Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-05
lone WEEK MORE
| OF LEGISLATURE
Some Think Session May Close
This Week but Date Looks
Like April IL.

uOutpeieTs ApTu l.-WUue tOe 1910 tens
eral Assembly found an SS-day session
suff1c!snt for it's work. tho present Legi,.
lasurc Ands itself after IS legislative days
with J" measures yet to receive final
action At tho present rate OF speed at
which bills are being disposed OF ten
more days will be required to complete
the work, and while some members think
that the session may be ended this week
IL all possible pressure is brought to
bear there are several factors that indi-
cate that April 18th is the earliest final
adjournment date. Many members state
that To-day session would not be at all
surprising.
BUSINESS UP TO DATE.
The following figures furnished by the
secretary of the Senate Dhow the manner
In which legislation has been disposed of
during the present session. go. s.~..
Number of measures introduced in both
Houses. 636.
Number of measures disposed of by both
Houses, SIP.
Bills yet to receive final disposition. l24.
Average number OF bills disposed of Der
day by both Houses last week, u %.
Average per day disposed of by both
Houses during entire session, s 1922.
Number Of bills in Senate committees, Il.
Number of bills In House committees, II,
80 JUDICIARY AND BUDGET.
With the million-dollar appropriation
for military purposes disposed of, the
principal interest OF the week centers
around the administration judiciary bills
and the budget bill. The judiciary bill
which abolshes the present municipal and
city courts and creates 10 district courts
has been made special order for Tues
day morning by the Senate This bill
came to tho Senate from its judiciary
committee with q divided report and with
Is committee amendments. Its initial dis
cussion was the occasion Of rather UNI
usual proceeding for a Vermont Senate.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
The Senate went into executive session
and behind closed doors listened to an
expression of opinion regarding the bill
from a member Of the supreme court of
the State. Judge William H. Taylor of
Hardwick. In view Of Governor Ora
hams refusal to countenance what might
appear as a debate between himself and
member OF the supreme court regarding
/ the measure. 1t is considered doubtful
whether he will appear before the Senate
regarding the measure. The administra.
ton measures have always had a safe
majority in the upper legislative branch
and the passage Of this bill is regarded
as certain. although It will probably be
fought to the last ditch.
The other administration judiciary
Dill, which was introduced by Repre-.
sentative Joseph T. Stearns Of Burlins.
TN, Is the one about which the bitter
est fight Of the session will center,
This bill provides for the abolishment
OF the superior court and the enlargins
or the supreme court to nine members
1t also provides that the judgment Of
the lower court shall be automatically
affirmed In cases which have not been
disposed OF within two terms after they
have been sent to the supreme court
| BARS DETERMINED FIGHT.
The Vermont Bar association has
! fought this bill determinedly, and even
a large majority Of the House judiciary
committee in whose hands the bill has
been for some weeks are said to be op.
posed to 1t. Numerous amendments
and even one entire substitute bill OF
36 pages have been proposed but have
always been rejected by the admins.
tration men. who declare that the bal
association wants to receive rs pei
cent. in return for 25 per cent. allow.
ance. The bill will probably be on the
calendar by the middle of the week
1t is understood that the administra
ton forces are willing to concede an en-
largement of the supreme court to ter
members so that al Of present superior
court judges may be elevated and tina
the number will not be automaticall!
reduced to nine. Tho section provid
I ing for the automatic clearing OF thu
docket will probably also be stricken
, from the bill. These, however. ar re
garded as the Anal concessions which
| xUt ho 40 nd q ra
Z fought out on these lines.
OTHER IMPORTANT BUSINESS.
The bill prohibiting the railroads from
engaging In the customs brokerage bust
:. ness. which was the occasion Of two brisk
bly, be disposed of by the Senate thi
!. week. Another bill which is much in tn
: public eye is the woman suffrage meas
e ure. giving women tho right to vote 70
r presidential electors and In town meet
ings, but providing for referend I'm b
the men and women Of the State on tn
equal suffrage question. The measur
a passed the House despite the oppositio
OF the suffrage leaders, but Is expecte
to be killed by the Senate.
n II. NJ. M'INTOsH. STATE ENGINEEF
h II. NJ. Mcintosh Of Burlington has bee
=
v 5000 annually. This is the first appoin,
l. ment made for this Office which was Gre
10 ated by an act of the present Legislature
l. Henry B. Shaw also Of Burlington ha
It been reappointed q member Of tho boar
n of uniform legislation. The only impol
70 tant appointments yet to he made by tn
IL Governor are those Of insurance commits
le sioner and commissioner OF agriculture
e There are several important appointment,
yet to be confirmed by the Senate inclut
ing Park II. Pollard OF Cavendish as til
j. fifth member OF the board Of control an
Frank c. Williams Of Newport as ban
l. commissioner. but it is not believed thi
o tho combinations will be contested ser
Is ously.
s. Robert c. Bacon of Brattleboro ha
h been appointed chairman OF the publ
ID service commission for the present biei
IN NAL term and John g: Sweeney of Brigl
s. ton. Carlos s. Brewer OF Huntington an
II Il. 8. Wright have been reappointed 81
N pervisors for unorganizcd towns ar
10 cores
;" NEARLY REVIVED MORSE BILL.
y The promptncss of Representative Eel
II ton Of Rutland city in SELLING an oppo
T. tunity to move for adjournment Saturds
8. morning probably prevented a reconsi'
Of Grafton of the Morse bill providing for
10 yearly referendum on the granting
liquor licenses within the State. The
n. was only a bare quorum present and u
I. opponents Of the bill were apprehensi'
e. OF such movement. When q vote W,
n taken on the bill authorizing the pu
IL chase Of stone crushers by counties. 2
\ "a