Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-03
SUNDAY PERMIT
BILL IS HUSTLED
House Tables Measure Indefinite
1y and Without Debate
Crowd Which Is Present to
Hear Oratory Is Disappointed
BILL IS PROBABLY DEAD
Senate I'm Committee Of the Whole
Spends Most OF the Night in Discuss
ing budget Bill-Severnl Items At
tackled hut Few Appropriations Cut

Montpelier April 1-While the Senate
was wading laboriously through the bud
get bill, item by item, this afternoon, the
House staged real April fool stunt. The
House calendar had been finished up at
noon, with the exception of the special
order for $3.50 o'clock on II. 312, the Sunday
permit measure. The galleries filled rap
idly for unusual interest had been aroused
over this measure, and some of the most
eloquent debate of the session was ex-
pected
Promptly at $3.50 by the House clock.
Speaker Dana called the House to order.
Immediately Mr.. Tracy of Johnson, who
was one of those who favored the meas
ure when 1t first came up. moved that, In
order to save further time and prevent
long-winded discussion over the measure.
it be ordered to lie indefinitely. The mo-
ton went through with thunderous
yes" there being a very faint no
from certain staunch supporters of the
measure on the judiciary committee The
matter was clnched moment later when
Mr.. Hills of Chittenden moved to recon-
slider the vote, with the idea of putting 1t
away for keeps, and he was not disap-
pointed, for the House refused reconsid-
Grafton in the same manner that 1t post
poned the bill.
The success of the movement against
this measure was due in n large degree
to L. D. Wheeler. the gentleman from
Hartford, who led the forces against the
bill, and who had in his possession to-
day scores Of letters from hundreds OF
people in every part of the state pro-
testing against the measure.
BURLINGTON MEN AT CAPITAL
A delegation Of the following men from
Burlington were at the State House to-
day In conference with the Governor to
urge him to sign the barge terminal
measure: Elias Lyman. A. ]. Canning.
]. p. Taylor. Edward Hanbridge.
Chauncey w. Brownell. W. II. Scofeld,
Professor Edward Robinson. H. L. Win
ter, r. NJ. McCauley, F. E. Kimball. II.
S. Howard, Max l.. Powell and Gardner
Brewer.
A large delegation from Barre was in
conference with the Governor yesterday
regarding the same matter.
NIGHT SESSION IN SENATE
At ten o'clock tonight the Senate,
under the determined leadership Of
Generals Amey and Villas. was still
pounding away on the high cost Of MAIN
tanning the State OF Vermont, in the form
Of the budget bill. without producing any
appreciable results upon the apparently
strong Notifications of this measure.
After being In committee Of the whole
since two o'clock this afternoon with
a recess from 5:15 to 7:30 and having In
that time disposed Of Ga out Of 81 Of
the sections In class A and II out of %
of the sections In class B. leaving q
sections still to be taken care Of, not
one single appropriation had yet been
out, although determined attacks had
been made on several. One attempt was
made about $3.50 to have the committee
recess until morning, but it seemed to
be the general opinion that the Senate
should stay with the job.
COMMUNICATION FROM GOVERNOR
At the opening Of the afternoon ses-
sion before going into a committee OF
the whole the Senate received COM
munication from Governor Clement and
went into executive session for about
five minutes to consider the same. which.
1t is understood, contained the appoint
ment Of commissioner of agriculture.
State fish and game commissioner and
State purchasing agent. No action was
the rule that they shall be laid on the
table for "a hours before being con-
firmed.
RETAIN BRIGHAM AND LEAVENS
1t is generally understood about the
State House that f. S. Brigham will
continue in the office Of commissioner
Of agriculture and Linus Leavens in
that Of fish and game commissioner. but
there are conflicting reports regarding
the office of State purchasing agent. and
a change is looked for. with the outcome
still in doubt.
The Senate went at the budget bill with
vengeance first going through the
measure and adopting such sections as
there was no question about (Which were
in the minority. The Senate then pro-
ceeded to seek information at first hand
regarding the different departments and
their needs. Among those called on to
appear before the committee of the whole
were: Harry A. Black, secretary of state;
Walter F. Scott, State treasurer; Dwight
], Dwinell. sergeant-at-arms; John
Avery. legislative reference librarian
Benjamin Gates. auditor Of accounts: Milo
B. Hillegas, commissioner Of education.
and H. NJ. Mcintosh. State engineer. who
way department in the absence of the
highway commissioner.
EDUCATIONAL APPROPRIATIONS
Nearly two hours this evening we're
spent In consideration of the educational
department appropriations. Commissioner
Hillegas answered scores Of questions
and explained at length the work of the
department. Much of the discussion CEN
tered about the two normal schools of
the State. and there seemed to be a
strong feeling against the continuance of
both of them.
RURAL SCHOOL PROBLEMS
There was also much discussion over
the rural school problem. especially on
the part OF Senator Villas, who attempte
to have $4,000 clipped from the appropria-
ton for education work, for the reason,
as he first expressed it. that he thought
the present town system of schools should
be continued, and the pupils be trans
ported. whore necessary. instead of re-
turning to the plan of opening the rural
schools. as had been suggested.
Senator Amey opposed this motion be-
cause he did not believe that any money
should be taken away from the rural
school work. and because he favored a
greater cutting down of the educat ional
appropriation and the doing away with the
normal schools.
Senator Villas attempted to make his mo-
ton clear to Senator Amey. and these
two senators alternately occupied the
floor for quarter Of an hour. when the
situation got into hopeless muddle, and
the vote was taken. with the rea,,lt Tho