Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-15
Two Bills Ready Designed to
Abridge Canine Activities
and Population.
HIGHER TAXES PROPOSED.
n bills become Laws state Will Resp
Bisser Revenue and Will Have
Fewer Offensive DOGS.


the bills creating bounties on hedgehogs,
bobcats black bears and other beasts.
The object of the dog bill. however, is
the curtailing OF the worthless cur (pun
unintentionaD for the benefit of the sheep
raisers. and to this end the general COM
mittcc has prepared two bills. which
were the subject of o very heated public
hearing this evening.
The first bill provides that the owner of
male dogs shall pay 81 license tax, for
the first dog and 50 for each additional
one. and $S for an unspayed female dog
ana $lO for each additional female dog
The present tax on male and spayed fe-
male dogs is 81 and on female dogs S.
The second bill provides that a person
may Kill dog of his owners premises
unaccompanied. which assaults him, or
Is seen worrying sheep or other domestic
animals. deer or hens. A sheriff, deputy
or constable. is directed to kill, and other
persons may do SO. dogs habituaily run
ming at large, unaccompanied by their
owner, after notice has been given to the
owner that the dogs have been SO doing
hennei license fees remain unchanged
me revenue derived from the dog
licenses Is to be paid directly into the
town treasurers office with the excep-
ton OF fifteen cents for each license
| which is allowed the town clerk. and
| twenty-five per cent. Of the net re-
ceipts. which Is to be paid into the
| state treasury by each town. The APP
praisaIs Tor damage to sheep are to be
| made In the same manner as under the
present law and are to be paid by the
state treasury is to be given to the
| ance Of this fund remaining in the
State treaury is to be given to the
commissioner of agriculture for agri-
! cultural purposes. particularly with re-
| gard to sheep-raising.
10000 DOGS IN STATE.
There are at present approximately
10000 dogs in Vermont and the revenue
derived from dog licenses for the year
| ending February, 1916, was nearly
| $4,000. with the amount received by
fourteen small towns missing. The
! amount paid out for damage to sheep
| was not quite $4,000. Under the pro-
posed law. the revenue from dog Ii
censes would be more than s42,5oo, of
which $1,000 would be paid to the
state treasurer and the remainder stay
in the town treasury. Using the same
figures for damage done by dogs. there
would be a substantial sum remaining
for the use of the commissioner Of ag-
riculture, although this is not the OBJ
ject Of the bill.
Both measures received considerable
criticism, much OF which was in the
nature OF attempted witticisms. also some
commentator. There was a wide latitude
of opinion as to whether or not the in
creased tax would decrease the number
of dogs while it was stated that the sec
ond measure regarding the killing Of
renegade dogs would lead to endless
trouble and litigation. II the committee
sends the bills in their present form to
the House they are certain to be the CEN
ter of a hot fight.
BONDING BILL REJECTED.
The Senate this evening rejected the bill
introduced by Senator Mcclellan 10 au-
thorize the State to bond for $500. 900 for
highway purposes and transacted con-
siderable routine business.
The Senate public health committee in
troduced bill providing that the State
may establish tuberculosis hospitals or
wards for the treatment of tuberculosis
patients in connection with any hospital
in the State when in the opinion of the
Governor and the State board Of health,
there is need for such hospitals or wards.
The sum of $4,000 is appropriated for a
period ending June 70. 1919.
A bill providing that conventions to
nominate by a political party which cast
at the last preceding election less than
five per cent. of the votes need not be
held on the same day as tho primary
election. was INTRODUCED by Senator Dun.
ton OF Rutland.
LETTER FROM MRS. DEWEY.
The following communication from Mrs.
Mildred Mclean Dewey, widow of the late
Admiral George Dewey. was read by the
presiding ofiicer Of each house: May 7
n tn ho
les you represent. my heartfelt gratitude
for the tribute which you paid to my hus-
band. George Dewey. admiral Of the navy.
IN the resolutions you passed upon hearing
Of his death"
AUDITORS SALARY BILL PASSED
The bill increasing the salary of audi
tor OF accounts from $500 to 5000 was
passed by the House. By a joint resolu.
ton OF the 1915 General Assembly. the
auditor received $500 annually for the
past biennial period. so that this is really
reduction of 500 in tho salary for that
office.
The bills providing for the establish.
ment of county hospitals for Tuberculosis
patients. and to accept the benefits of the
federal act providing for the promotion
of vocational education were also passed
RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY.
Mr. Dana or Now Haven presented a
resolution extending tho sympathy of the
House to Representative John r. Dillon
of Duxbury. whose son is critically i'll
with tnfanttle paralysis.
The killington Pomona Grange pre.
scented memorial calling upon the Leg
islature ITO take such action during the
present session as will place the good,
old State OF Vermont in the column of
those In sympathy with our national gov.
eminent. that support with all patriotic
zeal. that type OF national dignity violated
by the piratcal and barbarous warfare
of the German nation upon the high seas
of the world"
An epidemic OF grip and measles is ap-
parently seeking a foothold In the House,
and the casualty list thus far Is as fol.
lows: Gray OF Morgan. home. measles;
Parsons OF Hubbardton. home. measles:
Walter OF East Haven. home, threatened
with pneumonia: Kinssbury OF West Fair
lee. Montpelier. Just plain sick: Bond Of
Searsburg. Montpelier. cold: Osgood Of
West Rutland. home. heart trouble: Dill |
Ion Of Duxbury. Guaranteed because OF
In home.
The suffrage and elections committee
will hold . hearing regarding the bill |
introduced by Mr.. Stearns Of Burlington
"a Sttn tbn riotSt