The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-15
Vermont Legislature Is Not
Beset With Measures
as Usual
ADJOURNMENT MAY
COME IN A MONTH
Speed Up" Committee Do
ing Good Work Keep
ing Things Moving

Prospects are improving for an early
adjournment of the legislature of 1919,
Ending the session in the middle of
March begins to seem quite possible.
There are now not more than 20 new
bills, exclusive Of committee bills, in
sight to be introduced, Eight or ten new
House bills viii probably appear next
week, and this viii finish up the bills to
be introduced by the members of the
House. It is possible that the few Sen
ate bills which are in sight may string
out beyond next week, as no time limit
has yet been put in force. But the large
majority Of the bills are now in, and it
is expected that the total number will
not exceed 1926, unless a large number of
unexpected committee measures develop.
This is very little more than half the
number which was handled in 1917, and
not half that which was disposed of in
1915.
At the speed with which the legisla o
tors have been working during the past
week, it will not take long to dispose Of
the work which is now in sight Two
weeks more of this intensive getting
down TO business, and the greater part
of the uncontested measures should be
out of the way. This would leave two
weeks to fight out the bigger problems
and give plenty of time to clean up the
slate by March Is.
The speed up" committee under the
able direction Of Mr.. Dunham OF Brat
tlboro is doing good work in the line
of keeping committees moving, sending
in their bills as rapidly as possible, and
the fact that the House handled 80 meas
ures yesterday, while the Senate went
through about 80, shows that no time
is being wasted in the process Of legis-
lation.
Actions Taken Friday Afternoon
On motion Of Mr. Taylor of Hardwick,
H. 73, relating to the assessment and
early collection of poll taxes, was taken
from the table. Mr.. Taylor offered an
amendment and the bill was ordered
placed on the next calendar.
Reconsideration Of II. l23, relating TO
omissions in grand list, which was killed
at the morning session, was given new
life on motion OF Mr.. Tracy Of johnson,
who said that he had talked with the
tax commissioner, who maintained that
the bill ought TO pass. On this assurance
the House reconsidered, and the bill was
passed.
Mr. Hopkins of Burlington, as chair
man Of the committee on state and court
expenses, was obliged to answer many
questions regarding salaries anu fees Of
different county probate judges, when H.
IS, increasing the salary of the Judge
of Manchester probate district came UP
before the House. On motion Of Mr..
Dunham of Brattleboro, the bill was
finally recommit ted.
After Mr., Cudworth of Londonderry
had offered an amendment to II. 4, re-
lating to the practice of chiropody, the
bill was ordered to a third reading.
Ten amendments were on the calendar
for S, 5, relating to the salary and fees
Of town clerks. Mr.. Webster Of Swan
ton said that there were parties who de
sired to be heard on this bill, and on his
motion, the bill was ordered to lie,
Four bills were ordered to third read
ings Among these was H. las, relating
to the charter Of the city Of st, Albans,
and permitting an increase Of the tax
rate On this bill. Mr.. Alexander of st,
Albans City moved that the rules be sus-
pended, the second reading be dispensed
with and the amendments be adopted
as a whole This was done.
The House rejected; S. 47, permitting
a Judge Of municipal court to solemnize
marriages; H. 3s, relating to hunting
foxes with dogs H. 81, relating to the
open season for taking certain fur-bear-
ing animals; II. ITO, creating a town and
county dog warden; II. l59, repeating the
chapter providing for the appointment OF
purchasing agent and defining his du-
ties; H. 1866, relating TO procedure to
recover for damages done to property
by hunter or deer during the open sea-
son, and H. l67, to reimburse men called
for physical examination under selective