The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-02-10
OUR LEGISLATIVE LETTER
The senate Disposes Of the Consiiiu-
tionAl Amendments. Ladies Week
: Busy One For Al.

.lth action from the meeting of the
senate on Monday evening until the
House adjourned on Friday afternoon,
which adjournment vas taken until
Monday afternoon. instead Of the usual
adjournment until Tuesday morning,
the amendment 20 re-assemble At the
latter time being defeated, showing
that the majority of the members are
here for business and viii not stand
for much IN the way Of dallianee.
The manner in which the work has
been handled the past week bodies i'll
for any cbstructionist- Tomorrow
sees the last day on which bills can be
presented. except committee bills or
such as may be in the hands Of the
revision committee at that time.
Some Of the larger measures are
commencing TO come In now, such as
the school question. the bill 70 bring
conformity Of our state laws 10 the
18th amendment, etc.
There have been a large number Of
hearings the past week, several of
which, notably one on the chang
ing Of date FOR closing fishing season,
several bills in the interest Of railroad
employees, the bill for 4s-hour week
for women, etc.
Several reunions, the various func-
l.. s.,4I a. t7anaffnr
OF the Vermont League Of Women
Voters helped TO enliven the extra
hours Of the week outside Of working
time. The class Of rs reuned to a
goodly number, and their gathering
made a very happy time Of IT,
The ladies Of Montpelier certainly
did themselves proud in their eGort'
TO make the stay Of the visiting ladies
a pleasant one. There were recep'
tions galore and the social affairs
wound up with the Shriners' Ball OF
Thursday night, at which there were
more than 1000 present. The occa.
sion was graced by TIE presence q
His Evcellcncy. Gov James Hartnes,
and wife. together with Lieut. Gov
and Mrs. Footc. Speaker and Mrs
Franklin S. Billings, and State Treas
and Mrs. Walter + Scott. The musi,
was supplied by an orchestra from
Albany.
The Senate has been wrestling viii
bills and problems throughout the
week, but a good deal Of tie time hai
been taken up by the constitutions
amendments. That granting womer
equal suffrage with men; the one pro
viding that the General Assembl!
shall have the power TO fill vacancies
in the House Of Representatives; an'
proposal number six providing tina
deeds and conveyanees shall be re
corded as the Legislature may pro
vide. Number s, giving the Public
Service Commission the power Of |
court; number 9, providing for com
pulsory voting, and number IL, divid
ing the State into 30 senatorial dis
tricts, were rejected in the early par
Of the week. Later on several NOR
were acted on favorably, No. 5, pro
viding that in criminal prosecution
not punishable by death, person ma!
waive the right Of jury trial IL he 81
desires. That the proposal to return
70 September elections did not hav'
very many friends in the Senate WA
made evident when not a vote VIZ
east in its favor. Proposals 4, IL, Il
and i3 were all sent to the discard
When all are sifted out the Hous'
will have its work simplified greatly
THE day Of the week was Thursda!
when the General Assembly met il
Joint assembly and were addressed b!
Gov. Hartness, who spoke on the Bud
get bill. asking for an additional $50,
600 for publicity. After somewha
extended remarks on the necessity 70
closely scanning our appropriation
bills as the State was passing through
some strenuous months, he came up {,
the real gist of the session and tha
was a splendid Recommendation Of our
present highway commission. as ;
prelude 20 his assertion that he wa
not going 20 reappoint him. In cas-
"Stod" decides on another JOB he Ger
tainiy hns fine Recommendation q
carry around IN his pocket
Bills introduced in House
HIPS. by Mr.. Chase q Bennington
70 amend section TITS of the Genera
laws fixing a maximum salary 10 b.
paid % the commissioner Of education
tnoi 70 exccei 5000 q year.)
Hls2. reported by the committee o.
conservation and development Z.
amend sections ASS, s219 and ss92 q
TIE General Laws rslatirV 20 lawn,
cut erd discontinuirg highways an,
bridges: Sectiou tass So that trail
nay BE- laid out likewise: section ass
ard IN sss2 providing Tor laying ou'
tr-ls rs vel as reeds, etc. and sfilel