News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-01-26
AMENDMENTS TO VERMONT
CONSTITUTION
Majority of Special Commission
Report Nine Proposals and
the Minority Three

The committee appointed at the III!
session of the Legislature to propos,
J amendments to the State Constitution ha
completed its duties and presented its re-
port. The majority of the committee pro
poses nine amendments and the minority
three.
The nine amendments proposed by the
majority follow
Proposal one would amend section "a
of Chapter II, providing that every per-
son" 81 years old, instead of every "roan u
shall be qualified as freeman after TAX
ing the proper oath, makes the section
conform to the nineteenth amendment.
Proposal two would amend section 2 of
Chapter II, providing for the veto OF bills
by the governor and their subsequent re-
consideration. The following clause is
added to the section:
Bills making appropriations of money
out of the treasury shall specify the OBJ
ects and purposes for which the same are
made and appropriate to them respective
ly their several amounts in distinct items
and sections and if the governor shall not
approve any one or more of the items or
sections contained in any bill but shall APP
prove the residue thereof, it shall become
law as to the residue in like manner as
if he had signed it. The governor shall
then return the bill with his objections to
the items or sections of the same, not ap-
proved by him, to the House in which the
bill shall have originated, which House
shall enter the objections at large upon its
journal and proceed to reconsider so much
of said bill as is not approved by the gov
ernor. The same proceedings shall be had
in both the Houses in reoonsidering the
the same as is hereinbefore provided in
case of an entire bill returned by the gov
ernor with his objections and if any item
or section of said bill, not approved by the
governor, shall be passed by two-thirds of
the members elected to each of the two
Houses of the General Assembly, it shall
become part of said law Notwithstanding
the objections of the governor.
Proposal three would amend section Is
of Chapter II, providing for the election
of representatives by towns by giving the
General Assembly power to regulate by
law the mode of filling allvacancies in the
House caused by death, resignation or
otherwise.
Proposal four would amend section 30
of Chapter II, providing for trials by jury
by excepting cases requiring an account
ing with numerous items"
Proposal five would amend article 10 of |
Chapter I, defining the rights of an ac- !
cused criminal in court such as a speedy !
trial by jury. etc, by allowing him the
privilege of waving jury trial and sub
hitting with prescribed formality the issue
Of his guilt to the JUDGMENT and determ-
nation of the court. This applies only to
cases not punishable by death or imprison-
nent in the State prison.
Proposal six would amend section So,
for the recording of deeds and
,onveyances of lands in town clerks Off
,es or for want thereof in county clerks
,fices by giving the Legislature the right
o designate by law how deeds of this de-
cription shall be filed.
Proposal seven would amend sections 7,
IS, SO and 48 of Chapter II, by restoring
he biennial elections. to September and
he opening of the Legislature to October. .
Proposal eight is for new amendment
which would give the Public Service Com
Mission the powers of court at law and
4 equity in matters properly under its
lrisdiction.
Proposal nine would add new section
D be known as Section 51A and to read:
Section STA. The General Assembly c
1all have authority to preside at compul- ,
Dry voting at elections"
The minority committee proposals are:
Proposal one would amend section 6S
Chapter II, providing for the process of
nending the constitution by making It
ossible to propose amendments at any
'ssion of the Legislature instead of every
n years as now, the former method of |
her procedure to be retained;
Proposal twp would amend several Sec
ons of Chapter II, which if adopted
ould do away with the assistants judges
county court as constitutional officers. +
Proposal three would amend sections Is :
Id 81 of Chapter II, providing for the Y
,portionment of senators in counties, by !
viding the State into 80 senatorial dis
lets as nearly equal in population as prac- C
cable, the first division to be made upon u
e basis of the 1920 census and a new
vision to be made into senatorial dis 1
lets after the taking of each United
ates Census.
Entertained at Cards Y
On Wednesday evening last, Mrs. Mae
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