Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-02-02

Perhaps nothing in the past week has
created more excitement about the
capitol than the opposition that was
expected to develop but did not, against
the Amidon bill, administration meas
ure consolidating the departments of
agriculture, forestry, live stock SANTA
ton, and several minor offices under the
commission of agriculture. The state
forester, Austin F. Halves has been
openly opposed to subordinating the
forestry work to any department. Mr..
Halves has been backed up by the
American Forestry association and the
Vt. Timberland Owners association.
The governor made his opposition
clear in regard to this matter in an
interview which he gave the report
ers representing the state press and
in which he said that his sole purpose
was to give to the state the best he
knew how to give and that he believed
firmly in single-headed authority and
responsibility. Although the forestry
, department has been in existence some
eight wears the results achieved nave
not been as satisfactory as to be wished
| for.
| The cattle commissioner, said the
governor, was efficient, thorough i'll his
work but much of it was purely office
routine which could be handled proper
ly by good Office man in connection
with other Office duties, such as ac-
counting for the money used by the
present board of agriculture, etc.
! The house agricultural committee was
unanimous in their favorable report Of
this bill and it passed the house with
| out q dissenting vote, and particularly
without debate. Mr.. Phelps of Fair
Haven endeavored to start discussion
of the merits of the bill by offering to
start a technical amendment, but his
attempt failed. Mr.. Pollard of Caycn-
dish, in a militant speech, stated his
objections to the amendment offered by
lawyers in the house who wished to be-
cloud the minds of their fellow mem
bers. His associates evidently agreed
with him. Mr.. Candon of Pittsford
chairman of the agricultural commit
tee. explained the committee S views
regarding the bill.
Other administration measures also
passed the house without creating SO
much as a ripple of excitement. The
first was the bill abolshing the indus
trial accident board and the Office OF
factory inspector, and replacing THESE
offices with commissioner of industry
who will have charge of all OF thi'
work. The other creates a state depart
ment under an insurance Commissioners
! relieving the secretary of state and the
} treasurer of this part of their duty. The
! position carries with it a salary OF
SO 800 year and by an amendment
proposed BIZ Mr.. Moore of Ludlow ant
embodied in the bill the commissions
must devote his entire time 20 thi
work. The amendment was offered So
| that the position might be regarded al
a real job and not a political plum.
A number of leading women iron
Brattleboro, including Mrs. Henry r
Brown. president of the Brattlebor'
: womcn's club, Mrs. +. b. Smith, Mrs
. II. G. Barber, wife of the attorney-gen
0 eral, and Mrs. II. S.Stark of Below
= Falls, and Mrs. Louise NJ Smiley o
\ Montpelier and Miss Anna L. Davis
e social worker, heartily endorsed he
: fore the judiciary committee the mar
riage bill introduced by Representative
Durham of BrattlebOro. Walter Gil
i bert, local editor of The Brattlebor
Reformer, Sanford A. Daniels of Brat