Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-24
Letters from MONTPELIER.
THESrArE HousE-SrEAKEn EDMuxps RAILROAD
COMMISSIONER.

THEbTATE ioUsE-SPEAKEn EDMuSDS- RAILROAD
COMMISSIONER.
Special Correspondence Of The Vermont Phoenix.
MONTPELIER, Oct, 10th, 1857.
was ngrceably surprised to find the State House
in 30 forward q state The walls are very nearly
up. and with ordinary fair weather the whole may
lie covered this fall. This is creditable to the en-
ergy and perseverance of the Superintendent. The |
Legislature suffers some noou venience, but the
branches are in comfortable quarters and better
commodated than had supposed they could be-
The two Houses were organized as you have seen |
by the Journal, without delay or controversy. The
election Of Mr.. Dean of Grafton, as Secretary Of
State was q long deferred compliment to wndham
County, and the choice could not have fallen upon
more worthy recipient
Mr.. Edmunds, as Speaker of the House, is high
ly acceptable, and will make prompt and popular
officer. The good taste of wearing black gloves in
the Speakers chair may be more questionable. 1t
looks affected and is not at all in accordance with
the general character of Mr.. Edmunds.
The business Of the session cannot he said TO have
fairly commenced yet, although spicy debate is
going on in the House upon the bill which had pass
of Railroad Commissioner. The Jaw provides that
his salary shall be paid by the Railroads. and the
repeal is asked for because the Office is wholly use
less Judge Perpoiut Of Rutland, Dean Of Cav
endsh, Merrill of Montpelier, Bradley of Brattle-
boro, and Woodbridge of Vergennes, and others
took part in the debate, the first two and the last
in favor of repeal, and the others in opposition
They are all good debaters and the result doubt
full.
incline to think the law Of doubtful utility, and
the Commissioner, IL retained, should be paid by
the State There is an unwarrantable, and con-
sdering the impoverished state of the roads, very
ridiculous jealousy of the power Of Railroads. We
are apt to speak sghtngy of our railroads because
Improbable to the stockholders, and abuse them
for high freights and fares. But in this State we
ought to look upon them with favor, and endeavor
by proper legislation to aid rather than Cypress
them. large amount of foreign capital was
brought in to build them, but it come at the earn
est solicitation of cnterprising people of the State,
and upon representations which though honest were
unfounded; and the consequence has been that the
foreign capital brought in has been sunk, and our
own citizens who embarked their fortunes in them
, have generally beggared themselves, and in some
cases lost their intellect and their lives But
though they have ruined many of our best citizens
and swallowed up all the capital invested in them
the roads still remain, aud have added so much tC
the material wealth Of the State, that the peopl,
could well afford to be taxed, to the amount o
. their original cost, rather than do without them
p.
Montpelier, Oct. 2Olh.
The Legislature adjourned over from las
,e Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon. Prac
+ tically it was an adjournment from Thursda,
, afternoon to Wednesday morning, for man,
y aembers are still absent and the business q
to-day has not amounted to much. The deail
= of Senator Benton was announced in both Hou
SEES, to-day, and as mark of respect they ad
:, journed over TO Tomorrow.
: The repeal of the Railroad Commissions
= law WAS the special order for this afternoon bu
. has been postponed.
S' Among the bills introduced is one in relation
y TO the building and repairing of School Hou
20 SEES, which | send TO you. 1t meets IN part III
~ Guilord case you alluded to last week, an
OF will doubtless be amended 10 meet the evi
a. there complained of. / cannot learn that Their
w will be much important legislation, yet the Sc:
'st sion will be spun out fear to several weeks
ng There is a growing habit of taking i, easy III
en- early part Of the session which, unless checked
10 will injure the porly in power. 1t is the ihir
week OF the session, and il can hardly be sal
80 that any of the Committees have commence
IRE work.
ce. An at,emp, is to be made | learn to repe,
BIZ the Judiciary law Of last session. shoul