Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-11-10
Legislature of Vermont.
Tuesday. Nov. |. Is


county of Washington.
Mr.. Chittehden said he was in favor of the
bill since the committee had reported flvorobly,
lie took this opportunity to say, however, that
there Is an act which requires that notice OF
bills of this character shall be published for
the information of the people, He thought
the act imperfect and unnecessary.
Mr. Everts inquired whether notice of this
bill had been published. Mr.. Hinman replied,
for the committee, that he was unable to state
how the fact Was. Mr.. Putnam said notice had
not been published.
Mr. Eyerts agreed with Mr. Chittenden. He
was last year in the position of MIR. Putnam
now. and the consequence was, a bill proposing
IL tax on the c,anty Of Rutland fail ID, and the
interests Of the county suffered. lie thought
the act requiring notice very injudicous. Bills
of this character should pass whether notice
was gwen or not. The bill passed.
The hour having arrived for joint assembly to
hear report of the committee to canvass the
votes for County officers, the Senate went to the
Representatives Hail.
The Senators having returned, adjourned.
HoUsE.-BWs iatrOduced.-By Mr.. Stowe of
New Haven, to enable agricultural and horti-
cultural societies to extend u more perfect pro-
lection to property on exhibition at their fairs,
&C.; by Mr.. Gleed of Morristown, to change
the time of holding the courts in Lamoille
county.
Enqrossed LMs.-To incorporate the Brattle
boro, water company; for the protection of
the monuments and tomls Of deceased persons ;
both passed. Adjourned.
AFTERNOON.
-Repons--By Mr.. Needham, for
the select committee on 50 much of the Gov
ernor's message as relates to the Geological Sur
vey of the State, report on that subject; by
Mr. Nicholson, House bill to incorporate the
village of st. Johnsbury.
Bills introduced.-By Mr.. Bartholomew, to
reduce the capital stock of the bank of Orange
Co.; by Mr., Clarke, committing the sentence Of
Atrial Martin Ito Imprisonment for life). Adj.
HOUSEHOLDS mtroduced.-By Mr.. Collamer
of Montpelier, to commute the sentence of Atrial
Martin by Mr.. Farr of Cabot, to incorporate
the Cabot cornet band by Mr.. Grandey to abol-
ish the punishment of death.
Petittons.-By Mr.. Collamer, of Eli Ballou
and l40 others, for the Communication of the SEN
tence of Aral Martin; also of Paul Dilling-
ham and 20 others, members of the Washing.
ton county bar, praying for the same.
Renaissance. Mr.. Gay of Stockbridge,
of R. L. Fay and 1913 others, against the annex
alton of part of StockbrIdge to Pittsfeld.
The Speaker announced the select committee
on bill relating to Montpelier and East Mont
pelier-Messrs. Kellogg of Brattleboro, Ohm
stead of Bridport, Dickerman of Charleston,
Hall of Swanton, Welch of Groton.
Engrossed hHs-To amend chap. 1I6 c.s
relating to the fees of witnesses.
At 3 o'clock the House took up the special
order of the day, being the bill to provide for a
Commissioner of Common Schools.
Mr. Ferrn of Hinesburgh said that the COM
mttee had given the bill much consideration.
The movement is to abolish the Board of Edu-
cation. Hecould not see what was to be gain
ed in any direction by this measure. He felt
opposed himself, and thought the members of
this House and the people Of the State were op-
posed to changing our laws generally, but espec.
tally opposed to any change in our school laws.
In times past, these school laws have been sub
jected to much change. Four years since new
system was naugurated. By an act then passed,
and by series of subsequent acts, it has been
the aim to give the greatest efficiency to the
State system. The people have been generally
and decidedly in favor of that system. The
measures of last year were not revolutionary
but progressive, and he hoped and trusted that
that those of this year would be of the same
character. But this bill would abolish all and
carry us back to the beginning. Two courses
ATo 1911 W US W 20 odck w UHo oiu ulopi NV
system, where each school district shall be indie
pendent of all State control, supervision and
support, or we may embrace the other and op'
posite course, which promises thorough and
competent general supervision. If we have
this, we must have some mode to secure it,
This measure would vest all powers primarily
in the Governor, who not being chosen especially
for such function, was not prepared by his in
formation, and perhaps by his ambitious aspi-
rations, to SO perform his duty as to secure thu
welfare of our schools. Mr.. f. then advertet
to the duties of tho proposed commissioner fo
the purpose of showing the sweeping influences
he would exert, and that too, in a way not con
templated in the bill. He believed that tn
present Board of Education was the best b,
its method of organization, by the character o
its members, and the duration of their office
we may expect from this Board all that may b.
brought out of our system. He then comment
ed highly on the course of the Board, which
too generally known to require repetition. Th
Board, said he, had commended itself to tn
people: some, to be sure, complain; but some
complain because they are compelled to pa.
money at all for the support of schools, or fo
anything pertaining to the purposes of educa
ton, being willing to deny to children all thos
advantages which would tit them for usefulness
and position and honor in the world. 1t wa
claimed that this measure would diminish ex
pense We shall gain nothing save the mer
expenses of the Board of Education. The au
dtor of accounts informed him that the exper
ses of the Board during the last year were bu
$222,20 while their expenses for the previou
year (deductng ST., which he thought ough
not to be charged to them,) were about $l95
This, then, is all we can save This expense
hoo, <AalI H., ,rI,
sions of the Board. Ordinarily their expense
will not be SO much He closed by expressln
his hope that the House would give time for
fair, thorough trial of the present laws, for
satisfactory and conclusive test of the existln
organization of the common school system.
The third reading of the bill was refused.
Adjourned.
Wednesday, Nov. 2. 1859.
SENATE.-BiAs mtrOduced.-By Mr.. Everts
In addition to chap. 26 C. s., relating to raj
roads.
Bills passed.-Constititut Betsey Farms
worth heir -at-law of Charles and Betsey Farms
worth to alter the name of the Vermont His
torcal Antiquarian Society; relating to d.
mands in favor of the State 70 amend sec.
chap 2 C. s., relating to highways.
The message from the Governor nominatn
the Board of Education was taken up.
Mr.. Needham hoped that the nominatio
would be confirmed unanimously. The Boar
OF Education is the head of our present schoc
system, and blow struck at that would be fl
tal to the system itself. 1t has become one q
tne institutions of the State, and the people al
disposed to give it u fair trial. When it sha
iall OF answering its object, it will be time
condemn it, 1t is attended, of itself, by a sma
expense--ast year a little exceeding two hun
dred dollars-but part of this expense was e.
traordnary, occasioned by protracted sossio