The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-12


service of the United States in the war
with Germany II. 10 allows persons in
the military or naval service of the Unit
ed States to vote in town meeting even
though their names arc not on the check
list, provided they are otherwise quail
flied II. 255 provides for the prepare
ton and publication Of suitable history
OF Vermont's part in the war, II, 2Sl
allows towns to erect monuments or
memorial buildings in honor. of the men
who have served the United States in its
various wars.
Some of the most important laws en-.
acted at the session have to do with the
public health Included among these is
II. 2G0, which reorgani2es the health de-
partment Of the state, doing away with
town health officers. and dividing the
state into ten districts, with a district
health officer over each, who performs
the duties in that district heretofore per
formed by town health officers, except
that the physicians in attendance will be
responsible for quarantining. This law
goes into effect July |, 1919.
Among the important laws carrying
new appropriations are: A bin appro.
priating S25 eco each year for the years
1920 and 1927 for cooperative extension
work in agriculture and home economics
in rural communities through the county
farm bureau associations; appropriating
$4,000 each year for two years for
teachers retirement system whereby
teachers who have taught in Vermont
schools six years or more, secure Ger.
tain amount or pension, according to the
length of service; appropriating 100000
to take care of appraised value of cattle
killed by order of the commissioner of
agriculture, the maximum amount to be
paid for any animal being raised to 800
in the case Of grade stock and $3.50 in
the case of pure breds and horses
The board of control has been given
much more authority, the purpose being
to secure a better accounting system,
and to make certain departments Of the
state more subsidiary to the board. H.
220 places the state purchasing agent
under the direction Of the board. r. 2S6
provides that the board shall fix the rate
per week for board of patients at the
Brattleboro Retreat. There is also a
new law providing that the board of con.
troll shall inspect county jails.
One of the most important laws of
the session, and one which looks toward
the cutting down of state expenses is
S. los, providing for consolidation of the
house of correction and the state prison,
the house of correction to be disposed of
at such time as the board OF control may
deem best The sum of $4,000 is appro.
priated to pay Rutland county for its
share of the house Of correction, and this
county is authorized to build county
jail
The house refused TO pass a bill con.
tinuing the state normal schools at John.
son and Castleton beyond August, 1921,
and this matter is left in the hands Of
the commissioner Of education.
s. rs provides for the erection Of re.
formatory for women at Windsor, and
for repairs on the state prison, appro.
priating S25 600 Another $4,000 is ap.
propriated in this same connection in
the budget bill
Another bill which will have fsr-reach.
ing effects, and which will probably save
the state some money is H. 307, provid-
ing that insurance on state property may
be discontinued at such time as the board
of control may see fit, and sinking fund
be created so that the state may carry
its own insurance. In this connection,
H. 306, providing a sprinkler system for
the State House, became law.
Women have gained some rights at the
present session S. o gives married won.
en- the right to convey or mortgage by
separate deed real estate in her own
name. H. ! gives all women q years of
age or over the right to vote in town
meeting by paying poll tax and taking
the freeman's oath.
Laws enacted in connection with agri-
culture include: s. 70, providing for
census of farms and livestock, including
farms offered for sale, for the purpose
in the possibilities here; f. 76, providing
for high standard of testing cattle,
horses and mules in order to keep out
tuberculosis; H, l56, regulating the Ii.
eensing and testing of milk and cream
Other laws relating to education are;
II. AZ, allowing town school directors TO-
use their own Judgment regarding the
transportation of pupils, or furnishing
schools in their own district bringing
back the little red schoolhouse" to YER
mont); II. as, allowing the establishing
of school for five pupils, instead of re-
quiring eight; II, $50, providing for the
appointment and removal of school SUI
perintendents by the board of school di-
rectors.
Several new highway laws Of impor-
tanee have been enacted: III. 2S7 in
creases the rates for registration of mo-
tor trucks and raises the limit of the
gross weight which can be operated on
the roads Of the state without permit
to six and one quarter tons. This law
went into effect April and all licenses
issued for motor trucks before that date
are revoked. II. 81 increases the amount
to be expended in maintenance of high
ways other than state roads from $780,
900 to $4,000 H. l73 reduces the size
of automobile number plates to II inches
by four and five-eighths inches. H. 232
provides that residents living within
ID miles of the boundaries of the state
may operate motor vehicles within the
state under a reciprocal law II. 247 pro-
vdes for the maintenance of state roads
by the patrol system. Ii. PAS provides
for state aid for the construction of
bridges. II. 27S makes the law more
stringent for the operation of automo-
biles
Banking and insurance laws enacted
include; State banking institutions al
lowed to join federal reserve system;
banks permitted to invest in federal
farm loan bonds, in railroad bonds, in
bankers acceptances and certain notes,
in municipal bonds, in bonds of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and
| Ireland and the rnnnhlic of Ernnnn and