The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-11-23
Notes for The CdledOni0n.
MONTPELIER. Nov. 20, 1866.


The session of the legislature closed this
morning at S o'clock, though virtually
last night at II ociock-a way they have
OF getting pay for the day they are going
home. \ large number of bills were dis
posed of during the last week. As init
mated in my last, al act establishing
state normal schoJi at Randolph was
passed 1t empowers the board of educa-
ton with authority 10 establish three such
schools in the state, one in each congress
sional district. The act making provision
for the examination OF teachers under the
direction OF the board, in each county, in
connection with the teachers institutes,
also passed The board Of education was
remodeled 50 as to consist Of slA-two
from each congressional district, in addl-
ton to thu governor, who is member,
er od5ao. They are nominated by the
governor and confirmed by the senate.
The house for a time insisted that they
should he elected by the general assembly.
but yielded TO the senate i'll the manner OF
their appointment. The act provides
that one from each district shall be 4
practical teacher The list OF school
books now in Use are continued Ill lie
! till Nov. 1868, bat during the next year
i the board are To revise and select 4 list OF
school books. - hp used Ill the common
schools. which Is to dc binding for live
wears from Nov. |. 1868. The act also
provides for i revision of the list every
five wears. after that time.
/ The act allowing. but not compelling.
persons charged with crime 10 testify in
/ their own behalf. became u law, also.
! This is an innovation upon the present
law. But, since parties in civil cases arr
allowed to testify. it is difficult TO see any
GOOD reason for withholding the >amt
privilege from persons accused OF crime
I The presumption of the law Is that such Il
pyr,on i innocent till convicted. Ii inno-
cent. the accused should he allowed to eX-
plain. If he can. the circumstances which
seem to connect him wiki the crime.
Sometimes he /, thu only person who can
ipxn.ain such circumstances. 1t he l.
guilty. il is believed he cannot, whci
closely crasS-rxamincd, conceal all cvl-
dcnce OF his Guilt from an intelligent Jury.
1t Is hoped and believed that this vii
lead more surely to the lrqulttal OF tie IN
Innocent and the conviction OF the gully
and more especially, inasmuch as the SAINT
law is said to have had that operation IL
Maine. where it has been i'll force the pas
two vea>. Massachusetts enacted the
saline law at her last session.
The amount of real and personal estate
assessed to the corporation was TO b'
deducted by the listers in apprai>ln= the
value OF the stock No return was re-
CURED unless the stock paid 4 dividend. OF
added to lis surplus during the proceeding
wear THi> would have reached four OF
five millions of such property mostly own
cd bv non-rc>ientS. 1t WAS evident from
the first. that the bill WAS 10 meet will
opposition from those who would he reach
ed bv il. The committee We're induced Il
rcport against the bill. After quite ;
smart discussion. the bill was dismissed OF
the last lav OF the session. 1t WAS claim
Ell by the opponents OF the hill that Yer
mont needed the all of torci On capital tc
build her railroads and develop her mines.
uuarric- and manufacturers, and that Ii
this capital was taxed it would drive sutl
capital from the state, and the state there
ly would loose more than she would gain
bv the faxes. Those who favored the
passage OF the bill, insisted that 10 allow
NONRESIDENT stock to 30 untaxcd, was
ciyin" an advantage to foreign capital,
over nome capital, which was m Just. and
which the legislature had no right TO Grant,
that a. these corporations added to th,
burdens of the state in litigation. pauper-
ism. crime and every other WAY, for which
taxes We're required, they ought 10 he
male 20 contribute their Just share &c
these burdens. 1t WAS unfortunate that st
important measure. which would yield
to the state from $4,000 to Sl00.00t
yearly in taxes should have been delayed
to the last of the session. have indic;l
ted only some Of the more important
measures in these hastily written letters.
Yours,
The BIZ Increasing Pay Of Mem.
0erS.
The present General Assembly has done
considerable legiSlating on its own account
as well rs some for the state They have