Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-01
bEAL.ED REPORT ON
AGRICULTURAL BILL
Committee Ballots in Secret on
Consolidation Measure
Votes Counted Monday.
OPPOSITION APPEARS.
Dill to Abolish Primary Law Adversely
RepOrted-Dcbatcd MOndny-t;Ov-
ernor's Judicirry bill In.

gricultural bill, II. 80, consolidating
ender the Office of commissioner of agri-
Fulture the duties of the department of
agriculture, State forestry, livestock
commissioner and others, will be reported
o the House Monday afternoon by the
agricultural committee in whose hands
he measure has been for some lime.
The members OF the committee tool.
ecret ballot to-day concerning n favor
Die or adverse report on the bill, and
he ballots were then scaled and will not
be counted until Monday. AS the Mon
Jay afternoon sessions are seldom largely
attended, Chairman Candon Of the COM
nittee will ask that the bill be made a
special order for Tuesday. While il ap-
Peared certain few days ago that the
pill would be favorably reported, the OPP
position to some Of its features seems
o be growing stronger and considerable
ioubt was expressed in official circles
o-day regarding the nature of the re-
port. 1t is n practical certainty that
various amendments will accompany even
favorable report. Both the House and
senate adjourned ut noon to-day, the for
Nor branch until $3.50 o'clock Monday
afternoon and the latter until 7:30 o'clock
Monday evening.
ADVERSELY REPORTED.
The bill to abolish the present pr-
mary law was reported adversely TO the
House this morning by a majority of the
Suffrage and elections committee As
Mr.. Williams of pawiet the introducer
bf the BILL was absent from the session,
the measure, on motion of Mr.. Phelps,
chairman of the committee. was made
Special order for 1890 O'Clock Tuesday
morning. 1t is believed that the flow of
pratory which was expected to mark the
question OF the passing of the bill will
he considerably lessened by the knowl-
S1,r hat r,r,v, -,
referendum will be introduced soon and
It would not be surprising if the bill was
quickly killed.
The administration measure. II. 1l2. 10
create the office of insurance commits
eioner and to abolish the ex-ofiicio Offices
of insurance commissioners Of the secrc-
tary of state and State treasurer, was
ordered to lie this morning, and made
special order for Ii o'clock Wednesday
morning. This will give the members
chance 20 study the bill. although it will
probably pass without opposition.
JUDICIARY BILI. APPEARS.
The long expected and much discussed
judiciary administration measure, abilish-
ing the superior court and placing nine
menb ers the supreme bench made its
appearance in the house this morning,
being introduced by Representative
Stearns OF Burlington. One section OF
comment among the Legislators provides
that upon failure of the supreme court to
render judgment in cause before the
I'D journmcnt of the second term of tho
court after such cause is heard, the judg
rnent or decree below shall be affirmed as
of course. While this would automatic
cally clear the docket at the end Of two
terms, the situation might arise when a
case would not be decided upon its mer-
its.
The bill also provides that in case the
business of the supreme, county courts
or courts of chancery will not permit the
temporary assignment of a iue'c as pro-
vided by the act, the chief justice may
designate a district judge to act as pre-
siding Judge of such county court and
such district judge while so acting shall
have all the powers Of a Justice of the
supreme court, but not of a chancellor.
The salary is fixed at $4,000 annually and
expenses. The presiding judge of the
county court is also given power to fix
the number of deputy sheriffs to attend
and act as court officers. No allowance is
made for janitors or bellman where the
State pays part Of tho iantor service.
SPLIT ON AUTO BILL
H. IA. relating to the issuance Of opera
tors and chauffeurs licenses and the
regulation and operation of automobiles
sailed a peculiar course This act pro-
vides, with amendments, among other
things that an automobile driver having
An accident where the damage resulting
is less than S. must report the same 10
the secretary Of state The storm CEN
tered on this point, as certain legislators
did not feel that man should be COM
PEELED TO make report Of the fact that
he ran over a chicken The bin was first
ordered to lie, but this vote was after
wards reconsidercd and the House
amiably agreed to reconsider an amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Moore of Ludlow
which had previously been rejected
Pending the confederation of this amend
ment the bill was ordered to lie, tenn
porarily.
A third reading was ordered of H. a.
which places the licensing of peddlers
itnerant vendors and auctionecrs in the
hands Of the State tax commissioner.
ON TRACTION ENGINE TIRES.
An act which would not permit the
operation on highways of I. traction en-.
CINE, or other vehicle carrying weigh,
In excess of four tons including the We.
hicle. unless such vehicle has a rear tire
pr felloe not less than eight inches r
width, was introduced by Mr.. Foley OF
Montgomery.
Mr.. Chapman of Concord introduced ar
net to appropriate sum not to exceed
Is. 900 to assist the town of Concord il
constructing a highway leading from
Miles Pond to East Concord.
The prohibition OF the sale Of fur gar
ments, without first informing the pur
chaser as to the nature Of the fur anc
providing penalty Of 100 days imprison
ynent or fine of 800 Or both, was intro
duced by Mr., Williams of Pawlet by re
quest.
SIS 4 DRINK.
Mr.. Bliss of Georgia oy request intro
duced a temperance bill which provides
kc5 fine for each time "A passenger on
common carrier takes drink OF intoxi
eating liquor.
ON MILK INSPECTION.
An act relating to the inspection o
cheese factories, condensareS and receiv
ing stations for milk and cream and i'm
posing a tax to defray the expenses o
such inspection was introduced by MI
Candon, chairman Of the agriculture
committee The commissioner (of asri
culture shall require the correction of a
unsanitary conditions and practices ant
may order managers of such plants to r.
Ceive no milk or cream unul permittc
by him. A $50 fine is the penalty 70
failure to comply with the provision O
this act.
BETTER FOOD INSPECTION.
Senator Villas Of Chittcndcn county in
a mr. iOC for clean