Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-11-15
Lamoille Valley Railroad.
On the bill to enable certain town
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

TO AID III the CONSTRUCTION OF the La
noble valley road, the following leng-
thy discussion took place on Thursday
afternoon Of last week:
Mr. Hubbard of Stockbridge, said
those members of the house who pro-
posed to vote in the affirmative on
this bill were assailed from within this
house and without, with the assertion
that they propose to do thing which
is not constitutional, in that they pro-
pose to take private property for
public uses without adequate remuner-
alton; but he could not see that it
conflicted more with the bill of rights
in this particular case than in all
cases where money was voted for
town uses, which often promoted pri-
vate interests at public expense. He
should favor the passage of the bill,
believing that the interests of the State
demanded that every facility should
be given to all portions Of the State
for developing its resources.
Mr.. Glazier of Stratton, thought he
had proper regard for the interests
of the State, and was willing to leave
the question of constitutionality with
the courts. But he was opposed to
the bill on the ground of its oppres-
sive character, and spoke at length
against the provisions of the biz, pre-
ferring that railroads should be built
by private capital and that if any aid
is to be given to them, it should be
given by the State, and not by par
ticular towns, that method being less
oppressive.
Mr.. Converse of Woodstock said he
took it for granted that the bill was
as we'll as it could be. He had ques-
toned whether we should allow towns
to raise money for any purpose ex
: cept for strictly town purposes; but
III looking over the acts of the past
few years. we find acts which would
: come under the same objection; as
: for instance, the act Of 1862 allowing
, towns to raise money to pay soldiers
: in 1868 to raise money to pay drafted
soldiers, and to build monuments tt
deceased soldiers; in 1864 to allow
y towns to raise money TO pay substi
:. tutes, and to raise money to prepare
soldiers records; in 1866 providin!
y that every town may build iails; au(
u at the present session a bill allowin!
N towns to procure a libraries H,
: never heard oil q man raising object
- ions TO these bills and yet they wer
"enabling acts" as much as the bill
;, under consideration. Now were W
i wrong in passing these bills? If S
= let us stop it, and set a good exam
~ pie. II we were not wrong, why OF
!, ject to this bill? If we ever alloy
u towns to raise money, when and 10
t what shall such privilege be granted
My rule is, where town asks a priv
e lege to make an appropriation, an
' if it is to be beneficial TO the town
~ grant them the privilege asked.
~ Will this bill be a damage to til
town asking it? 1t is not for M
m away down in Woodstock, to say t
these towns that although in ordinar
business transactions you are sIircw
u enough, vet in this matter you al
n0 FOOLS No man can say but a raj
II road through tie fertile valley Of !,
oI noble will be a great benefit, and /
was willing they should have one
I'D He answered the argument that sue
Sc bill would be oppressive to minor
Nv ties, and that if done at ali it shou
be done by the State, 10y saying th
tly in that case even maiorities must ru
i've the minorities. He hoped the b
would pass, and the towns be allo
lie. ed the privilege asked by themselyf
nd Mr.. Rounds of Chester rehears,
er- the history of the passage of the b
Is. thus lar through the house, and OF
,rd friends, who would of course repc
in favor of it. 1t has not been &C
- sidered by any other committee tn
~ such as have railroad on the brair
Ny opposition to this bill comes fire.
no desire to cripple the developme
Of the resources Of the state Ill
"P least, but desire to see the best
LAY terestS of the state promoted.
the referred to the legislation since Isl
ma enabling towns to raise money, a
said ST per month paid by the Sta
was right, and every dollar paid
soldiers ought to have been paid by
tut State. He always opposed the bi
day allowing towns to raise money to T
at bounties, and had, whenever the s
"a ect was before the Legislature for c
~ 5ideration, urged to the best OF
VII ability that the towns should be lin
the ed in the amount OF money that {
ield outburSt OF patriotism then allow
the them to raise. He cited cases VIII
,ns large sums had been paid to turn
- men to fill quotas of towns where
INC money was of little avail to the {
the vice. He was always willing to
wife the soldiers 1--WE can never pay til
: of in dollars and cents) but he queSti
ant ed the legislation that had been
that subject. He explained the
he had introduced the present sess
con- to allow the town of Chester to
au- substitutes, that it was case {
eiie very worthy man, and he had b
ark promised the ST per month by the
ohg ectmen and in good faith to the n
men the town of Chester simply asked
sons legislature to allow them to k
own good faith with the soldier. AS
son this bill, he supposed that the
tue had been perfected by its friends
i9ht one of the most Objectionable teatl
IONS of it had been stricken out, so tina
u III discussing it he must take it as
drty finds it perfectly by its friends.