Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-02-06
MOUL1ON WINDS UP
Term AS SENATOR
Closes Career As Senator BY
Rising to Defense of Bill to
Increase Salary of Clerk of
Chittenden County
TRIBUTE BY LIEUT.-GOV.
House Refuses to Amend dill Allow
ing state TO Fix Salaries OF Town
Clerks-Severul Measures Passed in
Each HOuse-Mnny New Bills


ton of Burlington. who tomorrow L.
comes a superior Judge, wound up his
short career as a senator from Chitten-
den county in the Legislature of 1919 to-
day by participating in the defence of
&. T. an act to amend section 7403 of the
General Laws, relating to salaries Of
county clerks. increasing the salary of
the county clerk Of Chittcnden county.
This bill was on the Senate calendar
to-day under an adverse report from the
committee on State and court expenses.
Senator Mouton. who introduced the bill.
asked that the Senate consider well be-
fore rejecting 1t, and explained that it
simpy raised the pay of the clerk of
Chittenden county $500 year He ex-
planned. also, that the clerks of Rut-
land and Washington are receiving each
$500 a year. The volume Of business
in these three counties Ia about the same.
said Senator Moulton and he felt that
the salary should be the same.
Senators Villas and Tracy also spoke
for the bill.
The chief opposition to the bill seemed
to be that, should the salary Of the clerk
Of Chittender county be raised. other
county clerks also would be calling for
raises In salary, and the State would not
On motion of Senator Daniels, the bill
was finally laid on the table. to be taken
up next Tuesday at $50 O'Clock in the
afternoon.
Senator Moulton also undertook the
amendment Of II. %, relating to the inn
portaton Of dependent children into the
State and succeeded in getting 1t into
better constitutional form. Another
question OF form being raised by Senator
Belknap. the bill was made a special
order for Tuesday at 800 p. IN.
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR MOULTON
Just before the close of the morning
session, Senator Villas introduced a reso-
luton extending to Senator Mouiton the
best wishes Of the Senate in regard to his
work as member Of that body. The
resolution adopted by a rising vote. and
Lieut.-Gov. Mason S. Stone. in announc-
ing the result. took occasion to voice a
well-turned tl>.ute to the retiring sem
ator. Senator Moulton expressed his
qualification with feeling. and on his
motion the Senate adjourned at 1:50
until Monday evening at 500 p. IN.
The House also voted to adjourn until
Monday evening at the same hour. The
lower body of the Legislature held an
afternoon session, however. to finish up
its long calendar for the day. and. for
the highly sufficient reason of receiving
the compliments Of the State treasurer
in the form of their first pay checks.
HOUsE-MORNING
Town clerks came into their own when
the House this morning advanced to a
third reading. after protracted debate,
| s. o. which establishes a salary for the
clerk of every town in the State proper
tional TO the size of the town. The bill
was passed by the Senate and was re-
ported favorably from the House COM
mittee on municipal corporations.
Mr.. Ripley of Poultney objected to the
bill OH the ground that 1t allowed the
State to fix the salary of the town clerk.
instead of leaving it to the town itself,
and proposed an amendment to the bill.
striking out the whole Of section 1.
Mr.. Webster of Swanton, whose COM
mittee had reported favorably on the bill
objected to this amendment on the
grounds that it destroyed the entire worth
Of the bill He outlined the purpose OF
the measure and explained the innumer'
/ able duties of the town clerks office as
! well as the responsibilities which he was
forced to take and for which he received
no pay The speaker eulogized the self
! sacrificing spirit Of the town clerks OF
! Vermont. who have accepted this public
Office, many times at sacrifice. and have
been placed In position where they are
bound hand and foot by the laws Of the
State, rquired to give bonds. and yet ther'
! has been no direct provision Tor theil
remuneration, and 1t has been left will
the separate towns to pay as little as they
saw At.
fha
/ the salaries provided for town clerks II
his bill were very conservative, even FOL
the larger places of the State. while, fo
the smaller towns, the pay was in pro
portion. 1t had been left. practically will
the town, as 1t is, he said. to increase thu
salary as they saw mt.
AMENDMENT VOTED DOWN
Mr. Dyer Of Salisbury. Mr.. Sleeper O
STAFFORD, and Mr.. Tracy OF Johnson als'
spoke in favor of the bill In its presen
form, and the proposed amendment wa
voted down by a laundering No
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
Practically the first thing to come be
fore the House this morning was IN
Joint resolution passed in the Senate yes
terday extending heartiest greetings an
best wishes to the Hon. George f. ED
munds ON the occasion Of his slst birth
day, which comes tomorrow.
Both the joint resolution favorins IN
|, establishment Of league of nations I
enforce peace. and the resolution re
auesting Vermont's representatives !
A., Congress to use their influence to pre-
vent the United States expanding lars
sums of money to reclaim arid land
: were adopted on the part OF the Hous'
r although the vote was SO close the
D Speaker Dana hes!tated in each cas-
before he said. THE ayes appear to haN
) 1t. The ayes have It," Mr.. Dunkie
;. Of Vernon and Mr.. Connal OF Newpo
. town spoke in favor Of the latter reese
o luton.
BILLS PASSED IN HOUSE
The following bills were passed In I'll
House:
H. 8, relating to the taking OF muskr'
In Addison county.
II. 8, an act relating to the burial O.
pense of soldiers and sailors.
H.I nj