The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-04-09

tulo 6N6ulub.
Montpelier, April THE House
this evening spent more than half an
hour in debate on II. 1893, providing
for change in the method of taxing
express companies. The bill was re-
jected last week, but was given re-
consideration and the House went in
to a committee OF the whole and lis
tened to Former Attorney General j.
G. Sargent, representating the Amer
lean Railway Express. and Tax Com
missioner Charles Plumley, who fav-
ored the bill Mr.. Sargent claimed
that all the express companies want
ed was fair treatment in the method
Of taxation on the same basis OF APP
praisal which is used in taxing other
public utilities. Mr.. Plumley said
that he thought the present law not
only unfair but unconstitutional, and
that it was almost impossible to en-
force it and collect taxes from the ex-
press companies unless they were
willing to pay.
The bill went to third reading by
a goodly majority, some voting for it
who were not wholly in favor of it,
but who desire to give it further
thought over night.
The House sustained the veto of
the governor to the two barge terni-
nal measures. Before the vote was
taken, Mr. Hopkins of Burlington
urged that the members stand by
their guns" and although passage
over the governors veto was not ex-
pected, he hoped that each man
would vote according to his convic-
tons on the question, as no new argu
ments had been advanced by the gov
ernor in his veto. The state barge
terminal veto was sustained by a vote
of 1l6 to SO, while that on the local
issue at Burlington was sustained
146 to 27.
Other business OF the House nclud-
ed the amending of rule 70 so that a
bill might be recOnsidered more than
once, upon the vote of two-thirds Of
the House Mr. Webster Of Swanton
moved for the amendment and after
it had been adopted, he asked that S.
50, increasing the salaries OF the
county clerks Of Chlttenden. Orleans
and Windham, be recalled from the
Senate in order that il might be re-
considered. His motion was car
ried.
A joint resolution by Mr.. Clark OF
Brookfeld provides that the pages
shall receive So a day and mileage for
the session. 1t was referred to com
mittee on state and cour, expenses.
Another resolution. by Mr., Estes Of
Montpelier, and referred to the same
committee, provides that the ser
geant.at-arms may expend a sum not
to exceed 5000 in decorating the state
buildings on the occasion of the cele-
bration held in Montpelier In honor Of
the returning soldiers.
Reconsideration was refused the
bill increasing the salary OF the gov
ernor The House adopted resolu.
ton for a per diem salary and mile.
age for the chaplains. and passed S.
l23, relating to conveyance OF record
title to real estate
Mr.. Alexander OF ST. Adams presid-
ed in the House tonight Speaker
Dana is reported much better tonight
and will probably be at the session
tomorrow.
The Senate sustained the cover.
nor's veto to S. 50, providing that the
public service commission may init.
ate proceedings for the alterations Of
railroad crossings The veto was sus
tained 16 to O.
House proposal of amendment were
not concurred into II. 100. relating Ia
the classification OF forest lands for
tax purposes, and a committee OF
conference was appointed.
The Senate reoeded from its pro
posals of amendment 10 II. 1913, boun
ty on black bear: II. 2i6, appraisal
value Of cattle killed by order Of com
missioner of agriculture; II. 279, re
lating to bond by taxpayer appealing
from decision Of board OF civil author
ity.
Passage was refused by the Senat,
to II. $50 concerning traction engines