Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-11-04

IdllroduS WDere lives rather tnan merely money,
were to be guarded by the care Of a state officer.
Mr.. Balch stated that he was not a candidate for
the office under consideration, and yet felt real
interest in having the office continued lie hoped
the last tie that held the railroad corporations res
ponsible TO the State would uot be severed. lie
was glad the question had come up Just after a
statute had been approved providing for turnpike
Inspector. A railroad commissioner was quite as
necessary and indeed much more so. lie did not
know that any railroad company even, desired
the abolition Of this office.
Mr.. Fletcher Of CAyendsh, asked leave to read
and read from the law relating to the duties re-
quired OF the railroad commissioner. lie urged
that so important an interest of the STATE, as the
railroads were, should be looked after by state
officer also that the lives and property Of citi-
zens should be guarded by all reasonable means
which the Legislature could devise and employ.
He believed therefore that the office under con-
sideration should be retained.
Mr.. Denison believed that the railroad corpor-
ations inspected their own roads. He believed tie
corporations were to be deemed honest in inten-
ton. He thought commissioner that knew lit
tie or nothing of the business for which he was
appointed, as must generally be the case, was, to
say the least Of it, useless. lie therefore hoped
the bill would pass.
Mr. Cushman oil Rochester, had thought the
office Of railroad commissioner an important one.
He had not deemed their reports useless, nor
themselves incapable of judging upon important
matters connected with railroads. 1t was moi
simply the bridges or other parts OF the road re-
curing good degree Of skill as civil engineer tC
Judge of that had to be inspected. There were
many points that related to the safety and comtor
of passengers beside these. The railroad com
missioner stood between the community and
corporations, and was, in that view, of importance
to the State.
Mr. Henry stated that the bill was an old ac
quaintance, and that if he were to speak simply
as a railroad man, he would oppose the passage
Of the bill. As it was, his duty as legislator re-
qured him to take different view. The rail-
road commissioner knew nothing of the railroad
and was of no use to the state. The commissions
er was merely shield to the corporations, pre-
venting the Legislature from exactng such full
and accurate reports as would otherwise be re-
quired. The question was further discussed by
Messrs. Hinckley, Henry, Royce and Fletcher.
The House refused the third reading OF tht
bill! by vote OF SO TO 50.
APPOINTMENT.
Tie Speaker appointed as member of the com
mittee oh town lines Mr.. Foster OF Derby, il
place of Mr.. Wright of Bradford, excused
Adjourned.
Thursday, October 30.
Semitic
Devotional exercises Reading the % Psalm
and Prayer by the Chaplain.
Journal read and approved.
BILLS.
BY Mr.. Peck, dividing the State into three
Congressional districts, as follows:
lst, Chittenden, Addison, Rutland and Ben
nington.
End, Wellington, Orange, Windsor and Wind
ham.
Sd, Grand Isle, Franklin, Iamoie, Orleans
Essex, and Caledonia referred to General com
mlttee.
RESOLUTION
BY Mr.. Cree, instructng the committee on Fl
mace to inquire into the eXpediency Of taxing
lands and citizens in cores in this State; adopted
REPORTS.
The Governor Transmitted TO the Senate the re-
port Of Samuel W. Ihayer, Jr., NJ. d., respecting
the sick and wounded Vermont soldiers who had
been received and treated 10 the hospital at Bur
lington referred, on motion of Mr.. Stevens, to the
Special Committee on so much OF the Cover.
nor's Message as relates to the enrolment ant
medical examination OF soldiers.
By Mr.. Bean, for General Committee, fayon
bly,, House Bill incorporating HydeyiIle Cemeter!
Assoc atom passed.
GENERAL STATUTES.
House Bill, title %, chapter so, "Of the tint
of the Payment of Surdry Contracts, &c. )" read
the Sd time, and pissed in concurrence.
House bill, title 81 chapter | l6, "0f Offences
against the Public Peace'j read third time ant
passed.
House bill title 4, chapter s, "Of certain Stat
Officers pending the Sd reading OF this bill tht
Senate adjourned.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Druon. Journal read and
approved.
RESOLUTION.
By Mr.. Carpenter of Waterford, that the Com
mittee on Pablo Buildings be instructed to in
quire as to what is necessary to protect the ROOT
of the Capitol and prevent it from leakingi adop-
ted.
The provision allowing any town to appraise
and take possession of lands required for burial
purposes, awarding damages to the privatr owner
was incorporated in this BILL
Mr.. Chandler moved an amendment by which
cemetery associations coull, by applying to the
selectmen, obtain an appraisal and gain possession
of lands that they may need for burial purposes.
Mr.. Lynde moved that as the matter was i'm.
portant, the bill should lie and be made special
order for tomorrow lost.
Mr.. Cushman Of Rochester, was opposed to
the amendment. lie thought it might be proper
for private rights to yield to public needs, but not
to the wishes or advantage of merely private cor
porations. If he rightly understood the amend
ment proposed by the gentleman from Wood.
stock he was opposed to it.
Mr. Lynde regretted that the House pressed
this question before the opponents of the amend
nfent were prepared fully to say what they would
wish. lie could not bu; think that this PROPOSE.