The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-03-07
SALARY BILL
BURIED AGAIN
Lump Sum Payment for the
Legislature Is Under
ground for Good
WAS RESUSCITATED
THIS MORNING
1t Was Killed by a Decisive
Majority in the
House

Salaries still continued to weigh upon
! the minds of the legislators in the Yer.
mont House of Representatives this
morning. After having thoroughly done
away with II. 249, relating to pay of
members of the general assembly, yester-
day afternoon, the bill was hauled out
OF its grave this morning, reconsidered
by vote of l0l to rs, pounced upon by
nearly every member of the House who
was able to get the floor, threatened with
numerous amendments which would have
| changed its identity and, finally, when
the storm had been spent and all the at
tempts of amendments had been frowned
upon, IT was once more inferred, by a
vote OF l27 to Is, where it can never ap.
pear at the present session.
The bill, as killed this morning, pro-
vlded that the members of the general
assembly should receive lump sum Of
S4OO for each member for the session, be-
ginning with the present session, provid-
ed that member attended the session
not less than 65 days. In case any mem
Der did not attend that number of DAYS,
he would receive pay at $4 day for
| time actually spent at the session, un
less his absence had been excused, by the
House, when he would receive pay for
full time.
Reconsideration of the measure was
due to the fighting propensities of Mr..
! Tracy of johnson, who has fathered the
bill since it came into the House. The
| motion to reconsider was made by Mr..
Connal of Newport Town. Mr.. Austin
of Highgate and Mr.. Eastman of Groton
vigorously opposed reconsideration. Mr.
Tracy stated that, if the bill were recon
sidered, he would offer an amendment
which would do away with the lump sum
salary idea and leave the measure so
that the law would be as it is to-day re-
garding the 81 per diem, but would pro-
vide that, unless a legislator attended
the session IS days, he would be paid
only for the time he was here.
While the standing vote on reconsid-
Grafton was being taken, several mem.
bers entered the House, causing some
confusion, and there was Immediately a
run upon the speakers chair for per
mission to vote on the question After
some minutes it was asccrtained that
the motion for reconsideration had been
carried by a vote of l0l to IS.
A broadside attack then began on the
salary proposition in general, Mr.. Tracy
offered his amendment as above stated.
1t was opposed by Mr. Austin of High
gate, Mr.. Webster Of Swanton, Mr.. Alex
ander of st. Adams City, and numerous
others. Mr. Hills of Chittenden favored
the amendment.
After nearly an hour of discussion,
Mr. Miner Of Sherburne moved that the
bill be ordered to lie. The motion was
lost Mr.. Tewksbury moved that the
House reconsider the vote whereby it
voted to reconsider the bill, but was de.
clared out of order. Mr. Dunklee of
Vernon tried to have the bill recommit.
ted, but failed.
Mr.. Tracy's proposal of amendment
was killed almost unanimously, as was
the proposal of amendment by Mr.. Dyer
of Salisbury that the salary proposition
Of lump sum of S400 be retained, the
bill to 90 into effect at the next session.
Mr. Davis of Rutland Town moved the
previous question and Mr.. Dunham of
Brattleboro called for the yeas and nays,
the result being 1877 to rs against third
reading of the measure.
One Of the big bills of the session ap-
peared in the House this morning. This
is H. 26l, reported by the general com
mittee, providing that the auditor of
accounts shall use warrants instead of
orders, that books of the treasurer and
auditor shall be annually investigated
by expert accountants under direction of
the governor, who shall report to the
legislature; provides for doing away
with the report of the bank commission
er, that the treasurer shall use voucher
checks as receipts; that the board of
control shall make regulations for inn
provement in handling the states busi-
ness, to install a new system by July l,
1910
Bills introduced in House.
Reported by the general committee, an
act in addition to and to amend and to
repeal certain sections of the general
laws, relating to the auditing of state
accounts and the duties of certain state
officers in connection Herewith. Audi
tor shall use warrant instead of orders.
Books of treasurer and auditor shall an
nually be investigated by expert account
ants under direction of governor, who
shall report to Legislature, dropping the
report of the bank commissioner. Treas
urer shall use voucher checks as receipts,
Board of control will make regulations
for improvement in handling states busi
ness; empowered to install new sys-
tenn by July !, 1919, Read the first time
and placed on the orders of the day for
tomorrow.
Reported by the committee on munici-
pal corporations, Rermission to amend
section 243 of the Scts Of 1914, relating
to the charter of the village of Spring
field, providing licensing certain lines of
business. Read the first time and placed
on the orders of the day for tomorrow.
Reported by the committee on munici
pal corporations, permitting the town of
Rockingham to appropriate money for
the care of certain cemeteries. Read the
first time and placed on the orders of
the day for tomorrow.
Reported by the general committee to
amend sections 365 1855 and 1857 of
the general laws, relating to the issuance
of commission to justices of peace. These
shall be mailed instead of delivered to
the member of the town in which the
Justice lives, Read the first time and
placed on the orders of the day for to-
morrow.
Reported by the committee on suffrage
and elections, to amend sections 244 and
245 of the general laws, relating to the
returning of votes for county officers.
Insertion of postoffice address in the re-
turns. Read the first time and placed
on the orders of the day for tomorrow,
Bills introduced in Senate.
Reported from the committee on pub