The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-06
DEROGATORY BILL
KILLED BY HOUSE
There Was a Sharp Debate
Over Measure introduced
by Senator HowIand Of
Washington County to
Protect Banks from the
Effects of RumOrs.

Women will vote for presidential elec-
tors in the state of Vermont from this
time forth. This matter was definitely
settled this morning, when the House
passed in concurrence, and without dis
cussion, s. s. Mr.. White of Woodstock
called for yeas and mays" and the re-
sulting vote was 100 to 90 in favor Of
the passage of the bill There we're
large number of women in the gallery
when the yeas" and mays" were being
taken.
A great deal of discussion arose this
morning in the House over S. IA, relat-
ing to derogatory statements affecting
banks, a bill recently passed by the Sem
ate. This bill brought forth lengthy de-
bate and was finally killed by an over
whelming refusal to give it a third read
ing. In order to make sure that the de-
ceased should not be revived, Mr. Tracy
of johnson moved for reconsideration.
which was refused with a thunderous
No" This bill was introduced in the
Senate by Senator Rowland of Washing
ton county.
All the excitement over S. IA started
when it came up for third reading un-
der a favorable majority report from the
committee on banking and insurance Mr..
Tracy at once attacked the bill with fer
voF. saying that he hoped that the people
of Vermont would for q time maintain
the right OF free speech, and not let
banks and bank directors "muzzle their
/ 1ts5f - 81 a. &Ln4
this bill were passed. it would be impos-
sible for lawyers to advise their clients
properly, or for friends to advise each
other as they should, in regard to de-
posits in certain banks. He declared
that it was q dangerous measure and that
he would oppose it to the end.
Mr. Carpenter of Richford defended the
bill and said that it was not aimed
against free speech or against the people
in any way, but was rather for the bene-
fit of the people who had small savings
in the banks of the state and who should
be protected against malicious rumors
which might be circulated to do harm TO
those banks The bill was also defended
by Mr. Mcfarland of Hyde Park, who
pointed out the danger of a run on
bank as the result of wild rumors which
might. be circulated and which are often
unfounded
Mr., Belxnap of Rockingham, Mr.. Cud.
worth OF Londonderry, Mr. Austin Of
Highgate and Mr.. Connal of Newport
Town spoke against the bill. Mr.. Web.
ster of Swanton offered an amendment
to the bill which placed the same penal
ties on directors of banks and banking
institutions in general for malicious and
derogatory statements which might af-
feet each other that was placed on the
individual. This amendment was opposed
in the same manner as the bill.
Mr. Cudworth maintained that there
was no call for any such bill as this, and
that it was simply useless legislation.
Mr. Connal called it class legislation and
said that laws already on our statute
books will give the banks such protection
from derogatory statements as they are
entitled to receive and that it would not
be proper to impose penalties in favor OF
any one class.
The House continued its work of car-
mage by killing S. 10, changing the month
in which to prepare names of persons to-
serve as grand and petit jurors.
Mr.. Belknap of Rockingham introduced
a
the part of the House, providing for a
Joint assembly on Wednesday evening,
Feb. IL, at O'Clock in the evening, to
honor the memory of the late Theodors
Roosevelt, and to listen TO memorial ad-
dresses by Governor Clement and Rev.
Fraser Metzger of Randolph,
The House passed; Fl, 81, authorizing
the state librarian to deliver a set Of
t,1s ta he a
Newport, and H. l09, an act relating to
the payment of the premiums for bonds
furnished by officers Of the state, cuun-
ty or town.
The Senate to-day passed in concur
renee the following bills: An act To
amend the charter Of the village OF vii.
mington; an act relating to the receipt
and disbursement of funds for the sup~
port of the Soldiers home; an act relat~
ing to preservation of records by towns
of soldiers in the war of the rebellion
and subsequent wars and military enter
prises of the United States; to amend
the charter of the village of Proctor; in-
creasing the fees of witnesses in county
and municipal courts.
The Senate ordered third reading orr
the following measures: Relating TO the
taking of muskrats in Addison countys
relating to disposition and care of chil-
dren in non support or desertion cases.
relating to foreign corporations, prohib-
iting the granting OF a certificate of an-
thority in certain cases; relating to char~
ters Of domestic corporations, establish-
ing the fee payable for amendment there.
to; providing that town clerks may ba
collectors of taxes in certain cases; relat-
( Continued on eighth page.l