Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-15

Mont pClicr, March Sin a startling and
unsupported manner and as a climax to
the most stirring fight of the session,
tho House this afternoon by a yea and
nay vote OF 100 to 1O2 refused to reject
the bill granting to women taxpayers
over 81 years of age the right TO vote in
town meeting. and the bill was ordered
to third reading
The vote was tied lO5 10 los. when the
clerk finished calling the roll, but Mr.
Bliss of Georgia. who had failed to hear
his name called, voted in favor Of the
bill and Representatives Hardy of Gull
hall. Hayden of Bolton, and Hooper of
Hardwick asked that their votes ne
changed from yes to no and be recorded
I'm favor Of the bill. The form of the
question which was shall the bill be re-
iected?" had puzzled some Of the mem.
bers.
The session was attended by large dele
cations of suffrage and anti-suffrage
leaders. who applauded the various speak,
ers,, the final result called forth quite q
demonstration for the suffrage ranks.
Representative Fenton of Rutland city
Immediately after the BILL which was in
troduced by Representative Moore of Lud-
low. came up for consideration, proposed
an amendment. extending the right of vot-
ing in town meetings to all women paying
a poll tax and providing for referendum
of the women of the State on the question
of granting suffrage to women This
drew forth storm of protest from the
suffrage ranks, but was holly defended
by Mr.. Fenton. who commended that IL on.
woman had the right to vote. all should
have, and that wealth was not the crter-
ion.
Mr.. Prouty of Newport. Mr.. Stearns of
Id
of Barre and LaFleur of Middlebury op-
posed the amendment. Mr.. Metzger of
Randolph characterized it as subterfuge
Mr.. Dwinnel of Calais favored the
amendment and Mr.. Phelps of Fair Haven
opposed the bill, stating that it was class
legislation and discriminatory
AMENDMENT REJECTED.
The House rejected Mr.. Fenton's
amendment by yea and nay vote of 100
to 104 and by 113 to 81 rejected one sub
mitted by Mr.. Tuttle of Vergennes, that
women voters should have list of at
least 500.
CHlTTENDEN COUNTY VOTE.
The vote of the Chittenden county dele
CATION on the question of rejecting the
bill follows:
Nays. Hayden of Bolton, Stearns of
"Ns A'Aoech' idS6dil VI SuaTIOtte, " SoulH-
van of Colchester, johnson of Hunting
ton. King of Milton. Chessmore of Rich
mond, Fogg of Underhill. Adams of West
ford and Irish Of Williston.
Yeas. Sinclair of Essex. Finney of
Hinesburg. Hutchinson Of Jericho. Web
ster of Shelburne. O'Brien of South Bur-
lington and Wellenger of st. George.
WILL RETUR., DRAFT BILL.
The military draft bill empowering the
government under certain conditions to
draft unmarried men between the ages of
~ and q for service in the National
Guard will be returned to the House by
the military affairs committee without any
report. but with the request that Adju-
tant-General Tillotson be allowed to ex-
plain the bill to the House as a commit
tee of the whole. The committee stood
seven to four In favor OF the bill to-day.
but two other members opposed it and
rather than have a divided report pre-
scented supporters of the bill arranged this
method OF returning it to the House The
clause providing for a 800 penalty for
noncompliance with the bills provisions
has been replaced by one providing for
SIX months to a year imprisonment AS
General TiIlotson is Ill at present the