The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-02-08
LEGISLATURE IS
WORRIED Owe R
HEAVY TAX BILL
Vermont Must Issue Bonds or
Increase State Tax
so CENT TAX PERHAPS
Bill Was Introduced in House Yester-
day to increase Pay of Members
To $5 Per.


= Montpelier, Feb. S-The legislature
went home as usual Friday Afternoon
to stay until Monday but tEs,re was
some muttering of opposition and
within week or two there will be II
more strenuous effort TO work at
least five days week instead OF fQlr
The more important measli es of
the session are hardly touched vet.
The question of ways and means Is
daily growing more formidable. An
immense amount OF money has to be
raised either by taxation or by sell.
ing bonds and possibly both measures
will be adopted.
Some are In favor of raising the
money by direct tax. Others would
increase the inheritance taxes and
seek to get more from direct taxation
To meet the war expenses OF the
state and the increased state expen.
ses II will require state tax of at
least so cents on the dollar for sever.
al years to clear up the burden
With food of bills on both the
House and Senate calendars Friday
morning, both branches waded in
with rush and raced for adjourn
ment. The Senate won out with a
good lead, closing UP business in time
TO hear few remarks from the Hon.
John Barrett on the proposed league
OF nations before their adjournment
al 1880 until o'clock Monday even.
ing The House also voted this
morning that when they adjourn Fri
day II will be until Monday evening
ut O'clock.
There was little discussion on bills
before either hcase this morning, The
wheels OF Ieaisi.tsst. running smqofh-
iy and rapidly A long list or new
billa were introduced in the House
from $50 to iS7 inclusive.
Among these new bills is one which
has been long expected, r. iSi, in
creasing the pay of the ildmbers OF
the general assembly to Sc day, tc
take effect FROM passage, There was
buzz of excitement and general
smile when this bill appeared. II
was introduced by Mr.. Lambert ol
Montgomery
Two bills Of especial interest TO re
turned soldiers of the war with Ger
many, H. 17S and II. l79, provide that
taxes assessed in 1917, 1918 and 1915
against persons in the world war may
be abated also that persons in tn,
military or naval service Of the
United States may vote, even though
their poll tax was not taken while
they were in the service. Mr. Ayre:
of Barre introduced bill TO make re
fusal to pay taxes misdemeanor
The Senate refused passage thii
morning to II. II. providing that the
town clerks may be collectors o
taxes in certain towns Senator
Maurice called attention to the fac
that the passage Of the bill would al
low a town clerk to collect taxes
while sitting as member OF tn,
board of civil authority, which ma.
abate taxes.
Senator Adams introduced a join
resolution authorizing the Senate ant
House committees on penal institr
tions to visit the state prison ant
house OF correction in order to inves
,igate the conditions and manage
ment and report their findings Thi
resolution was referred to the Senat
joint committee ON penal institution
and state and court expenses.
A companion measure was intro
duced in the House in the form of
joint resolution by Mr., Dyer of Salii
bury, authorizing the Senate an
House committees on state instit
tions to visit, Investigate and repol
on the state hospital for the insan
at Waterbury. This resolution wa
referred TO the committee on stat