The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-05
6ill Giving Right to Women
to Vote for Presidential
Electors Advanced.
AFTER DEBATING IN
VERMONT HOUSE
Attempt to Shelve the Bill
Voted Down, 1877 to
IA To-day

Once again the silver-tongued debaters
of the Vermont House of Representatives
let their voices be heard through the his
toric chambers this morning in discussion
of the bill to give women the right to
vote for presidential electors, this bill be
ing known as H. s. After an hours dis
cussion, motion by Mr.. Hopkins Of
Burlington that consideration Of this bill
be indefinitely postponed was voted on
! by a aye" and may" vote. The result
was 1877 to "a against the motion for
postponement, and the bill was advanced
to third reading.
| The bill came into the House this
morning under a favorable report from
| the House committee on suffrage and
elections. Those who spoke in favor of
the bill were Mr. Durham of Brattle-
| boro, chairman of the committee on sui
frage and elections, Mr. Tracy of John
son, Mr. Estee OF Montpelier, Mr.. Alexan
der of St. Albans and Mr. White Of
Woodstock
Those speaking against the bill were
Mr. Hopkins Of Burlington, Mr. Aiken of
! Putney, Mr., Buttles Of Brandon, and Mr.
Dunklee Of Vernon.
Mr.. Dunham outlined the upward prog
ress OF woman from practical slavery TO
her present high standing in society and
thought that we ought to continue the
good work by giving the women of Yer
mont such suffrage privileges as we are
able without constitutional amend
ment
Mr. Hopkins of Burlington opposed the
bill not because he thought women were
inferior to men, or because he thought
they ought not to have the right to vote,
but because it was only adding an extra
responsibility upon their already heavy
cares of the home and he was not con
WINGED that the majority of the women
of the state wanted this extra burden.
He maintained that the matter should be
left until 1920, when it would all be tak
EN- care Of through constitutional
amendment.
Mr.. Aiken of Putney maintained his
reputation as the humorist of the House,
when he said;
Il fear tnat woman's suffrage may
mean mans suffering; also when he
stated that the old-fashioned women used
to come into his store and buy 10 yards
of cloth for one dress, while the woman
OF the present day calls for not more
than yard and a quarter for one dress,
and thinks it plenty. Mr.. Aiken said he
was not sure which side OF the question
he had better vote on, because the good
women Of Putney had told him Of all the
horrible things they would do to him ii
he voted against the bill, while numerous
handsome women, who had to get pretty
close to him because he was rather deaf,
had urged him most impressiyely to vote
against the bill.
Mr.. Tracy of johnson continued his eli
forts as a son OF Demosthenes in defense
of suffrage in general with frequent ref
erence to the wives and mothers OF the
representatives, and the fact that they
were not in the least inferior to the men
themselves, and should have the same
rights.
Mr.. Buttles of Brandon believed that
suffrage would only entail an added bur
den on the women which they had not
entirely expressed their desire of having,
and the same idea was brought out by
Mr.. Dunklee of Vernon.
Mr. Estee of Montpelier said that this
lquestion of suffrage had been settled in
his mind many years ago and that he
would vote for any measure which gave
more suffrage rights to women. Mr..
Alexander said that a majority Of the
women of St. Albans had asked him to
speak for the bill, and he did SO gladly
He referred to the rights recently given
the women of Germany, and also to the
suffrage rights enjoyed by the women of
New York state, and asked if the women
of Vermont were any less fitted for the
responsibility.
Mr. White of Woodstock said that he
felt the time had come to give the women
of Vermont common Justice in the rights
lof suffrage so far as can be done.
House bills 1870 to l5l were introduced
this morning, as follows:
BY Mr.. Webster of Swanton to make
uniform the law relating to limited part
nerships A codifcation Of laws upon
this subject.
By Mr.. Moody of Waterbury, to amend
section SO of the general laws, relating
to the payment of certain claims by the
auditor of accounts. Includes expenses
incurred in doing state business in add
tion to compensation, which shall be upon
itemized vouchers.
BY Mr.. Durick OF Castletou, to appro
pirate a sum not to exceed $4,000 to as
sist the town of CastIeton in improving
UNe TOdu diuH4 INC NesNtiu SHult VI AuNS
Bomoseen.
By MIR. Cudworth of Londonderry, in
addition to chapter 49 OF the general
laws, providing for the appointment of
an additional appraiser in certain cases.
Probate court may appoint an additional
appraiser whenever it appears that prop
erty may be subject to tax imposed un
der provisions of chapter 40. If such
appraiser does not agree with the regular
appraisers he shall file a separate report
with the probate court
BY MIR. Howard of Fairfax, to amend
section 1889 of the general laws, relat-
ing to the election of school directors pro
vidng that town districts may elect six
school directors.
BY Mr.. Alexander of st. Albans City,
to provide for alterations and repairs to
the courthouse and Jail in Franklin coun
ltv. Tax not to exceed one cent on q dol
lar of the county grand list for years
1919 and 1920.
BY MIR. Alexander of St. Albans City,
to amend section 57S5 oi the general
laws. relating to workmen's compensa-
tion, increasing the amount Of compen
sation paid for total disability. From
SO to rs per cent of the weekly compen-
sation before accident.
BY Mr. Hartman of Canaan, TO appro-
pirate sum not to exceed $4,000 to as
sist the town OF Canaan in constructing
CONTINUED on eighth page.J