The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-28
ARGUMENT CEASED
AT 1910 O'CLOCK
Roll-Call on the House Bill
% Calling for a Referen-
dunn Was Taken This Aft
ernOOn.

After forenoon OF sharp debate, the
Vermont House is expected to kill House
bill %, which would grant a referendum
to the voters of Vermont on the proposed
ratification Of the Sheppard prohibition
amendment to the national constitution.
The vote viii come late this afternoon,
the debate having closed at 1910 this
afternoon.
With this bin killed, it is expected that
there will be little more opposition to
ratification Of the proposed amendment.
There are some who predict that the
House viii ratify by vote Of lao to 100
Mr.. Belknap Of Rockingham opened the
debate this morning on House bill %,
providing for a referendum. He protest
ed against further delay in ratification
Mr.. 0'Sulliyan of Colchester followed and
favored a referendum, saying that few
Of the representatives were elected on
the question of prohibition, while the
chief executive of the state was elected
on that issue in part. He thought the
sentiment of the voters as thus shown
should be considered He asked if the
legislators were afraid TO let the voters
be heard on the matter
Mr.. Estee of Montpelier said he fs-
vored the amendment, but declared that
it was customary to put such matter
up to the voters of the state. Therefore,
he favored the referendum.
Mr. Cudworth of Londonderry made
the chief speech in favor of the referen-
dunn, saying that the issue was not
sharply drawn. He said that in effect
Vermont was voting on an amendment
to its own constitution He should prefer
70 go to the voters with the matter, and
as long as he preserved the sanctity of
his oath he should vote that way.
Mr.. Connal of Newport said the people
of Vermont expected the state to ratify
without further delay, and he was op-
posed to a referendum. Mr.. Bond OF
Searsburg told Of the evils of drink, and
he was opposed to making a referendum
of the matter
Mr.. Tracy of johnson hlossomed out
as an orator, and urged the legislature
to ratify the proposed amendment.
Mr. Writers of st. Johnsbury spoke for
a referendum and said that the repre-
sentatives were not the whole thing"
that the voters who sent them there
should figure largely in decisions of such
Importance. 1--WE aren't the whole push, ?
he declared,
Mr.. Mcfarland of Hyde Park closed
the debate, arguing that "A states had
ratified and 40 had certified, so what
was Vermont doing anyway but holding
post mortem? Mr.. Tracy of johnson
moved that debate cease, and the refer
endum bill went to vote this afternoon.
Both the House and the Senate con-
vened at 10 o'clock this morning, but the
Senate Immediately adjourned, as there
was no business TO transact.
One bill was introduced in the House,
Fl. 70, by Mr.. Brown of Barton Thy re-
quest), to amend section 1897 of the
general laws, relating to the Use of tele-
phones by county officials adding muni-
cipal judgesl
A joint resolution, introduced by Mr.
Estee of Montpelier, extending the sym
pathy Of the House to John NJ. Avery,
the legislative reference librarian, on the
death of his mother, Mrs. Edith S. Avery,
was adopted on the part of the House.
Third readings were ordered on J. R. H.
10, ratifying the so-called Sheppard
amendment to the constitution of the
United States; and ON Il. SO, relating TO
the preservation of soldiers records by.
towns, providing for the keeping of rec
ords in the war with Germany (as
amended) and on H. 65, relating to
charters of domestic corporations estab-
fishing the fee payable for amendment
thereto
Two bills were passed: Fl. 27, relating
to the receipt and disbursement of funds
for the support of the Soldiers home,
and H, 64, an act to amend section 500l
of the general laws, relating to foreign
corporations, prohibiting the granting Of
certificate of authority in certain cases.
II. 81, introduced yesterday from the
committee on agriculture, was recon-
mitted on motion of Mr.. O'Brien of South
Burlington, after the House had refused
to suspend the rules and have the second
reading by title only. The motion for
the suspension of rules came from Mr.
Hopkins of Burlington, and the vote was
II to g.. The House listened patiently
az the clerk waded through the eight
pages of the bill, then voted to recommt
It.
Short Sessions Last Evening.
Short sessions were held in both the
Senate and House last evening, the House
eoBvening at 1880 and the Senate at 8
O'Clock In the House a resolution was.