The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-03-02
STATE HIGHWAY CONTROVERSY
Doubt As TO the Outcome of Strife at
the statehouse

Montpelier, Feb Whether a
conference In the executive chambers
last Friday, In which Howard Holden
OF Middleboro, Mass, an experienced
road man who is said to have been
former resident Of Vermont Is to
lead to a new phase OF the road stu
alton in Vermont Is a question which Is
engaging the attention Of many
about the State House during the abb
sence of Governor Hartne9s in Bos
ton. Very lite is known about this
conference Of Friday, as the governor
left soon after It's completion, but II
is expected that something may be
heard of it later.
Meanwhile, since reported attempt
at a compromise between Governor
Hartness and Commissioner Bates last
week came to nought, II Is still an
open question, whether Vermont is to
continue under the present highway
plan or Is to be given new regime,
which viii probably mean a highway
comm ssion Of some sort
Sentiment in the House seems to
continue in favor OF H. 222, which
would have the Highway Commissions
err elected by the General Assembly,
and 1t may be that the bill will yet
be reported in and passed by the
House, although there is very little
prospect that it would get through the
Senate, and not the slightest hope
that 1t could pass over the governors
veo Many Seem to think that, with
the Harkness sentiment that has de.
veloped in many parts OF the State,
II, 222 would have a hard time in even
passing the House If members voted
as their constituents directed
Another report has it that II. 222
viii never be reported from the com
mittee in its present form. The time
for reporting it is now overdue and no
extension for time on the measure
has been asked for This would lead
to the conclusion that the judiciary
committee may be preparing a substi.
tute bill, embodying some Of the prin.
cipes expressed by the governor in
his special message Of two weeks
back, including a highway commits
sion This would bring the highway
matter to head al once, as the whole
situation could then be fought out
in taking up this one bill. If II. 222
should be reported back to the House
this week, there would undoubted V,
be a majority and minority report, on
the measure with the majority Of
the committee probably reporting ad-
yersly
In the meantime there are two high.
way bills including commission fea.
lures in the Senate the Taylor bill.
which provides for a highway board
Of six members to have full control of
highways, aud the Villas bill which
would substitute a highway commits.
sion OF three members bade up Of the
governor, the State engineer and an
experienced road bui der 10 be ap.
pointed by the governor These two
are now being considered by
the committee on highways and bridg
es.
When the legislators get back to
Montpelier Wednesday after the
March meeting recess they Will have
q large number Of special orders
awaiting then on Thursday and Fri
day. The State Teachers College
measure, Is. 44 favorably reported
to the Senate will be taken up as a
special order in that body Thursday
and viii probably be passed before
the end OF the week
Whether this measure will pass the
House is another question. While Mr.
Stearns OF Johnson has had the sup
port of a large number of the mem
hers of the House throughout most
Of the session. it is now reported that
his bill (H 9S), providing for the re-
establishment of the normal schools
at Johnson and Castleton, is less popu
lar and that Mr. Stearns may be ready
TO talk terms with the proponents
Of the State Board bill IT. however
the Stearns bill should pass the House
and the Teachers College measure
should go through the Senate, then a
deadlock might result which would
leave things just as they are. In this
case Mr.. Stearns would really lose
everything so far as his normal school
program Is concerned and the State
Teachers College pan would be post
poned for the time being. unless
compromise could be reached That
the normal schools at Castleton and
Johnson will ever be re.established as
such seems hardly probable from pres
end indications.