The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-20
Legislative Committee Asks
Power to Investigate
Still Further
REASON IS NOT
TOLD TO MEMBERS
Plans for Adjournment of Legislature
From March l to March Hearing
on Military Bill Set for This After
noon-Senator Eddy Better
Especial to The Reformer.)
MONTPELIER, Feb. 90


| The house was taken by surprise this
morning when the committee on state
institutions presented its report on the
recent investigation of the school for
feeble minded at Brandon This re-
port was not the expected exoneration
of the management and especially of DIR.
Russell, but asked that committee be au-
thorized to hold further investigation
and have power to subpoena witnesses
III order that any false accusation may
be authoritatively denied and if abuses
are actually found to exist that meas
ures may be taken for their correction.
At the public hearing last week the
board of trustees and DR.. Russell APP
peared to answer interrogations on the
part of the committee and Mr. Metzger
as chairman of the committee read tes-
tiInonv taken at the school which was
denied emphatically by DR.. Russell and
the trustees. 1t proved that the larger
part of this testimony, coming from
one Burnham, an employe at the school,
was exceedingly contradictory.
Chairman Metzger has not taken the
Legislature nor the public into his con-
, tidences in showing upon what basis
his committee finds it necessary to con
! duct q further investigation or what
reasons there are for IT, On yea and
nay vote the house this morning re-
. iected the bill, which Bellows of Thorn
. ton has agitated from the earliest days
of the session, which exempts from tax
: alton money loaned within the state and
+ provides for taxation Of money loaned
!, outside the state. The vote was lis to
96 against the bill. Mr.. Howland of
/ Barre presented a resolution this morn
t ing asking that when the legislature ad.
4 iourns Saturday forenoon, March l, il
? be to meet on Wednesday, March {, at
/. 3 clock in the afternoon. This allows
n the members to attend the annual
Ii March meeting in their respective
+; towns. The house passed without op
b position II 227 creating the office OF
!; state engineer which will be subordinate
I, to the highway department.
d In the senate some little debate arose
t, when the house resolution approving til,
continuance of the state schools of ag
riculture at Randolph and Lyndonvillt
was considered by a committee Of tht
whole. Senator Demeritt favored allow
ing the Vail property to revert and ex
IS pressed himself as in favor of severa
small schools rather than one large one
Senator Foote came into the debate a
u advocating three schools. Representa-
= tive Metzger of Randolph appeared t
: : urge a favorable report on the resolu
Y |, tion and said the purpose of the resolu
y.
T. days of the session when matters o
n appropriation for the schools came III
lg der consideration. Mr.. Metzger er
Enthusiastically favored the idea that ag
y ricultural schools should be brough
IN near the people SO that the farm boy
RS may attend them and yet not becom
ch alienated from the farm. Mr.. Stewal
ry of Lyndon also spoke in favor of mail
xt tanning two schools. 1t is problematic;
ed as to what the senate will do with thi
nd resolution.
he Late this afternoon there will be
very interesting public hearing granite
ar by the committee on military affairs |
ed consider the bill which has been submit
m ted by Adjt Gen. Tillotson which en-
he powers the governor to draft able bodie
Id young men to fill any vacancies in IL
ry companies of the National Guard. D
on John NJ. Thomas, president of Middl
to bury is here to attend the meeting.
Senator Eddy is very comfortable t
day, after having had an excellel
night.
Yesterday afternoon there we
about $50 of the house members prese
IL when the house reconven2d at $50. ri
d. house passed six measures of small il
portance and ordered to third rea
~ ng the administration measure .cres
81 ing the Office of state highway en-.
~. ~ neer There was a little debate on tn
,ah several opposing the committee s su
IA. gestion that the salary for this offic
r. be placed at 5000, motion to $40
ate Iheieioi iailihSt
i The. senate at 7.30 in the event
old was called to order by Senator Foo
if as the presiding officer. The sena
ion. passed the Foote bill providing for t
ded establishment of state detention far
net TO which inmates of jails NAV be tral
esi- ferred A bill was introduced changi
to the place of meeting Of the state boa
of registration from Montpelier to b
lington.
zig Three bills were introduced in I
to house at Yesterday s session, one
hat Adams of Westford making horse de