The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-19
LEGISLATURE OF VERMONT.
Annual Session, 1862.


Wednesday, Nov. 10. 1862.
SENATE.
Devotional exercises Reading of Scripture,
and Prayer by the Chaplain.
Journal read and approved.
REPORTS.
Mr.. Stewart, for Judiciary committee, adversely
Senate bill authorizing married wome:! to testify
in certain cases LAID on the table.
| BILLS PASSED
House BILL changing the name of Henry Rus
sci, and constituting him heirat-aw of Willard
Lindsey, was passed.
House bill, in addition to chapter 81 of c. S.,
relating to alimony, was passed with proposal Of
amendment
| q GENERAL STATUTES
House bill, title 10, chapter 30, " Of Replevin y;
passed Adjourned.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Ballou. Journal read
and approved.
| REPORTS.
BY Mr.. DeEison, for Select Committee, recon-
nending that the House concur in fart only of
Senate amendments of chapter II, "Of county
officers; report agreed to.
MIR. Shaw called up chapter %, "Of railroads
and railroad commissioners" The pending ques-
ton was upon amending section IS of said Oh. D.
ter, which requires every railroad corporation TO
draw over their road for reasonable compensa.
ton, the GAYS Of any other road nth when they
are C injected, and makes provision for the ap-
pontment by the supreme cont of IA commits
sion TO settle any question of difference that may
arise.
l. Mr. B llch thought it would facilitate the set
ILL.,, az al L.,
railroad commissioners, rather ;han to delay un-
til a commission ct three could be appointed in
each case. lie moved to delay further considera.
ton until Saturday morning n, x at ten O'clock.
Air. Dana OF 81 Joh s9urN, hoped the motion
to lay upon the table would not prevail; bat that
the House won in>i-L upon urging forward a.
rapidly as possible the business ot the Session.
Mr.. Shaw spoke in favor OF immediate action
upon th2 bII and explained that the amenda cnt
to section 81 when lie HAD proposed, did not
change the spirit or intent n Of lAs law at all, but
simply provided for the more etectua carving
out Of the award Of the commissioners Ia any
question they might De called upon TO settle.
| The House then refused to postpone further
consideration OF The bill, and adopted the amend
ment proposed by Mr. Shaw.
Mr.. Bdlch moved TO SO amend the bill that the
fare on railroads should be equalIzed, ana shor,
distances be travelled at the same rate as longer
mes. lie arguea that as the law now was, i,
permitted railroad corporations to SO arrange the
tariff, both on passengers and freight as to compel
citizens of Vermont to pay extrav4gant rates,
while those travelling long distances and passing
through the State, had comparatively low rates to
pay. AS a matter of justice he believed this
should be changed. There was also an inequality
in rates existing within the limits of the s. ate
which should be remeded. He continued a,
length to illustrate. by quoting the rates Oh rged
between various points, The necessity for d change
like that which his motion contemplated lie
urged that the State of Vermont should not be al.
lowed to be over-rdden by stock obbers of the
cities, as he now conceived it to bc by the rates
tab.shed
Mr. Henry replied to the argument of the
genllenl al from Ludlow. lie believed that gen.
t!eman would not desire to put railway corpora
tons IN a position in which they could not main.
tain their railways in good condition and opera,s
them. The corporations were compelled Ia or.
der to continue the operations OF the roads, tc
take all the bearings and circumstances OF an,
business that paid fare to the railroads and tax
the business for freight, all that it would bear
1t was impossible for the corporations TO sustain
the roads IN any other way. They had to dea
any particular case. They had to consider care
fully the pecuari,ies of any locality and its othe
facilities Tor travel in determining the rate Of far.
that should be charged from sucn point to an
other locality. The question then was whe,hc
the roads should be run and properly sustained o.
not. 1t the motion 10 equsllze the fare prevailed
no would WIS., further to amend by providing tina
the deficiency which would result in obtalnin.
tnoGy to pay running expenses should no na,f
from the Treasury OF the State.
Mr.. Balch was more firmly convinced of tn,
importance Ct the amendment, by the remark
which had been made by the gentlem from
Chester, (llenry.) lie replied to the argument
that had been advanced, and urged members no
to be miSed, but to look at the simple question
of justice involved in the amendment
, Mr. Barrett of Strahord believed there was mucl
: reason in the statements made and the amend
, ments proposed by the gentleman from Ludlow
(Balch)
Mr. SHAW spoke in opposition to the amend
ment proposed lie remarked that it rad bee
, question, whether the railroads should b, sus
tanned or not. 1t had even been found necessar
to discontinue in one instance a part of road
He believed it would not be thought st to max
such law as would prevent the roads from BEN.
N tntained in a safe condition.
Mr. Balch, was willing that the fare should b
) increased TO any needed extent; but he desire
D that these rates should he equazed This au
this only was the intention OF his amendment.
Mr.. Chandler, thought the reference that ha
been made to stock holders in the cities was viii
, out force. Millions of money had been sunk, &
+ FIR as the stockholders were concerned, 10 build
r isg roads for the People of Vermont.