St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-01-31
w. II. Jeffrey, Special Correspondent

w. II. jeffrey, Special Correspondent
The opening of the. fift.l week of
the Vermont legislature today marks
the beginning of the real session. Fol
the past four weeks the members have
been organizing. introducing bills.
meeting in committees, and "SWap-
ping IDEAS Now most everyone IS
acquainted with his neiglrbor, has
taken his measure and sized him UP
from about every angle and is ready
to settle down and give Vermont the
benefit of all these very necessary
preliminaries.
This week promises to be filled with
important work. Governor Graham $
program of consolidation is about all
before the various committees, and in
some instances the committee reports
are ready for presentation. Other i'm
portant measures have been presented
and so this week should witness lively
times 1t is conceded that some sOf
the governors measures are to have
serious opposition. His agricultural
consolidation bill has been literally
knocked about by the forestry inter-
ests of the state, and while it may be
possible that it will be amended
somewhat, yet it's friends feel sure
that it will be enacted into law sub
stantially as it comes before the
House.. although it seems certain thai
it will not reduce the cost OF admin
istration. Thes bill to repeal the di-
rect primary law is ready for fina
consideration, the committee report,
/ ing it 10 to 8 adversely. It has not {
| ghost Of a show Of passing, but SONS
|, vocal fire works may be expected, 70.
{, there are those who have hung on
+ about as long as they can.
/ The bill creating a separate depart
/ ment of insurance, and which ssee1net
/ destined to have the very sTnoothes
! of sailing, is in 81 way to rRceive a fey
"jolts," but it will he enacted after !
/ has passed the running fire of fey
interested ones. The real lturport Q
this measure is to islkc the ofiic
of insurance commissioners from tha
of the secretary of state and stat
| treasurer and create d new depart
ment and have only one commission
er. 1t might be said in passing tha
| the insurance department under TIL
able management of Secretary Bail
and Treasurer Scott shows a net prof
to the state of about $6,500.00 anntal
w. 1t is not thought probable tha
the new department will be as eco
nomical, but may prove more salts
factory.
This afternoon five new measure
were introduced in the house as fol
lows:
Bills Introduced.
H. 1856 by Mr.. Foley OF Montgom
ery, an act to amend section 4057 G
the p. S., changing the weight whic
q wagon or carriage may carry o
the public highways, and to amen
section 4O5S of the p. S., increasin
the penalty for a violation of sectio
1857. Vehicles carrying more tha
8 but less than tons, to have tire
or felIies at least 5 inches wide, an
if carrying more than 4 tons tires an
fellies to be at least inches wild,
Highways and bridges
HI. 15G, by Mr.. Foley Of Montgon
cry, an act to regulate advertisement
or solicitations fer employees durin
strikes, lockouts or other labor dis
putes. IF employer during strike {
his employees, or lock out or othe
labor trouble, advertises in neWsps
pers or solicits help to fill places {
strikers, shall explicitly mention
such advertising or soliciting thu
such strike, lock out or trouble exist
Fixes penalty of SIS to $50.] Con
merce and labor. s,
; E<s-H. 1853, by Mr.. Rierden OF Barto
EAE2 (by .request) an act to make uniforl
the law Of limited partnerships. j
dietary.
, Afternoon Session.
: The attendance at the afternoo
session of the House was rather ligh
The bill of Mr.. Hunt, so-called tt
/ Hunt 5-Mile Temperance Bill"
expected to pass the body by con
: Portable majority. It has created
{ lot of talk to the effect that sucn 6
2 act was radical legislation, but col
Y sideration of the facts in the ca
will convince to the contrary. Tl
Y provisions of the bill say that I
! state appropriation shall be provide
e for any city or town to be used near
: than five miles from licensed Iiqu
e dealer. Already more than 80 stat
g in the union have adopted simll
measures, anu III lHS aetllo VI liiiii@
t the distance is set at six instead
k five miles The results of the passa
: of this bill wiHAbe felt especial
c strongly in Burllilston,~ Middlebli
: and Northtield.
e Senate Bill number and Hou
is Bill numbers aud 4s We're passe
e The House quashed the first propos
l. for a legislative junBet by amendi
: Joint Resolution number II. viii
.e provided that Senate and House col
II raiitees visit, at the expense of t
l. state, the insane asylum at WaterpH
the Brattieboro Retreat, the Indl
trial School at Vergennes. and t