Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-02-09
PRESIDENT Is
QUICKLY ENDORSED
Vermont Approves Of Action in
Breaking with Germany
Resolution Presented by Mr.. Durham
of rattleboro-Progress Made with
Important Bills.

of observation-disclosures Made with
Important Bills.
The Legislature has made good prog
rcss the past few days and after this
will not adjourn from Friday afternoon
to Monday evening.
Senator Morse of Caledonia county is
the author of measure to abolish all
municipal and city courts and change
the jurisdiction of justices of the
peace.
The act in substance provides that
the state shall be divided into IL dis
tricts, each of which will have a dis
trict court with the same power and
jurisdiction as municipal court and
with financial jurisdiction up to $500.
The county courts are also given con
current jurisdiction in cases involving
from 5000 to $500.
The district judge will have power to
accept pleas of guilty in all cases of
felonies except those punishable by
imprisonment for life and will have
trial jurisdiction III all cases where
the maximum penalty is five years in
the state S prison. The removal of
cases from the district court to the
county court is also provided for on
the motion of the defendant and in
cases where the ad damnum is be-
tween $500 and $500.
Criminal jurisdiction is taken away
from justices of the peace and civil
jurisdiction is limited to 500.
The provisions for the act also create
trial magistrates to have jurisdiction
and to accept pleas of guilty in pre-
sentiments originally under the juris-
diction of justices of the peace.
The courts in Bennington and Rut-
land are founded on county lines. All
of the towns in Windham county are in
cluded in one district except Rocking
ham and Grafton, which are a part of a
district with towns in the southern part
of Windsor county. Essex county towns
are divided between Orleans and Gale
donia counties and Grand Isle between
Franklin and Chittenden. Granville and
Hancock in Addison county are joined
in Orange county. There are two dis
tricts in Washington county, with Barre
and Montpelier as the centcrs, the lat
ter taking in some Orange county towns.
George l.. Durham of Brattleboro
Monday introduced joint resolu-
ton, copy of which will be forward
cd to the President by the secretary of
state. The resolution in part is as
follows:
Whereas in the opinion of the general
assembly of the state of Vermont the
President of the United States has OK
hauSted every honorable means to pre-
serve the honor and integrity of this
nation and has deemed it necessary on
account of the persistent and long-con-
tnucd violation by the German govern
ment of the fundamental principles of
international law to sever diplomatic
relations with the government of Ger
many, therefore be il, resolved that the
state of Vermont by the vote of it's
general assembly now in session hereby
assures the federal government of its
firm and unwavcring support at this
critical time i'll the world IS history, and
that it is the sense of the general as
scmbly that this state proceed at once
to the adequate preparation for any
emergency that may arise so that il
may respond to any call that may be
made upon it by the federal govern
ment.
This resolution was rushed through
both houses and was signed by Gov
Graham. Vermont was the first state
IN the Union to take action OF TINS KIND
Similar resolutions have been adopted
in several states where the legislatures
are in session during the present week
Monday afternoon Mr.. Allbcc of Town
shcnd presented another partial suffrage
bill allowing women of 81 or over, lcga
residents Of this state and taxpayer
in the town in which they reside, t.
vote on all questions relating to thu
raising of taxes and appropriation o
money.
In the senate Senator Lcavcns has in
troduccd another administration bill