The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-16
BOARD OF CONTROL
BILL BtBAIE ON
IN THE HOUSE
Fate ofChief administration Meas.
ure Hangs in the Balance
DIVISION LINE is CLOSE
Opposition Puts Through Amendment
Making State Auditor Member
of the Board.

montpelier March 16.-Tension is
| high in the house today where the
debate is in progress over the passage
| of the board of control bill, the most
important df the governors recon-
mendations. Moore. acting in the in
terests OF the opposition, succeeded in
putting through an amendment by a
vote of 113 to 1O6. making the auditor
of accounts a member of the board in
stead of the commissioner of agricul-
ture.
Another amendment is pending sub
stituting the speaker of the house for
the director OF state institutions.
The bill was passed to third
reading yesterday by the narrow mar
gin CT two votes the ballot standing
113 to Ill.
To Walter S. Fenton the young and
aggressive representative from Rut-
land city, and the recognized leader
of the Rutland county delegation. be-
longs the major credit for the admin
istration victory. Opposed by such
experienced legislators as A. +. Cud-
worth of Londonderry, chairman OF
the judiciary committee, and Ernest
e. Moore of Ludlow, who made strong
arguments refutlng the reasons ad-
vanced by the supporters of the meas
ure, Fenton in a whirlwind finish led
the Governors supporters to victory,
for the time being at least, in a strong
speech. Stearns of Burlington, lie
Fleur of Middlebury, Metzger of Ran.
dolph. Pollard of Cayendish, Howland
of Barre city, Durham of Brattleboro,
Bates of Moretown. Dana of New Ha-
ven and Spaulding OF Warren spoke I'M
favor of the measure. Others besides
Representatives Cudworth and Moore
who opposed 1t from the floor of the,
house were Merrified of Grafton.l
Ranney of Westminster and Miner OF
Sherhurne.
Considerable business was transact
ed before the house adjourned. The
measure proposing to license dealers
in evergreen trees by placing a %
cent tax on each evergreen tree sold
was rejected
The Senate disposed of large
amount of business, and by yea and
nay vote of 13 to 10 passed the Dun
ham marriage bill, with an amend.
ment making its provisions apply to
residents of the State who wish to
marry in towns, where neither is
resident ,H5
The House bill changing the
M OIL Df tf,,a
commissioners, from the assistant
judges to board of three county
commissioners to be appointed by
the Governor, struck a. snag in the
Senate. Senator Fairchild thought
that the Governor would be at a dis
advantage in making the appoint
ments because he would have to de-
pend upon indiyiduals for his infor-
nation. Senator Pack favored the
bill declaring that corruption existed
under the present law. while Senator
Villas did not think the proposed bill
would be successful The measure
was made a special order for Tuesday
morning.
The bill introduced by Representa-.
tive Stearns of Burlington giving wo.
men the right to vote in town meet
ing on payment of a poll tax which is
reduced from two dollars to one, was
the subject of a largely attended pub
lie hearing in the House yesterday
afternoon. The anti-suffragis had
held sway at a hearing on this same
bill a short time ago and the suffra.
gists were out in force today, includ-
ing large delegation from Spring
field. In, the absence of Mr. Stearns
the Rev. Fraser Metzger explained
the bill and declared that women owe
it as duty to participate in govern
ing State
The usual pro and con arguments
advanced on both sides. Mrs Hanery
Beal, Mrs. Roy Bryant, Mrs. Frederick
Gill and Mrs. McQuaig of Springfield
and Mrs. Blanchard of Montpelier
spoke in favor of the bill Mrs. A. L.
Bailey of st. Johnsbury also made
some telling points for the suffrage
cause. Mrs. A. b. Buell. OF Burlington
and Mrs. David S. Conant of Bradford
opposed the measure and reiterated
the anti-suffrage plan for a referen-
DUN.
The Senate suffrage and elections
committee is holding a public hearing
this afternoon on the bill allowing tax
paying women to vote in town meet