The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-22
LEGISLATURE OF VERMONT.
Annual Session 1862
Friday, Nov 81,
SENATE - afternoon.
SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT.

SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT.
The bill for the support OF government was
taken up, the question being on Mr.. Edmund's
amendment to make the tax 100 cents on dol
ar.
Mr.. Cree spoke of the financial condition of the
State. The towns he believed we're owing $685.
900 for bounties TO the nine months men, and to
the three years men $4,000. The ordinary ex-
penses of the towns he estimated at $4,000. |
Adding to these sums the tax reported by the
Committee, the whole sum to be raised by tax for
the year would be $l,750,000, or an average
of about 200 cents on the dollar of the list and
he b lieyed this burden as great the towns
could bear. He thought the tax should not be
SO large as to cause too much grumb!lng among
the tax-pa' ers. He did no. anticipate so much
difficulty from the present financial disturbance,
owing to the absence of specie, as others seemed
to. The premium on gold he thought arose more
from speculation than from the want of gold.
And if this premium led to diminished imports
as compared with exports, as he believed it would,
it might be substantial benefit to the country;
and when we come to import no more than we
export, there would be no need of sending our
gold abroad
lie thought that, as these town bJuntles would
not be paid another year, we ought to put the tax
as low as Is cents on dollar, and next year the
people could better bear a tax of 100 cents on
dollar, if it should then become necessary.
lie believed that the energy, sndusry and
pride of the people OF Vernon; would keep them
always from reputation and he felt no heSa-
ton in leaving some of the debt now being in
Cured, for poSterity. He should vote for the
tax Of IS cents on dollar, and against the pro-
posed amendment.
The amendment was lost, yeas s, nays 20.
Mr.. Edmunds then moved to strike out Is ="
and insert " 80 y; lost yeas 6, nays 20.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to strike out " IS " and
insert So"
Mr.. Clark, of Bennington favored the amend.
ment.
Mr.. Stoushton also favored the amendment
lie thought 1t was necessary to raise tax of so
cents, in order to pay one-half OF the current ex
penses OF the State. lie believed that, for the
credit of the Stale in keeping its bonds above
par, the Legislature ought to at least provide
ready funds for paying that proportion Of the
expenses for the year.
Mr.. Edmundo said he had proposed success
sion of amendments, with the desire that if the
full amount which he first proposed could not be
agreed upon, the sum NIGH be finally placed as
near that figure as possible. And though he had
been thus tar in these votes in a small minority
sIDility for these votes rested upon the majority
who had carried them.
Mr. Stewart said that, while he thought tax
OF 100 cents much greater than oughtto be i'm
posed at this time, he was in favor OF 80 cents.
lie believed this amount was necessary In order
to raise sun equal to one half of the current
expenses OF the State, aud should vote for it,
Judging that the State ought at this time TO meet
thus much OF tae expenditures of the year.
Mr.. kirkland, stated that the Treasurer infor-
med the committee that a tax OF Is cents would
pay one halt the expenses for the current year,
and it was this statement that led the committee
TO report that sum. He presented considerations
10 support OF putting the amount as low as cou Id
be done, and sui! be sure OF raising the sum nee
eSsarY to pay one halt the current expenditures.
MI Peek, believed that 10 cents 90 dollar
WAS as much as the people would cheerfully bear.
The tax would fall most heavily upon land owners,
VINO as class, were owing yet something Tor their
land, and would feel very severely the burden 0!
This tax. lie was in favor of raising a sum
certainly as large as halt the current eX-
pendture, but II the bounties paid by towns, was
taken into the account, 1t ought TO be, Is cents
would, together with these bOuntes, make sum
more than one half of this current expenditure
The amendment of Mr. Edmunds was agreed
to, yeas 10, nays |, and the amendment pro.
posed ny the Committee, as SO amended, Was then
adopted, and the bill read the third time and
assed.
JOINT RESOLUTION.
From the House, authorizing the Governor to
procure seal OF the State; referred to committee
GA Finance.
GENERAL STATUTES.
Mr.. Allen for Committee OF Conference OF
the djsagreeing votes OF the two Houses On Sen
ate bill, title Is, chapter ~, got common schools
and school laws" reported that the Committed
had agreed to propose to The Two Houses, nsteac
of ibs Ssnate's amendment, disagreed to, at
amendment providing that copy of the tow
.nn,r;n,enden't account should be lodged in tht
town clerks office repor! agreed 0.
House bill title 6, chapter ~, "Ot County OF
6oer..- WAS t.ken up, aud the question beng OF