Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-04-06
Especial to The Phoenix.)
MONTPELIER. April 5,


Speaker Wilson on Friday took the
floor and in ringing speech asked the
house for leave to introduce the first
preparedness bill which appropriates
100000 or as much thereof as may be
needed for clothing, equipping and
maintaining the military and naval
forces of the state. The rules were
suspended, the bill was given its sew.
eral readings and passed unanimously
with the exception of the lone socialist
Mr.. Larson of Barre. When the vote
was announced applause shook the
house.
The Morse bill, allowing yearly ref
erendum to the entire state on the
question of issuing liquor licenses, was
refused passage Friday, 100 to 1903
Four men who voted for the bill Thurs
day voted against its passage Friday
morning. Windham county men whc
voted against the bill are as fol
lows: Anidon, Cudworth, Dalrymplc
Durham of Brattleboro, Hale, Howe
johnson of Somerset, johnson of Wards
boro, Legatc, Pike, Stedman and Ten
ney. Dunham of Athens, Robinson and
Wheeler were not recorded OH the vote
The remainder of the delegation voted
in favor of the bill.
The Durham marriage bill was signed
by Gov. Graham Saturday and the
pen the Governor used was presented tC
George l.. Durham. the author Of the
bill. This ends the long struggle which
the legislature has passed through or
the restrictions of marriage of resi-
dents of other states in Vermont. Mr.
Durham for over IL weeks has beer
the champion of the bill and while bit
terly opposed at every turn, has in ;
business.1ike manner, conducted it t
the executive chamber. 1t is no small
measure credit to the business abili
ty, fairness and diligence of its author
The house Saturday morning passed
the bill imposing upon the state board
of education the duties of the commits
sioner of agriculture in relation to the
state school of agriculture.
Behind closed doors and under con
ditions of the most profound secrecy
the senate Friday resolved itself into
committee of the whole and lis
tened to an address by Justice w. II
Taylor of the supreme court. A secret
session of this kind is said to be with
out precedent in Vermont.
1nasmuch as Senate I'LL No. 70, the
district court bill, was the topic Of
Justice Taylor S address, the astonsh
ment of those on the outside was con
siderable.
When asked by q senator if he woulu
accept q similar invitation, oGoY Grp-
ham said alphabetically no had more re-
gard for the dignity of his Office, blu,
would be glad to address the Joint as
sembly on pending legislation, if so in
vited.
A feature of the occasion was the
remark of Harry c. Snurtleff, Mont
peiier attorney, who warned the news
paper men to be careful what they
said about the action of the supreme
court. lest they find themselves in con
tempt. II
Still another executive session wa!
held in the senate Saturday whel
Senator Fairchild asked to have thu
million dollar emergency war appro
priation explained to him. This wa
done in secret session and six of tho
governor s nominations were confirmed
at the same time.
The appropriation was promptly
passed under suspension of the rules
when the doors were opened, the sen
ate rising unanimously to support it
The appointments confirmed were a,
follows:
Fish and game commissioner, Linus
Leavens; highway commissioner, Stod
dard B. Bates; tax commissioner
Charles A. Plumley; public service
commissioner, William r. Warner
commissioner of industries, Robert w
Simonds; director of state institutions
John +. Weeks.
House bill 442, extending the time
for the appointment of license commits
sionerS in 1917, for tho month of April
was passed under suspension Of the
rules.
Gov Graham has signed II 146
which provides for these appointments
and he also stoned the emergency wal
appropriation this evening.
The meeting of the committee on
public safety was held in the reception
room at the state house Saturday aft
ernoon and reports were made by the
various committees. An advanced con
dition of preparedness was reported in
some departments.
Ex-Gov. John A. Mead reported that
the uniforms, blankets, boots, shoes
etc had not only been ordered by the
adjutant general but that some OF
them were actually on the road and
that delivery Oh all equipment except
ing rifles, would be had early in May
Charles p. Smith of Burlington re,
ported that the treasurer had already
taken stems TO reCpiVo cubSp ri nj ion.