The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-30

Chapter &c of the Revision, "0f ferries
passed.
Chapter II of the Revision, entitled " of hus-
band and wife, and the rights of married wo-
men " passed.
RAILROAD COMMISSIOER.
The bill providing for the repeal of all laws;
relating to disappointment of railroad commission
came up as special order.
Mr.. Royce desired to know whether the COM
mittee reporting this bill to the House without an
expression of opinion, learned that there was any
good resulting to the State from the office under
consideration.
| Mr.. Hendee replied in behalf of the committee
that they had not examined very particularly in
regard to the point referred to ; but that they had
examined the last report OF the commissioner,
and bad come to the conclusion that it would be
| best to leave the matter to the House.
Mr.. ROYCE thought it safe to conclude that
there was no good accruing from the office, and
! that the reports in regard to railroads could be
made to this House as well as TO commissioners
The only ones anxious to continue the office were
those desiring to gain this position of commission
er for themselves or friends.
Mr. Hinckley believed there was much good
resulting from the office under considerations. 1t
was true that reports could be made to this House
and 80 could the condition of Banks be so reported
but it was advisable in both cases to have a COM
missioner. This was the most SO in reference to
railroads where lives rather than merely money,
were to be guarded by the care OF state officer.
Mr.. Balch stated that he was not 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
ponsihle to the State would not be severed. He
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. He did not
know that any railroad company, even, desired
the abolition of this Office.
Mr.. Fletcher of Cavendish, asked leave to read ,
and read from the law relating to the duties re-
quired of the railroad commissioner. He urged
that so important an interest of the State, 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-
sderation should be retained.
| MIR. Denison believed that the railroad corpor-
atoms inspected their own roads. lie believed the
corporations were to be deemed honest in inten-
ton. lie thought a 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. He therefore hoped
the bill would pass.
Mr. Cushman OF Rochester, had thought the
office Of railroad commissioner an important one.
He had not deemed their reports useless, or
themselves incapable of judging upon important
matters connected with railroads. 1t was not
simply the bridges or other parts OF the road re-
curing good degree of skill as civil engineer to
| Judge of, that had to. be Inspected. There were
many points that related to the safety and comfort
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.
Qaantance, and that if he were to speak aimDIy
as a railroad man, he would oppose the passage
et the bill. As it was hi, duly as legislator re-
QuirCd him to take different yiew. The rail-
road commissioner knew nothing Of tie railroad
and vas OF no use TO the state. The commissions
er was merely shield to the corporations, pre-
venting the Legislature irom oxacting such tull
and accurate reports as would otherwise be re-
CURED. The question was further discussed ly
Messrs. Iinckley Henry, Royce and Fletcher.
The House refused the thId reading of the
bill! by u vote OF - to 50.
APPOINTMENT.
Tie Speaker appointed as member of the COM
mtee oh town lines Mr.. Foster of Derby, in
place of Mr.. Wright Of Bradford, excused.
Adjourned.