Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-29
'SOLONS REFUSE TO
RAISE. THEIR PAY
$5.a-Day Bill Rejected by House
Suffrage Referendum
Measure Advances.

Montpelier. March 0.-By q practically
unanimous vote the House this afternoon
rejected the bill introduced yesterday by
Mr.. Hall Of Isle La Motto. making the
pay Of the General Assembly members
Ave dollars . day. with q corresponding
increase 10 ten dollars OF the galleries. Of
the speaker and the president Of the
Senate. A motion to have tho bill made
q special order for Wednesday afternoon
and another to mako the bill effective
July /. 1873, were both rejected. Two
other salary bills we're also acted upon.
The one increasing the salary Of the State
highway commissioner from $3.50 to 5000
was ordered to . third reading. but the
measure carrying q like increase for the
attorney-general was ordered to lie.
THE MILITARY SITUATION
seems somewhat lessened. although there
States military program. Governor
Graham. who wcs indisposed yesterday.
was At the State House to-day and had
frequent conferences with the budget
and military affairs committees.
The Senate this morning adopted joint
resolution introduced by Senator Peck Of
Chittencen county favoring universal
military training and setting forth that
the international situation now compels
immediate action
The House ordered to a third reading
the Austin resolution, also favoring uni
versal military training. Mr.. Austin read
a telegram stating that the New Jersey
Legislature had already taken such
action.
SUFFRAGE REFERENDUM BILL.
The committee bill extending the
suffrage right to women and provid-
ling for a referendum by the men and
women voters Of the State. was passed
by tho House by yea and nay vote
OF 1872 to 50. despite vigorous opposi-
ton by the suffrage leaders. The
fight on this bill will be carried to
the Senate. where its defeat is con-
fidently predicted. A strong effort
will be made. however. to have the
Senate pass the bill in the hope that
the Governor will veto the Moore BILL
which Is now In his hands and sub
nit the whole question to the people
The Senate by a yea and nay vote Of
IS to passed the Villas suffrage BILL
giving women the right to vote for
presidential electors.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The Senate did not however take
final action on the measure placing the
appointment Of the liquor license COM
missioners in the hands Of the Gov
ernor. 1t being made a special order
for next Tuesday morning. The SEN
timent 10 growing stronger daily that
the chief executive does not wish to
have the burden Of appointing these
consni ssioners placed upon him. par
tiouiarly during the present trouble
some times. and the bill will proba-
bly, be killed. There Is some talk.
however Of it's being so amended that
the appointments made this year by
the assistant Judges will stand, the
Governor making no appointments un-
til next March.
MORSE BILL PASSES SENATE.
The Morse bill providing for a yearly
referendum on the liquor question was
passed by the Senate by a vote of 10 to $.
The chances for this bill passing the
House appear favorable.
The Senate also passed the House bill
prohibiting the use of labels attached by
wire to bags of feed and grain. and took
the same action on the bill extending the
authority Of the public service commission
to the manufacture, distribution and sale
Of gas and electricity.
CHIRoPoDIsT MEASURE PASSED.
The House after listening to some blood
curdling tales regarding the deaths from
blood. poisoning Of persons who had had
their toe nails cut by unframed chiropod-
lists, passed the Senate bill providing for
the licensing Of such practitioners by the
board Of medical registration. The act 10
effective January 1. 1918. after which time
rhf ~ ~
passed the boards examination. The bill
introduced by Mr. Rowland Of Barre MAX
ing certain changes in the laws relating
to the hours Of employment Of women and
children was also passed.
OTHER BUSINESS.
The act appropriating $4,000 for the
construction Of as many committee rooms
In the present State House and library
annex as possible and for other purposes
was ordered to a third reading. The bill
providing for the appointment of building
inspectors by the selectmen Of a town on
the written application of ten or more
taxpayers was rejected.
An act providing a four per cent. dis
count for q poll taxpayer who pays his
tax in conformity with the notice of the
collector a. provided by law was intro
duced in the Senate this morning by the
committee on taxation.
The agricultural committee introduced
a bill appropriating SCI. 900 annually for
the use of the livestock commissioner.
This Is an increase OF $4,000.
DIVIDE ON MARRIAGE BILL.
The Durham marriage bill providing
Ave days publicity for couples non-resi-
dent of the State and residents who wish
to marry in towns where neither Of the
contracting parties Is resident will be
returned to the Legislature tomorrow
with a divided report from the Senate
and House conference committees. The
majority of the committee favor the bill.
Mr.. Aiken of Putney, who desires to have
the bill exempt members Of the National
Guard and army and navy In actual
service. will present minority reports. 1t
10 feared that the amendments may be re-
jected by the House.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.