Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-23
SENATE RAT|F|ES
AMENDMENT, 24.4
Upper House Of Vermont Legis'
lature Makes Short Work Of
Placing Her on Record

Montpelier, Jan. 1e.-Things broke loose,
rather Unexpectedly to many, In the Sen
ate Of the Vermont Legislature just be-
fore the closing hour this morning and
when the smoke Of battle had cleared
from the atmosphere few minutes after
the noon hour. the upper house HAD put
itself unmistakably on record for the
ratification Of the Sheppard amendment
to the constitution Of the United States,
prohibiting the manufacture. sale or
transportation of Intoxicating liquors for
beverage purposes" in this country. The
ratification measure went through by
vote Of "a to 4. Two senators were alb
sent. A stiff fight in opposition to the
measure was put up by Senator Kingsley
of Rutland.
In the House this afternoon. Mr.. Belk-
nap Of Rockingham, chairman of the
House committee on federal relations,
made statement in regard to the hand
ling Of the resolution concerning the rati-
dcation Of the Sheppard amendment.
which had been referred to his commit
tee. He said that the committee felt
that It would be best to let things take
their regular course In regard 10 this
resolution and not try to rush it through,
since 1t already was too late for Yer
mont to become zone of the 49," Nebras-
ka having ratified earlier in the day
making the 36th State.
During the early part of the morning
session. message from the Governor
had brought the official letter from Sec
rotary Of State Lansing concerning the
Sheppard amendment to the attention of
the House, where 1t had been referred
to joint committee consisting of the
standing committees on federal relations
Of both the Senate and the House, to con-
slider and report to their respective
houses such action thereon as they should
Judge proper.
After long recess during the morning
session. the Senate reconvened at II IA
o'clock. A communication was received
from the Governor announcing that he
had sent to the House a certified copy
Of the proposed Sheppard amendment
to the constitution Of the United States,
together with letter from Secretary
Lansing.
introduced joint resolution for ratifca-
ton of the proposed constitutional
amendment. This was referred to the
committee on federal relations. On mo-
ton of Senator Villas. the Senate took a
recess until Has.
At exactly 11:47, the Senate reconvened
Senator Villas moved that the rules be
suspended and that the Senate act at
once upon the report Of the committee on
federal relations. This motion was Sec
onded by Senator Ballou. opposed by Sem
ator Kingsley, and favored by Senator
Gates On a standing vote the yeas
were % and the nays were and the
rules were suspended.
SOME DISCUSSION
The committee on federal relations re-
ported In favor of ratification. and the
resolution was given second reading.
When the question Of a third reading
was brought up, Senator Kingsley Of
Rutland raised a point order. saying that
the amendment had been officially pre-
scented to the House Of Representatives
and not to the Senate, and therefore. that
1t was not before the Senate for action.
He also moved that the report of the COM
mittee on federal relations be ordered to
lie. Lieut. Gov. Mason S. Stone. presid-
ing, ruled that the point of order was not
well taken.
Senator Carr of Caledonia asked II it
were necessary that this proposed
amendment be submitted in a message
from the Governor before the Senate
could take action on it. Senator Moul-
ton stated that he understood that II
was not necessary that the amendment
should be introduced by the Governor.
Senator Kingsley interrogated Senator
Moulton as to whether he would go fur
Their and say that the act Of the Yer
mont Legislature would be considered
constitutional and complete in it's ratifi-
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action of the Legislature not be made
known to the United States government
through official channels. Senator Moul-
ton replied that Notwithstanding the
constitutionality or unconstitutionality
Of such @ course. he still maintained
! that. Congress having voted upon this
question and presented 1t to the several
States for ratification. the Legislature
Of State could take up the ratification
Of the amendment and act upon It with
| out waiting for a message from the
Governor introducing it.
THE VOTE TAKEN
| Again the question was put by the
president Of the Senate: Shall the reso-
luton be read the third time?" Senator
| Kingsley moved that the resolution be
laid upon the table. Senator Villas called
| for the yeas and mays"
| The vote was taken and the mays
had 1t, "a to four. The resolution was
not laid upon the table The vote was as
follows: Yes" Senators Hall. Kings
ley. Root and Tenney; may" Senators
Adams, Ballou, Bates. Belknap. Billings
Carr. Daniels. Hamblet, Hsndee. HI,
Rowland. Jackson. LaFleur. Lewis
Maurice. Morgan. Moulton. Noonan
Payne. Schoff. Steele. Stuart. Tracy and
Villas. Senators Amey and Taylor were
| absent.
| yeas" and mays" on the third reading
| of the resolution. Those voting yea
in favor Of third reading were: Sena,
tors Adams, Ballou, Bates. Belknap
Billings. Carr. Daniels, Hamblet Hen.
dee. Hill. Rowland. Jackson. LaFleur
Lewis, Maurice, Morgan. Moulton
Noonan. Payne. Schofr. Steele. Stuart
Tracy and Villas. Those voting against
a third reading were: Senators Hall
Kingsley. Root and Tenney.
The resolution was given the third
reading. and Senator Bates called 70,
the yeas" and mays" on the adoption
OF the resolution. The vote stood exactl,
the same as for the third reading. ant
the resolution was declared adopted ant
the proposed amendment ratified by the
Senate.
On motion of Senator Belknap. tho
Senate adjourned at 1918 D. m. until ter
o'clock Tomorrow morning. there be.nf
no business for the afternoon session
HOUSE-MORNING
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