Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-11-27

FROM AN OCCASIONAL COMMENCEMENT.
MoNrrELIER, Nov. 10, 1862.

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Dear Herald :-Th5 House has been occu-
pied to-day with the military law, reported by
the Committee The bill contemplates an en-
rolment and organization of the militia of the
State somewhat after the manner of the law of
1898. The question was argued at length,
pro and con. MIR. Cushman and others de-
fanded the bin, and Mr.. Royce opposed it,
with aid rendered by several other speeches.
1t was finally rejected by strong vote. Then
Mr.. Royce moved TO insert the bill of the SEN
ate, which only contempates an enrolment for
the purpose of drafting, embracing no drilling
armng or anything else but readiness to be
found when wanted. Various arguments were
adduced against an active preparation for ser
yice,-such as the uselesslless Of drilling, the
waste of time, expense, etc. The fate Of the
substitute will probably b. decided to-mor
row.
The general railroad law was also under
discussion in some ol It's provisions. While
under consideration preparatory to insertion
in the general statutes, Mr.. Balch OF Ludlow
moved to amend the section which prohibits
railroad corporations from charging more for
a shorter than for a longer distance, by sim
ply inserting ''per mile" which would make
the rate Of fare equal ON all who travel on the
roads. He cited many eases of great Unequal
lty, varying from little over two to over four
cents a mile He took case al hand: From
Montpelier to Mortified, 10 miles, fare % cts,
2 IL cts. pc; mile. Fare from Mortified to
Middesex, 6 miles, IS cts, A IA cts per mile
Montpelier to Middesex l6 M, SIS cts. He also
showed that the tariff was nearly as unequal on
other roads, both for passengers and freight. He
took the ground that railroads should charge
a rate by which they could live and prosper in
common with other business but that the local
tariff should not be fixed 50 unequally as to
bring all the burthen on Vermont, while the
foreign bondholders and stock iobbers should
manage so as to ride at a much less rate The
cost of transportation he proved to be really at
variance with "equaI right and Justice to all
men" inasmuch as the charge to any point in
the State was as great as to any point through
and far beyond the State--as much from Bos-
ton to Montpelier as to Burllngton-as much
from Rouses' Point to Montpelier as to.Belows
Falls. He also showed that when the Gener-
al Government imposed tax of per cent. on
the travel, the road forthwith imposed it dOu-
bled and quintupled on the local fare, while
the long fares remained nearly the same -
That when there were competing roads the
thing corrected itself, while the intermediate
places had no remedy but IN law. The mem
Der from STAFFORD stated a case Of his own
where he had car of corn filled at Ogdeus-
burgh and left at Sharon, on which he paid 10
cents bushel more than he would have done
had it been billed to Bellows Falls, some 10
miles further and then re-biled back to Shar-
on, at local rates
To these positions no argument was int: .
posed, only that to equalize the rate of tariff
would be to drive all business from the roads
and leave them to starve, or cease to run; so
poor Vermonters must submit to pay all
that is lost by competition with the other
roads.
This is a subject i'll which the railroads and
the people have common interest, and the
discussion once begun, ultimate conclusions
will be arrived at fair and just on all sides.
The dog law passed the House to day by an
almost unanimous vote; 50 some progress has
been made after so long time, to protect the
property of the farmer, though the proposed
law was long laughed at and ridiculed by wise
law-givers. The runty ours must be taxed
and collared or lose their heads.
CAPITOL