Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-11-06
Letters from the Capitalize. A.
MONTPELIER, Oct. 20, 1868.

the House. 1t was known that til
friends of the Essex County railroad ha
failed to give the notice required by tn
statute, and it was confidently believe,
that they would not have hearing OIL
the merits of the case, and that thus th'
session would be materially shortened
The committee on roads did in fact re
fuse to proceed with the hearing, but tn,
House instructed them to overlook thu
neglect Of the law, and 60 on with th'
case. The vote of the House on tha
question must not, however, be taken a,
an indication Of its judgment on the mer.
its. Many who voted in favor OF the
road, on this preliminary question, will
vote against it when the final question is
taken.
1t was also supposed that no action
would be taken on the militia law. Not
because the present law was regarded as
sufficient. No one claims that. But the
conflict Of opinion in regard to what kind
Of law is desirable, and the almost alb
soute certainty that the Senate will not
enact any new law, seemed to render it
inexpedient to waste the time Of the
House in discussions that will result in
nothing. But the majority of the House
voted otherwise, and the committee on
military affairs accordingly reported a
law, differing substantially from that in
troduced by Mr.. Deane in the early part
of the session. There is no probability
that this will become a law, but the de-
bates to which it will give rise will pro-
tract the session, and occupy time which
the members might much more profitably
employ at home, in inducing their constit-
uents to join the "three hundred thousand
MORE" A bill has also been introduced
to repeal the law of last year in regard
to the Rutland and Castleton ralroad.-
That law was the result of a long and
hot contest between the two rival roads,
and the proposition to repeal it opens the
whole controversy anew, and must occa-I
sion a great deal of discussion before the
and in one or both of the hou-
SEES. Notwithstanding all this the joint
committee to fix day for final adjourn
ment have reported that all the business
IAN probably be finished by the 9th of
1t may possibly be SO, but
your correspondent is among the number
Of those who "don't see it,"
Not few attempts are made this ses-
sion to tinker the common school law. A |
bill constituting all the school district
committees, in conjunction with the town
superintendent, board for the examin-
alton of teachers, was urged with great
energy and perseverance, nor were its
advocates willing to submit, till the House
lad twice voted them down, the last time
by majority of more than two to ONE
A bill, the object Of which was to abolish
he practice of "boarding round" by de-
,laring that all expenses for the support
Of schools shall be betrayed by tax Oh
he grand list, was also voted down, the
committee on education believing that
public sentiment is not yet educated up
o that point, and the House concurring
With them 10 that belief. The most
Quixotic of all the bills on the subject OF
.ducation, is one which proposes to give
electmen authority to abolish all school
districts and take possession of the school
houses and other property, and commits
he charge Of all the schools to board
If three commissioners. Of course no !
uch bill will be passed by legislature !
endowed with common sense. One and s
'nly one real improvement of the school
aw has been effected, by bill which s
'estores the former appropriation of thir- /
y dollars to each county, to be expended {
n promoting the efficiency of teachers
Institutes. This has passed both houses,
nd is now the law. q
The law in relation to the traffic 10 in ,
oxicating liquors has been patched up a |
title, not, however, so as to materially {
fleet tho efficiency of the law for better $
+ for worse. Last week convention of I
was held here to take meas a
res for the repeal of the law. As the b
esult, bill was introduced on Thursday :
f this week, by "the gentleman from I
'ernon," repeating the law and substitu- a
ng license law similar to that which q
xisted in the former days of darkness
nd ignorance. The House voted not to
ear the bill read the second time, where 4
pom the gentleman from Vernon waxed |
xceeding wroth, and declared that I'M b
ss the bill were allowed to "pass thro' n
lie usual channels" he would resign bis a
,at and go home. To avert a calamity a
} awful as that, The House concluded to a
t the bill be read the second time r,
he gentleman from Vernon then moved fl