Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-15
House Adopts Measure Exclud.
ing Railroads from One
Line of Business.
ANTI.PRIMARY BILL DIES.
Anti-Suffragists Appear and state That
Referendum ON Question of Votes
for Women Is Not IuadvfsabIe

though this Ii ono Of the most importan
measures which has come before the Log
islature. it's passage was not In any sens
dramatic, save that 1t was marked by al
utter absence Of debate to-day. The lack O
argument is believed to be due to the fac
that both opponents and supporters o
the bill had exhausted their ammunition
In the debate last Friday when the bill
was ordered to third reading The atti
tude Of the Senate towards the meas
ure cannot be ascertained definitely. an,
while both sides are claiming the victory
1t would not be surprising II the highe
body failed to pass the bill. The vote O
the Chittenden county delegation on tn
question shall tho bill be passed. follows
Yes, Hayden. Sinclair, Finncy. Fogg, Ad
ans and Irish. Noes. Stearns, Taggart
IlOSullivan. King, Hutchinson, johnson
Chessmore. Webster, o. Brien, Wcllenger
SUNK WITHOUT WARNING.
The House showed it's sentiment re
garding bills providing for the repeal o
the present primary laws, even with .
referendum attachment, when they sur,
marined and sank without warning. IN,
measure introduced by Mr.. Sinclair O
Essex. repeating the primary law. MIR
Sinclair called for tho ayes and nays OF
the vote. but not a single member sup
ported him In his demand, and whe,
the viva voce vote was taken on the cues
ton Of rejecting the bill, II was practi
cally unanimous
After drawing the single tooth from tn,
Dill introduced by Mr.. Rublee Of Berk
shire providing that listers should no
take into consideration the fact that stool
were registered, when appraising them. b,
striking out the word mot by a yea ant
nay vote Of ia to 101, the House voted Il
indefinitely postpone further consideration
OF this bill.
A DIVIDED REPORT.
AS the result Of two stormy sessions
the House military affairs committed
decided to send the bill authorizing tn,
Governor to draft men for service in thu
National Guard back to the House witt
a divided report. The committee stant
seven to six in favor Of the bill. and ma
}ority and minority reports signed b,
these members will be presented.
Acknowledgement Lee s. Tillotson
father Of the bill, is still confined to hi,
rooms by illness. so that the report OF
the measure will he delayed. Genera
Tillotson had asked that rather than have
the measure returned with a divided re-
port. the committee send the bill back
without recommendation. and that he be
allowed to explain it to the House as q
committee OF the whole. This wa.
originally agreed to. but pressure by the
minority members Of the committee
forced the later action.
ANTS WANT REFERENDUM.
Making their final plea that If woman
suffrage bills must be passed, they should
be submitted to a referendum either to
the women of the State, or to all Of the
voters. delegation of anti-suffragi
appeared this afternoon before the House
committee on suffrage and elections to
oppose the bill introduced by Mr. Stearns
of Burlington. The measure provides that
women over q may vote In town meet
ings ~ paying one dollar tax. the
poll tax for male voters also being reduced
from two dollars to one dollar. The COM
mittee took no final action with regard to
reporting the bill and it is probable that
another hearing will be held.
AMONG THOSE PRESENT.
Mrs David s. Conant of Bradford, pres.
ident of the Vermont Anti-Suffrage asso.
citation. Mrs. A. B. Buell. and Mrs. H. r.
Watkins of Burlington and Mrs Frank
Lowe of Montpelier opposed the bill. to.
gether with Representatives Cannon OF
Bellows Of Swanton and Sen.
ator Bigelow of Orange county. Repre-
sentative Stearns explained the bill and
other speakers who supported 1t were
Representatives Metzger Of Randolph,
Moore Of Plymouth. Moore Of Ludlow and
Senator Morse Of Caledonia county. The
anti -suffragists commended that under the
bill all women would have to pay a poll
tax. whether or not they wished to vote,
and said that the wish Of a minority of
the women Of the State should not be
forced upon all. All of the opposing
speakers expressed their willingness to
abide by the result Of a referendum.
CAUTION ADVISED.
The joint resolution pledging yermont's
support to the effort. headed by former
President Taft. to have the United States
take the initiative in a league Of ma
tons to enforce peace. which was adopted
by the Senate without opposition seems
headed straight for trouble in the House.
Upon motion Of Mr.. Moore of Ludlow,
who thought that in adopting without due
consideration any such resolution, the
House was sailing uncharted seas. 1t was
referred to the judiciary committee.
THIRD READING ORDERED.
A few bills. among them being the act
TO provide uniform traffic regulations,
were ordered to a third reading this
by the House. The main pro-
visions of the traffic bill are that We
hicles must not pass at a rate of speed
20 miles an hour: at intersecting
highways. vehicles from the right shall
have the right of way over vehicles from
the left; vehicles shall stop Ave feet be-
hind street car that is stopped; one
vehicle overtaking another shall pass to
the left. Violations of the act will re-
suit in a fine of not mere than $50.
Villas MOTION DEFEATED.
The refusal of the House to concur
in the Senate amendment making the
salary of the State fish and game
$2.50O instead of $4,000.
as passed by the House. occasioncd a
debate in the Senate this morning.
Senator Villas proposed that the Sem
ate decide from its proposal. but his
motion was opposed and defeated on a
roll call by a vote of II to II. Sena-
tors Morse. Villas and Dimond were
appointed Senate members of con-
ference committee to meet with a
House committee in an attempt to ad-
Just the difference between the two
branches.
AUTO TRUCK AND HIGHWAYS.
The question OF the automobile truck
and the highways which state Road Com
missioner Stoddard b. Bates says. IL one
IF the great problems Of the near future
Vas discussed this evening before the
House highways and bridges committee
~ officers Of the United States Crysotile
company OF New York. which 10 seeking to
develop a recently purchased asbestos
nine at lowell. The company wants TO