The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-03
ACCENT STATE
TAX IS LIKELY
Legislative Ways and Means
Committee Recommends
That Rate
PLAIN TALK ON
PROSTITUTE BILL
House Objects to Language of Repre-
sentative from Johnson, Interrupting
by Slamming Desks-Farm Bureau
Bill Passes Both Houses
Especial to The Reformer.)
sTaN-TDIT IT'D k;y


Apart from the steady, indefatigable
progress of the senate through its long
calendar and its prompt and summary
killing of five bills, the legislative fea
ture of the morning was a somewhat
sensational debate in the house on S.
l07, fixing severe. penalties on prosti
tuition.
The bill, which is said to have orig
mated from federal military sources,
was pronounced too drastic by Mr..
Austin of Highgatc, whose broad ref
erenees to its possibilities in the line
Of blackmail were particularly frank
and occasionally amusing and aston
ishing
Mr.. Hills of Chittenden and Mr. Me
Farland of HYDE Park reported the
bill on the straight proposition of pub
lie morality The former called for
the yeas and nays. Mr. Tracy of John
son made speech that for startling
plainness of language has probably
never been equalled in the history of a
Vermont legislature. Terms of the med
zeal clinics and definitions seldom heard
outside the courtroom were freely enun-
ciated hy the orator. who denied the
fact that present laws were adequate
/ to handle the evils of prostitution. An
other feature of the debate was the
| free slamming of desks by which the
members expressed their disapproval,
and the immediate crack Of the speak
ers gavel By which the house was called
to order
Adjournment was taken with the
measure still pending.
! In the house, II. 332, providing for
a 40-cent state tax for the years 1919
| and 1920, was introduced from the com
| mittee on ways and means. 1t will be
taken up tomorrow.
A joint resolution introduced by Mr.
] Alexander of st. Albans city, and
adopted on the part of the house. would
give authority to the adjutant gen.
eral to use a sum not to exceed ST ,000
out of the appropriation of the mill
tary department to provide transpor
tation to Boston and return of such
Vermont soldiers, formerly members oi
the Goth division, who were honorably
discharged prior to April 5. 1919, ant
who are unable to pay such transpor
tation themselves, in order that they
may march in the parade of the 26tl
division
Mr.. jenkins of Kirby introduced /;
lJoint resolutions, (which was adopte,
on the part of the house, to the effec
that the state treasurer be authorized
10 pay to the widows of James a. Dey
ter of Wardsboro, Albert Gregory o
Lunenburg and Harland A. Renfrew O
Peackanl members of the present leo
. islature who have died since the session
began, the sum of So per day and mile
: age from the beginning of the sessio
to and including the day of final ad
iournment, less such sums as such mem
: bers may have received in their lif
u time
A joint resolution from Mr.. Tomlinso
: of Jericho (by requestl provides that tn
? chaplain, doorkeepers and members of til
general assembly shall receive mileag
6 in addition to the per diem which the
5 received during the period of adjourn
o ment from Saturday, Feb IS, to Wednes
L day, March ). This was referred to con
mittee on state and court expenses.
The house changed its mind this morr
ling on s. 100, relating to number plate
for automobiles and the licensing
chauffeurs, doing away with furnishir
= of photographs each year by profession
chauffeurs and thus saving considerab
money both to the state and to the chau
: feurs themselves. The bill was reiecte
: yesterday, but was reconsidered and 0
dered to third reading this morning.
e The house passed in concurrence:
o.