The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-09
Following Action Of House
in Advancing the Town
Meeting SUI ge Bill
PREsIDEN s~AL VOTE
BILL IN ssNATE AGAIN
Senator Villas Presented a
New Measure This
Morning

Following closely the unexpected ac-
tion of the House yesterday afternoon in
advancing to third reading the bill
granting to female taxpayers the right
to vote in town meeting bill was intro
dnced in the Senate this forenoon giving
women the same right as men to vote for
presidential electors. 1t will be recalled
that a similar measure was killed in the
House several weeks ago after hard
fight and an exceptionally close vote, and
friends of woman suffrage in the legisla-
ture are inclined to believe that should
the Senate favorably pass upon the new
bill that it might be passed in concur
renee by the lower branch. Senator vi
las is sponsor for the new bill, S 10.
A bill which would broaden the scope
of the workman's compensation act was
introduced in the Senate by Senator De-
merritt of Washington, the measure pro-
viding that all persons or corporations
employing five or more men, instead of
ten. as the law now stands shall come
under its provisions.
Upon motion of Senator Bancroft, who
stated that a number of Barre granite
intra-state shippers desired to be heard
upon the bill, S 81, relating to demurrage
charges, providing for the fixing of free
time by the public service commission.
which caused much debate yesterday and
was finally ordered to a third reading,
was recommitted to the committee
The Dunhsm marriage bill, Fl l6, de- q.
signed to eliminate Bellows Falls as the
modern Gretna Green, was reported fa-
vorably in the Senate this morning with
proposal of amendment but the bill was
made special order for tomorrow fore
noon at l. o'clock.
The House bill relating to the defini
tion of fiscal year. which had been passed
by both branches, was taken up by the
Senate and the vote whereby it was
passed was reconsidered and with pend
ing amendment ordered to lie and be
made a special order for next Wednesday
forenoon. 1t was explained that passage
of the bill in its original form might
have interfered seriously with numerous
appropriations.
The House took up as unfinished busi
ness the customs brokerage bill which
came to the House with majority and
reports, the majority recon-
mending rejection and the entire morn
ing session was devoted TO discussion OF
the bill to the exclusion of the other bills
On the calendar.
The Debate on Suffrage.
The bill granting woman suffrage in
town meeting was ordered to third
reading yesterday afternoon, after the
House had refused to reject by vote of
100 to l02. The session was attended by
arge delegations of suffrage and anti
suffrage leaders, who applauded the va
-ious speakers, the final result calling
orth quite demonstration for the suf
rage ranks.
Representative Fenton of Rutland City
after the bill, which was in
reduced by Representative Moore of
ludlow, came up for consideration, pro-
losed an amendment extending the right
# voting in town meetings to all women
aging poll tax and providing for
of the women of the state
N the question of granting suffrage to
vomen. This drew forth storm of pro-
est from the suffrage ranks, but was
oily defended by Mr.. Fenton, who con
ended that if one woman had the right
0 vote, all should have, and that wealth
Tas not the criterion.
Mr.. Prouty of Newport, Mr.. Stearns
t Burlington, Moore of Ludlow, How
md of Barre and LaFleur of Middlebury
pposed the amendment. Mr.. Metzger
/ Randolph characterized it as subter-
lge. Mr.. Dwinell of Calais favored the
mendment and Mr.. Phelps of Fair Ha-
en- opposed the bill, stating that it was
ass legislation and discriminatory.
The House rejected Mr.. Fenton's
mendment by yea and nay vote OF
% to l04 and by ll3 to 54 rejected one
Ibmitted by Mr.. Tuttle of Nergennes,
,at women voters should have list of
least 5000.