The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-16
HOTTEST DEBATE
OF 1917 SESSION
House at Montpelier Still
Fighting Over Board Of
Control Bill
OPPOSITION WON
ON AN AMENDMENT
When the Measure Passed to Third
Reading the Administration Support
ers Led by Margin of Two Votes =,
Brandon School Exonerated.
Especial to The Reformer.)
MONTPELIER. March Is

MONTPELIER, March 1G.
The state house today is a hive of
excited debaters. Here and there in
the corridors are groups of men bring
ing charges and counter charges on
Coy. Graham 5 board Of control bill.
The house this morning was the scene
OF the bittcrest fight witnessed bv the
1917 legislature. IN fact one of the
hottest fights ever seen IN the Vermont
legislature IS now underway.
The opposition to the board of con-
troll bin lead BY A. f. CudWorth and
Ernest Moore are gaining strength.
Ernest Moore proposed, as soon as the
question was put as to the passage
OF the bin that it be amended bv sub
stituting the auditor of accounts in
place Of the fifth member of the board.
who, the bill provides, shall be ap-
pointed bienniallv by the governor.
This started the verbal warfare and
Z. ". Aiken Of Putnev rose to en-
phaticaliy deny the rtmor that il was
said he supported the bin because lie
had been told his son, Roger. would
lose his position as executive messenger
if he did otherwise
A few moments later Representative
Wright Of Coventry stated lie had been
warned by members of his delegation
Of Orleans county that his bill to aid
the town Of Coventry would not pass
unless he supported this bill. The two
representatives stated in decisive tones
that they could not be bought or sold
On the Moore amendment, yea and
nay vote was taken and the opposition
won lib to I06 Those from Windham
county who voted for the Moore amend
mcnt were Allbce. Allen, Howe, Merri
field. Hale. Legate. Robinson Cudworth.
Stedman, Pike. Johnson Of Somerset,
johnson of Wardsboro and Chapman
Tennev and Dalrymplc were not record
ed. The remainder Of the delegation
stood with the governor IN opposing
the amendment
When the house adjourned at 10
o clock second amendment from Mr..
Moore, which would substitute the
sneaker OF the house for the commits
sioner of agriculture on the board Of
control was pending. II had been de-
hated by Mr.. Fenton and Mr.. Moore,
but when a motion to close the debate
was put by Mr.. Dimick, it was lost by
! 100 to 93 and so unlimited debate has
gone on through the afternoon and at
the time Of going 70 press the vote had
not been reached
/ The house committee on state insti-
tutions. which COMPLETED It's investioa-
ton Of the Brandon school for feeble
minded several DAYS ago. reported to
the house this morning, generating Dir.
! Frederick j Russell, superintendent of
the school from any charge of Ill treat
ment of the inmates and stated that
they criticized him alone for undcrtak-
ing too much work.
The senate committee which visited
the school. but did not participate in
the investigation, reported to the SEN
ate with recommendations that a dormi-
tory building be erected as we'll as q
hospital, also that q farmer be en-
ploycd to take charge of the agricul
tural work at the school.
The senate committee thought the
children were we'll cared for and the
management was efficient and correct
The senate received letters from the
family of the late Senator Eddy OF
Brattleboro thanking the senate for the
resolutions of sympathy.
The bill requiring the commissioner
of taxes to furnish liquor licenses will
the names Of persons to whom liquor
cannot be sold or furnished was passed
in concurrence by the senate. These
notices were formerly sent out by tho
boards of license commissioners and
charges have been made that the secre
taries of some Of the boards have been
over Jealous and indiscriminate in this
work and supporters of the measure
claim several thousand dollars will be
saved to the state by the change.
Yesterday afternoon the Moore bill
allowing women taxpayers to vote ii
town meeting and which passed the
house last week was discussed in the
senate chamber, before the committee
on suffrage and elections, by the suffs
and antis. Mrs. d. S. Conant of Brad
ford and Mrs. A. B. Buell. of Burlng
ton led the opposition to the bill, de
lcfaring that it was wrong to force in
dividuals to vote against their will and
demanded that the measure be referred
to the people for final decision or to
the women alone. Suffragists were
present from all parts of the state in
unusual numbers. Their cause was ably
defended by DR.. Grace Sherwood of St
Adams, Mrs. A. l.. Bailey of st. Johns
bury, Mrs. Anna Hawks Putnam of