSno ~
the board Of trustees Of the school. DR..
I. S. Coburn of Milton. DR.. r. f. Nc
, Sweeney of Burlington and Col. ]. r.
Paddock of Saxtons River. was very
favorable to Dr. Russell. Some of the
school attendants and two Of the children
| also testified favorably for the superin-
| tendcnt.
RETREAT PROBE STARTS TO-DAY.
A Joint resolution introduced in the
House this afternoon by Mr.. Wilson of
Powna that the joint committee appoint
ed to visit the Brattleboro Retreat be
| empowered to employ an attorney at the
expense Of the State for the purpose Of
the investigation was referred to the COM
mittee on court and State expenses. The
committee will probably leave to-mor-
row morning for Brattleboro where they
will make a preliminary investigation.
They expect to return on Thursday and
the main hearing will be held at the
court house in Montpelier.
TO ADJOURN FOR TOWN MEETING.
The House to-day had one of the light
est calendars of the session. Joint reso-
luton that when the two houses adjourn
Saturday forenoon. March 3, 1t be to meet
| March at $3.50 o'clock in the afternoon
This would allow members to attend the
annual town meetings. The measure IS
of the members.
TRAPS-GUN BILL
The act introduced by Mr.. Moore of
Plymouth relating to traps and spring
guns and compelling the owner to dis
| tinctly mark his traps and to visit them
at least once every IS hours. was rejected
by the House this afternoon. number
OF members opposed the bill chiefly on
| humane grounds. The act relating to the
payment for tuberculous animals was re-
committed to the agricultural committee.
The act introduced by Mr.. Bellows or
Swanton exempting from taxation money
loaned within the State and providing for
taxation Of money loaned without the
state and repeating the section of the
pubic statutes allowing savings institu-
lions, banks and trust companies to de-
mand six per cent interest on their loans
was rejected by the House by a yea and
nay vote OF l1S to S. A motion to recon-
init the bill resulted in a yea and nay vote
| VI TO 81 and the speaker voted no. declaring
the motion lost. This is the first time
curing the present session that the sneak