Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-13
Bill to Give Legislators S4OO
Each for Entire Sessions
Work Refused a Third Read
ing by Vote of 100 to 80
S4.OO-A-DAY LAW RETAINED
Resolution for Delegation to ATTEND
Funeral of Lntc Ex-senator Edmunds
Adoptcd-Senatc Goes on Record
Ouposinr Govt. Control of Utilities


discussing at length the pros and cons
of salaries in a lump sum and the per
diem system, the House placed itself
on record by vote of 100 to IS as
opposed to the lump sum of $500 as
payment for their services in this
Legislature, and the old $500 per diem
basis stands.
The matter was brought up in H.
249, the bill from the committee on
state and court expenses, which pro-
vided for the lump sum payment OF
$500 for the session. The bill came up
ms a special order this afternoon. Mr..
Tracy of Johnson championed 1T.
Mr.. Belknap of Rockingham said
that he was a loser anyway one look ed
at it, during the session, but he favored
the fiat salary proposition because he
thought that it might expedite bust
ness and lead to an early adjournment;
also because it seemed to be favored
by many leaders of experience In legis-
lating and by large number OF the
people of the State.
Mr. Dyer of Salisbury said that his
townsmen had expressed themselves on
town meeting day as being in favor Of
the salary proposition. Mr.. Mcfarland
of Hyde Park thought that, inasmuch
as the present Legislature was elected
be changed at this time. He moved to
amend the bill, that the salary propo-
sition should not go into effect until
the Legislature of 1921 took its seat.
Mr.. Tracy of Johnson thought it fool
ish for this Legislature to try to fix
the salary Of that of 1921 as it would
be bright enough to do that for itself.
Mr.. Netherlands motion to amend was
lost by a vote of $50 to 4.
Mr., Vantine OF Grand Isle said that
the people of his town had discussed the
matter on town meeting day and had
voted almost unanimously for the per
diem plan, even If the Legislature re-
manned in session all summer. Mr.. Estee
| of Montpelier also believed it best to
leave the law as 1t u.s.
Mr.. Connal of Newport town came for
ward with another amendment, to make
the lump sum 1925 instead Of $500, and
defended this proposition by referring to
| the length Of sessions in other States,
where a lump sum payment was the
rule. He said that the average length
of the session in these States was not
more than so days, and he thought that
the session in Vermont could be cut to
that length, and just much work
accomplished thus his amendment.
Mr.. Cudworth of Londonderry opposed
both the amendment and the bill. that
the per diem basis seemed the fairest
to him for everybody concerned. Mr..
Connelrs amendment was rejected by
practically unanimous vote.
Mr.. Writer'S of ST. Johnsbury called
for the yeas and nays on the question
Of advancing the bill to third reading,
and the vote was: Yes SO. no 100
TO ATTEND EDMUNDS FUNERAL
Mr.. Austin of Highgate at the opening
OF the afternoon session of the House, in
troduced a joint resolution providing for a
delegation from the Legislature to at
tend the funeral of the Hon. George F.
| Edmunds.
The resolution follows:
Whereas, the members of the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont have
learned, with pride, that the body of our
late distinguished citizen. lawyer and
statesman, the Hon. George F. Edmunds
in the near future, is to be brought to his
native State and city of Burlington fol
burial, as soon as circumstances will per-
NIT, and
Whereas, our distinguished citizen was
r6Anerly member of both houses of this
General Assembly and speaker of the
House where he displayed that high
character and ability that has earned fol
him an enduring fame, therefore.
Be 1t resolved by the Senate and House
Of Representatives, That we reaff1rm the
Joint resolution of coincidence in this re
spect, of the House of Representatives
and Senate introduced and passed In boil
branches of this Legislature, on the 2stl
day of February, 1919 and that a fur
Their token of respect to our departed citi
zen, jurist and statesman. that com
Of 70 p1ppbars of the Senate AM
House Of Representatives be Represen
tatves be appointed by their RESPECTIVE
presiding officers. three of which shall b.
appointed from the Senate and seven from
the House, to attend the funeral of tn
Hon. George F. Edmunds when arrange
ments are completed for the same. as rep
resentatlves of the General Assembly O
1919 and representing the State of Yer
mont.
TO SEE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS
Senator Kingsley this afternoon intro
duced in the Senate a joint resolutio
providing that subcommittee Of tn
committees on education and educations
institutions of both the House and Senat
shall visit the agricultural schools of tn
state. The rules were suspended and I'll
resolution adopted in the Senate lnmt
diately, the resolution was sent to tn
House and on motion or Mr.. Estee
MONTPELIER the rules were there SUI
uended and the resolution read the frs
second and third times and adopted
concurrence, The trip will probably
mado tomorrow.
The Senate this afternoon took up s
a. special order S. 43 and S As, maxim
uniform the law of partnership and ali
the law of the sales of goods. The Sena
resolved itself into a committee of Il
whole and listened to Attorney Geort
b. Young on these measures. At Il
close, Senator Amey spoke In favor
the bills and S. AZ was ordered to a THU
reading by a vote of Is TO s.
ST. ALBANS BILL PASSED
On motion of Senator Villas, the Sena
reconsidered it's vote, whereby 1t made
special order for Friday of H. 16, an a
to incorporate a city and town OF )
Adams, and the bill was passed in co
currence AS amended by the Senate.
without the slightest debate, Il
Senate this morning passed in concu
renee j. II. ii. 8, the resolution pr
testing against further governme
control CT public utilities, includiI
railroads, telephones, telegraph etc.
COUNTY CLERK BILL PASSED
County clerks got recognition tn
morning. when, after some debate, L
Senate passed S. so, increasing Z
salary of the county clerks of Chi
tenden, Orleans and Windham cou
ties This bill has been the subject