The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-26
STATE EXPENSES
HOUSE DECIDES NOT
TO INVESTIGATE
Board of Control Has Power
to Investigate Any
State Dept.
THE VOTE WAS 1878
Publis! Hearing Was Given the
Barge Terminal Bill for
100000
THE VOTE WAS 1878

On the yea and nay vote, following
a half hours discussion, the Yer
mont House yesterday morning re-
fused third reading to the Senate
joint resolution for an investigation
of state expenses, the vote being 1873
to 78. At the opening of debate on
this resolution, which came up yes
terday morning as a special order,
Mr.. Brown of Bloomington offered an
amendment to the amendments al
ready in existence, providing that the
work of investigation be completed
two weeks from the date of the ap-
pointment of the committee. Mr.
Brown defended this amendment with
an impassioned plea, his maiden
speech of the session, but the.
amendment was voted down by a
large majority.
Mr.. Slayton of Morristown read the
law which gives the board of control
authority to investigate any state de-
partment, and said that he con-
sidered this law enough, and that, if
an investigation were thought nee
essary, he thought it best to ask the
board Of control to make such an
investigation and report.
Mr.. Cudworth of Londonderry
quoted the good old colored lady,
who, after seeing "dem niggers ride
all roun' on dat merry -go-roun' )"
said to them when they got off, "Yo
done spen' yo money niger; whar yo
bin?"
Mr.. Barnard of Pittsford, Mr.. Dun
ham of Brattleboro, Mr.. Carpenter of
Richford and Mr.. Goss of Danville
opposed the resolution. Mr.. Carpen-
ter proposed that, following out Sen
ator Amey's estimate of the cost of
the investigation, he would propose to
the House as the most practicable
way of conducting this investigation,
to appoint a committee of 1O8 men
and do the work some night after
supper.
Early adjournment of the House
yesterday afternoon-and the Senate
completed its calendar business in
the forenoon, enabled the members to
devote much of the day to commit
tee hearings including public hear
ing held last evening in the Represen-
tatives' Hall on the barge terminal
bill. There seems to be growing an
tagonism against this bill, which car
ries a 100000 appropriation and
there are those who profess to be
confident that the bill will not pass
LEGIS 2
the House even if it bears favorable
committee report, which is not assur-
ed
The House yesterday afternoon s;c-
ceded to the requests of the Senate
for committees of conference on S,
5, relating to the salary and fees
town clerks and H. 90, relating to
the membership of the Board of Con-
troll. Speaker Dana appointed the
House members of the committees
and reports may be expected the re
spective legislative bodies before
March election adjournment the last
of the week.
Those who are inclined to watch
for appointments by the Governor of
state officials are still waiting in vain
but presumably the nominations OF
the tax commissioner, commissioner
of industries, insurance commissioner
ETC.. will be presented to the Senate
during the present week.
Mr.. Dunham of Brattleboro IN
opposing the state expenses resolu-
ton on the floor of the House yes
terday said that it was considered
that final adjournment would be pos
sible by March 81, so presumably that
is the date in mind of the stcerina
committee of which Mr.. Dunhanl Is
a member. Experienced Legislators
and state officials who have watched
many Legislature come and go as
sert however that it will be nearer
the first of April when the lawmakers
finally leave the capitol the majority
never TO return in their present ca
pacity.
A resolution introduced by Mr.
Jenkins of, Kirby. expressing regret
at the continued illness of the mem.
Der from Lunenburg. Mr.. Gregory
and extending the sincere sympathy
of the House. was adopted by thu
House, with the hope that Mr.. Greg
ory's condition would improve.