Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-11-01
HOUSE.
Thursday, Oct. "a

Thursday, Oct "a.
Bills iRiroduesd-By Mr. Foster of Calsis. re.
lsting to the weight Of oats $50 lbs to bushen
to com on agriculture.
BY Mr. Ferrin of Montpelier, to amend sec 4
chap 90 gs. reisting to the descent of property
to Idicisry com.
BUS passed-H 80 enlsrging the Jurisdiction
OF justices Of the peace in certain css-s; H Al in
addition to sec 81 chap SO z 0, relating to the
grand list; II 90 to amend sec 8 chap los z .,
IN relation to mech.nics' hens; H 81 to amend
sec ! chap 80 g $. entitled Of societies for the
support of the gospel and literary and other as
ociations.
The bill to incorporate the Addison county
railroad company was ordered to third reading.
Special order 80 II So to amend chap Is q 8.
relating to the election of listers: vss taken up.
Mr Hounds Of Chester, from the Judiciary
com, explained the reasons that induced the
com to repOr. against the bill-thst under the
law as it now stands, listers can be elected As
many years as the town choose if found to DIS
charge the duties acceptably to the town, and
that no change Of the law was nect sssry to reach
the object designed by this bill.
MIR Marvin Of Alburgh, thought the passage
of the bill would tend to equslize tsxation-a
result that thus far had been difficult TO reach
Ihe changing OF only one lister each year, and
retaining the other two in Office, gave the board
Of listers the benefit Of more experience than
where the listers are changed entire every yesr.
1t would lead to more care in the selection of
suitable men for the Office and we should hear Of
less complaint on the ground Of the UNEQUAL
working Of our listing laws, and men could not
so easily Keep their property out ofthe grand list
as under the law as II now exists. He referred
TO the fact that the practice has been TO set real
estate in the list at very much lower than its
actual value, and that the oath prescribed IN
the bill required the listers TO certify that they
have set the real and personal property of the
towns al the full cash value thereof This bill
would tend to establish uniformity aud stability
between the various towns in this State.
Mr.. Koss Of St JohnsburY alluded to the
second section as Objectionable, providing that
.ne listers snail be sworn, but does not require
they have made. The law now reouire. real
estate TO be appraised at the value il would he
we're ii to be set of on execution. This hin il
rather letting down than a raising of the
standard OF performing the duties of the Office
of lister '-e '-'0e
Mr. Marvin thought that other town officers
seiectmen for instance-ought to be elected for
longer time than one year, and that we ought
not TO object to the passage Of this bill because
II was an innovation upon established u,a9es.
the listers, under the ussges of the present
law, subscribed the oath with great reluctance
anu no conscientious man could do it 1T all
The present bill would obviste that difficulty.
lie did not believe that the lengthening of
the tenure Of office would lead to any more
faithful execution Of the laws The power
should return to the people often. az is the case
WIN tne most important Offices in the state
that Of judges Of the supreme court He could
not see that any Of the evils of the old law
would be remedied in this bill.
Mr.. Hubbard OF Stockbridge would favor the
Dill, If the second section could be so amended
as to provide for more stringent oath by list
ere, and state prison penalty for violation
thereof He had often heard men complain that
their property was set in the list at high rate.
when II offered three times the sum it was listed
1t. they would refuse it. As the bin mo.
stands be could not support it.
The third reading Of the bill was then re-
fused BY very decided vote. Adjourned.