Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-03-28
PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM
OCCUPIES TIME.
Legislature Does Some Business.
Date of Adjournment Set
Farther on.

week, and Nermont's active prepara-
tion for hostilities will place her
among the first states to be ready
when the actual call comes.
The house Saturday morning
passed the bill pledging the credit of
the state to buy equipment and sup
| plies for the military forces of the
state. The governor is given a free
hand under the bill to expend such
sums as may be necessary for this
purpose.
The legislature has gone on record
in favor of universal military train
/ ing by the adoption of the following
/ Joint resolution:
! Resolved by the senate and house
of Representatives, that we express
our belief that universal military
training is necessary to secure an ad-
equate system of preparedness in
this country, and to that end we urge
the enactment of such measures by
Congress as may be proper and be it
| further resolved that copy of these
resolutions be forwarded by the sec
retary of state to our senators and
representative in congress.
Rev. C. L. Wells, chaplain of the
senate and pastor of the Glover Com
munity church has placed his name
with the naval recruiting station in
Montpelier as available for chaplain
cy work in case of war.
All hopes of adjournment of the
legislature this week or next van
ished when preparedness measures
began to occupy the time, and it was
conceded to be wise to wait until after
congress met April 2 at any rate and
know what the nation is to do regard
ing war, that Vermont legislation
might make necessary legislation to
cope with any emergency before ad-
journment
Yesterday the house in a short ses-
sion refused to raise the salary of the
attorney general or the state high
way commissioner.
The report of the budget committee
today calls for S4,700,000. This is
100000 less than was at first called
for but will require a direct state tax
that will raise S500,000 of this sum-
Mr.. Hall of Isle La Motto was by
unanimous consent given permission
Thursday to introduce a bill fixing
the pay of the president of the SEN
ate and speaker of the house at $40
per day with mileage and the pay Of
members of the general assembly at
| $5 per day with mileage to apply to
the present legislature. These figures
are 81 per day higher in every in
stance than the pay now received.
When the bill came up for advance
ment it was killed by vote of 184
against and none for it, Mr.. Hall,
himself deserting the measure.
The senate by vote of 21 TO 6
passed the Morse bill, a senate meas
ure, for state vote annually on the
liquor question and advanced to a
third reading, IL to 8, the Villas bill
granting to women the same right as
men to vote for presidential electors.
In his special message to joint as
sembly Of the legislature yesterday,
Gov. Graham said in part:
81 suggest to you the enactment Of
law giving police officers full au-
thority whenever a state of war eoI-
lists to arrest without warrant, and
take before a court of competent Ju-
risdiction all persons suspected of be-
ing engaged in any way in giving aid
and comfort TO our enemies.
"The military department has tax
en- a careful inventory of our equip
ment on hand. / have been informed
by the national government that 1T
will probably be unable to furnish for
the present but little, if any mores Of
such equipment. Figures showing the
cost Of such supplies and equipment
as will be needed if the regiment is
called out have been obtained with the
result that / am Of the opinion that in
case Of the failure of the national
government 10 supply US, it viii cost
from $15O,OO0 to 100000 to properly
equip and put into the field a full reg
iment of 2,002 men and 56 officers. In
any event, the state should see TO It
that its soldiers are properly equipped
before being sent into the field. As
we may and probably viii, be called
upon 70 do more than furnish one reg
iment, / suggest that you appropriate
at least 81 900, 900 and safeguard its
expenditure The treasurer should al
so be given authority 70 borrow and
pledge the credit Of the state for a
proper amount. While the governor
and the treasurer may have sufficient
authority at present, as the law now
stands, IL will be safer TO have an APP
preparation and like borrowing au-
thOrity given 20 the treasurer. The
figures showing how this result has
been reached can be obtained from the
adjutant general
"To my mind, the time 20 cease
talking and 70 act has come. Vermont
viii, as usual, do her part, and more
than her part. Patriotism does not
consist alone in following the colors
or in making patriotic speeches, or in
assuring each other Of our love Of
country, but rather in each individu-
ais doing and continuing TO do day by
day, his OF her part. The farmer
should Increase the acreage under the
Dlow; the mechanic, his hours Of la
b0r; the professional man should give
0f his time 70 organization. An army
in the field must be properly fed and
clothed. and tended IN health and sick
ness; and all these things must be
done BY those who remain at home. /
ask each one Of you ia your respective
towns 70 look to Il that these things
-. dano -