The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-07
Especial 10 The Reformer.
MONTPELIER, March

Especial 10 The ReformeFl
MONTPELIER, March :.
The hope of good government lies
with the citizens, for all legislation
is determined By their representatives,
elected by their ballots just as they
elect officers to execute the laws. 1t
is the duty of voters to watch careful
~ the records of the men whom they
honor by the use Of their suffrage.
This is especially true of our legis-
lators. In SO large and unwieldy a
body it is we'll for every town to have
her best citizens. One man may do
much harm or may be Of absolutely no
value. In order that Windham county
people may know what the members
they elected have done i'll the past two
months that the legislature mas been
in session we present brief, matter
ot-fact record which should cause
every voter to check up and see if his
representative is representing him.
One will note that Wiadham county
has valuable men in Montpelier. men
| holding important committee chair
manships and men of influence and
sound judgment.
There is but one way to Judge Of a
| legislator s attention to his duties and
| that is b. the roll calls which come
only when a member requests il and
is sustained by five members. The
quorum roll call referred to below was
taken Saturday, Feb. 10, when 40
members were absent though il had
been unanimously agreed early in the
week 10 hold Saturday forenoon ses-
sions. The primary roll call refers to
the vote Oh the Williams bill, which
called for the repeal of the primary
! law. The Durham marriage bin COM
/ pols noI-rcsidents to give five DAYS
notice of intention to marry before
/ the ceremony can be solemnized. The
| woman suffrage vote was on the Metz
| ger bill granting the ballot to women
| in presidential elections The nine
| hour bill was presented by Ernest
| Moore of Ludlow and provided that
! nine hours should be a legal dav s
work in mills and factories in the alb
/ selcc of specific contract. The
house has had no roll calls on admin
| istration measures as yet The first
will probably come this week on the
board of control bill
The late Senator Hermon Z. Eddy
Of Brattleboro, Republican, born in
OIL ut 4Jat,.
| academy, Colgate academy aad Uni
versity of Vermont. Was the young
\ est member of the senate and in 1902
| in the house, being but 81. Congrega-
/ tionalist. Chairman committee on
state and court expenses, also member
committees on fish and game, judiciary
and education. His work. as a mem
Der of the judiciary committee, in 90
ing over the revision of the general
lawa was nearly completed before his
death. Senator Eddy introduced sew
en- bills; four have passed the senate,
| and two of these were killed in the
house. The bill allowing for recounts
in city or town elections using the
Australian ballot system is in the sen.
ate committee on suffrage and clec-
tlons. 1t allows any person to sub,
| scribe. TO an oath that they believe
fraud existed in the election and on
payment of 81 for each voting dis
trict in which recount is desired the
board of civil authority or city coun-
ell are to recount the votes. This bill
was introduced by request. The BIZ
allowing town TO employ, after a
majority eff voters has so voted, a
municipal manager to work under the
direction of the selectmen, is still in
the senate committee on municipal
corporations. Amendment to the law
30 that municipal judges may be called
upon to hold inquests has passed both
houses and bears the governor S sigma.
ture. The senate Saturday passed the
measure forcing railroads 20 annually
expcnd SO per mile in eliminating
grade crossings.
Senator Frank A. Dewitt of New.
fame, Republican,, born in Elyria. Ohio
Bank treasurer; graduate Eastman
Business college; member of the house
in 1910. Congregationalist. Chairman
senate committee on banking and in
surance, member also of committees
on finance, mileage and debentures
conservation, suffrage and elections
Has introduced no bills and is
considered a regular supporter of Gov
Graham s administration measures.
+. Il. Durham of Athens, Democrat
born in Athens and is a farmer. Mem
Der fish and game committee. Has in
PRODUCED no bills and has been record