The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-11-07
Legislature of Vermont.
TrESD,Y. Oct. o.. 1851.

VII. IlcIpOllll SiiU tIat SONlc t"V !t""
since there was proposition before the SEN
ate to increase the salary of the Governor to
$1,000, and also to raise the salaries of other
officers. lie was at that time opposed to i'll
creasing the salary of some of these officers,
although he was in favor Of increasing that
of the Governor. In the present stringent
state Of the financial affairs of the State. it
was. perhaps. bad time to bring forward
such a movement. Much might be said i'll
rcfcrcncc1 to !thc dignity and honor of the
office as requiring al increased salary; but
at the present time he could not favor move
mcnt which would put the amount of the
salary of any officer above the actual amount
of the duties performed. From what he
knew of the lahors and duties incident to the
Office Of Governor. he thought that the pres
cnt salary of 500 amp y compensated for
the, laborS connected with the office.
MIR. Y ilson would wish to be understood
as being actuatcd by no feeling of partality
towards the present Executive as reason
for Introducing the BILL lie had, for some
time. considered the paltry sum of 500 as
as1'indgnity to the State. and he had found
the opinion very general that an increase of
pay was demanded in consideration of the
increased wealth of the State. Mr. Wilson
compared the salary of the Governor with
the population ard wealth Of the State during
it's earlier history. and contrastcd the same
with the present salary and the wealth of the
State. the character and dignity of the Of
flee demanded an increased salary. lie be-
lieved that the object of the bill reflected the
sentiment of nincteen-twcnticths of the pco-
pie of the State.
The bill was ordered to third reading by
u vote of - to-.
HoCSE.-Rcports.-By committee, against
bill to pay Geo. ". Merrill and Hiram Hill,
on the grosna that the court auditor has al
ready allowed enough for the detection of the.
thief: the committee will not allow for loss of
property, or expenses i'll attempts to recover
property. 1t appeared that the sum allowed
was for bringing the criminal to Vermont.
after his arrest in New York. and that no.
thing was allowed for expenses preceding
the arrest. which resulted in recovering the
property. Mr.. Stoddlrd Of " atcrfor,l thought
that something should be allowed in cases of
horse thicving of tits kind. through IMPOSE
ton on a E'crv-stab!t keeper: the thief was
4 notorious and dangerous offender.
VII. Jenkins Of Burke >:li,i that in follow
ing th" property iii this case. the parties were
also following the !r!nn. Al d found him. If
noti..,g had been allowed for pursuing the
felon. something should be allowed. Mr..
Bradley Of i'raltle:,0ro wanted to know how
much has been raid. and what it hes been
for, so that the House may know what is lust.
The committee can tell Us. with little exam
nation and Patience, so that the House can
act justly. Mr.. Olnl>,cad of B.idport feared
the House is i'll danger Of doing Injustice tx
acting without full knowledge. The motion
to dismiss was ncgatived. and the bill WAS
rccommittcd with instructions TO report " hat
ever sum is cqui,ably due
THURSDAY, Oct. 30
SENArE.-B;lis passed. Relating to banks
(giving power to five directors to manage the
bank.) Amending an act authorizing the
business of banking. Extending the jurisdic-
ton of masters in chancery.
HoUsE-Englossed Bill-To incorporate
Vermont Geographical ard Natural History
Socicty: to Incorporate Fa;:cc Slate COM
panv and Albany Aca;"my: to pay W. Ii. +,
il. Bingham and John Poo So: assessing
! tax on Washington and Orleans Counties:
to Incorporate Vermont Quarr,ir" and Min
ing Co.: in relation to duties Of Railroad
Commissioner; sevcrallv passed
Public B;ts.-From the Serutc. increasing
salary of Governor and Treasurer. By Mr..
Stewart of NidIlebury, rcla,n. to jail keep
crs fees. $3.50 per week for board from
May to Nov, and 50 from Nov. to May
AFTERNOON.
IlorS,.-lseports.- committee on Roads.
Senate bill reducing salary of Railroad Com
missioner to $500, and making it payable by
the State.
Mr.. Stewart of NEitlicburv said the COM
mittcc could not agree on this bill.
MIR. Little of Ccrlnth moved to amend 50
that the Stat" shall pay the salary for II is
year only. his Object being to relieve the
roads from: tie expense when the roads are
unable to pay. lie would have tie road,
pay when they cai.
Mr.. Merrill 9! Nbn:lcl;cr mevc,. to post
ponc the bill to the lst Gay Of January next
rcgar,lii- this bill as a partner Of the bill to
abolish tne office of Commissioner and relieve
the roads of state supervision. The House
has decided for supervision. ard to-day passed |
Il bill increasing the duties OF Commissioner.
1t is said that the roads are poor thcy are
most Of them. vet the commissioners report |
shows that their net earnings over expenses.
for the last year amounted to half million.
Mr.. Little said the Commits will have
his expenses paid iii addition to the salary
paw enough compared wit. othc: salaries.
MI Bradley of Bra,tlc:ioro' was surprised t
at the course of tbs debate The house has |
determined to MAKE an Office valuable to the |
people that has not been valuable: and now
we are told that we must pay only half for
good service that has been paid for doing
nothing. For one year at least. as an expert
mcnt under the new law, he would pay the |
old salary. 1t is true men can be found to
take the office for a less sum: but that does
not meet the case. This officer must be
man of knowledge. character, labor: TO other
man can perform the duties faithfully. But
it is said the corporations must not lie charged |
with this expense Of a mill or Il half mill on
their gross receipts 1t is not such straws as
this that break the camcl'S back. Many
railroad man wears pair Of feathers heavier !
than that. 1t is not manly in the roads to
shirls this cxpers" which they have borne for
$50 years without difficulty.
N.Y. rtrpoint of Rutland favored the bill
to abolish tie Office the other day on the
ground that the reports Of the roads could be
made l..~it 10 the State without tina: officer
Since that. TIE House las passed u bill IN
vcStlrS ~" Connl>.iGncr with new powers
and l.. aosi:;, various ncv duties. among them
some for the lc"ciit Of tic roads. as we'll as
for the pu,.ic - duties re;iu;riny a man
thoroughly acquainted with ak the details of