The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-02-21
VOTES FOR WOMEN
OE BATE ON IN
HOUSE TODAY
Presidential Suffrage Argued in
Lower Branch Of Legislature
BILL IS LIKELY TO PASS
Committee Gave Measure a Divided
Report with the Majority Favor
ing Its Rejection.

Montpelier, Feb. 21-The house
today is debating presidential sur
frage for women. Arguments advo-
eating votes for women were made by
Representatives Metzger. Lafieur.
Rowland Bond and Moore of Ludlow.
The opposition to the measure was
led by Representatives Phelps, Condor
and Fenton.
A vote is expected on the measure
this afternoon and the margin will
be close. Indications favor the pas
sage OF the bill. The committee gave
the bill divided report, the majority
favoring its rejection.
The senate this morning passed the
administration agriculture school
bill.
Montpelier, Feb. 21.--In the face of
all the opposition which could be
brought to bear on H. 80, known as
the agricultural consolidation bill, all
the votes that could be mustered in
the Senate this afternoon amounted
to exactly four, the measure going
to third reading by d vote Of % to A.
The Senate also refused to go on
record in favor of two agricultural
schools, at Randolph and Lyndon. lay
ing the joint resolution on the table
after IL had been strongly opposed by
Senator Morse. Senator Proctor and
others. The objection was directed
against the danger of legislating by
ole oh
ed to placing itself on record in such
a manner. The bill was laid over on
motion of Senator Foote Of Addison
county
The House continued its consistent
refusal to change the fish and game
laws by rejecting House. bill 1876, pro-
viding for marking traps. This bill
was introduced by Mr. Moore of Ply
mouth. who defended the measure,
and 1t was opposed by Mr.. Austin of
Reading, Mr.. Miner of Sherburne and
Mr.. Aiken OF Putney, but was de-
feated by an overwhelming vote.
The Senate this morning rejected
S. A, to abolish certain Probate court
districts. including Castleton, Addi-
son and Bennington. The Senate also
passed II. 254 relating to disorderly
houses.
An extended hearing on H. 239, to
establish a nine-hour law for women,
resulted in a compromise, the sup
porters of the measure agreeing to a
10hour limit with a 55-hour per week
schedule, restaurants or hotels to be
excepted and public service workers
in cases of emergency.
There was no opposition whatever
to the military conscription bill for
filling the rosters of the national
guard, the measure being advocated
by Adjt. Gen. L. S. Tillotson. Former
Chaplain John NJ. Thomas of the 1st
Infantry. and Representative Bond of
Searsburg.
The House committee on temper
ance voted this afternoon to report
the Hunt bill adversely, the division
being IL to 4.
The House committee on suffrage
and elections also reported H. 137.
giving women suffrage in presidential
elections, adversely, but there will be
a minority report on which the advo.
Gates of suffrage will make fight.
House bill 146, providing for county
liquor license commissioners, was fav-
orably reported, as also was II. 1873, to
amend the direct primary law in re.
lation to the number of signatures re-
Quired on petitions for county sena-
to-.