The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-12

.CUDWORIH LEADS
ATTACK ON BILL
Lively Debate on Measure
Requiring Women to
Pay Poll Tax
RECOMMITTAL ITS
FINAL DISPOSITION
Advocates of Bill Say it is Designed to
Remedy Abuse of Law by Women
Who Put in List of So or Cow Re-
longing to Husband.
Especial to The Reformcr.l
MONTPELIER, Feb. /.

MONTPELIER, Feb II.
Both house and senate indulged in some /,
fervid oratory this morning, the house i
eXrending much energy and cloauence ON /.
the woman suffrage bill requiring women |
voters to pay poll tax. Before vote
could be had on the pending bill the ques-
ton became involved in amendments to
amendments, and still further amend.
ments, SO that the whble matter was
finally disposed OF by being recommitted.
The senate devoted its attention to
three measures; one providing for the
| deputy attorney general. which was re-
Jeetcd; the second providing for an as
| sIstant to the attorney general, which
was ordered TO a third reading. and the
| third to permit state banks to invest in
! bonds of the federal farm loan banks.
! which was reeommitted. All three CAME
III under adverse reports and the commit
tees We're lucky to be sustained in one
ease out of three
in the woman's suffrage debate in the
| house the opposition to the bin was led
by Mr. Cudworth of Londonderry. who
charged that the advocates of the pres
cnt woman suffrage measure had put.
something OYER on the state in lgl7 and
declared that they were trying To do the
same thing now.
The measure was defended By Mr..
IAlexander Of St Adams, who warmly
denied the charge OF attempting to put
anything over and Dir. White of Georgia
4 declared that the pending bin was de-.
1 signed to remedy the abuse of the law
ly women who put in a 81 list or a cow
i. from their husbands dairy.
Mr.. White of Woodstock urged the
passage of the bill in plain Justice to the
women of Vermont. SO did Mr.. DYER
OF Salisbury. Mr., Tracy of johnson said
the gentleman from Londonderry tCud-
WORTH was msinfermcd a. to the effect
Of the bill, which was designed TO rem
, edy the very abuses Of which he com
planned.
Mr. Hopkins of Burlington surprised
hi- friends by fayoring the passage of the
bill although he nude it clear. that he
I was opposed to equal suffrage as gen
:, eral thing. Then came the successive
!, anne ndmeuts by Mr.. Orton Of Walden and
J Mr.. Dunklee of Vernon, which were piled
: on top Of the original amendment by Mr.
c Alexander of ST. Albans and almost drove
c the clerk into mysteries in trying to keep
: track thereof Mr.. Estee of Montpelier
S finally eut the gordian knot by moving
:. that the bill be raeommitted.
S House bill 76 relating to the importa
|. ton, testing and examination of horses
II rattle and mules. was made special or
der for 2l5 this afternoon, and house bill
Il2 providing for settlement of accounts
of executors, administrators, trustees ant
guardians at least once IL year was hum
bu 1ar In iaI f1i
woman suffrage had to be taken up. Nh
Austin of Highgata made a strong speecl
4 in behalf of the BILL relating Il circ,tm
/ stance in which two clients OF his hal
y. been dragged through the courts for j
90 wears and had died before final settlemcn
= of the estate in which they We're interest
= ed Mr.. Belknap of Rockingham also ia
vored the bill and Mr.. Williams of Procto
opposed it.
Plans for final adjournment too
: form Yesterday when the "specd-up
- committee met with the chairman G
4, the various committees and made a carr
~ ful check of the various measures pent
~ ing i'll committees with a view OF Il
!; best expedition of business.
" The senate committees are praetlca
Is clear of business, 50 the senate d
not sit yesterday afternoon. There a
about l25 bills in house committc
aud up yesterday, 207 had been i
pit troduced in the house and 55 III the sc
ate
The legislative craftsmen have
lcc bills lin the works, and there III;
aat be IL or more introduced from cor
TO- mittees, but, after the craftsmen fini
he their work and the committees form
a late their own measures, 1t Is donE
The ful if there are more than 300 bills
sight.
In the 1917 session, 465 bills were
trodueed in the house and 161 III t
senate, SO the chances are excellent /
: there being less than one half the nn'
~ Der of bills to act upon during t
present session.
:, If the committees continue their
Inc most daily good work, final adioul
he, ment by the middle of March ought
,eaI be not only possible but entirely pr;
ing ticable and likely to come about TIL,
are. of course. some important me-
. ures to be considered yet, highwa
accounting and state pay, for instan
but the work in tha legislature Of Is
is practically all in sight.
= The house yesterday disappointed
large number Of ladies who thron.
II the galleries, expecting a debate
T. ~ n