Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-11-04
Gbt frttman~
MONTPELIER, VT:
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1868,
The Legislature.

The Legislature last week having passed
an act by which all persons attendant
their deliberations could vote at the capitol,
proceeded to 60 home as fast as possible.
Each House adjourned for three days, as long
as was possible without concurrent action,
but the interlude really amounts to fire
working days. However, as it has come to
be a well understood custom to stay till
Thanksgiving anyhow, we presume it is all
well enough. A little more work is crowded
into the heel of the session, and the business
will be got through with in some shape.
A measure that has been attracting much
attention is the proposed construction of
short railroad from Rutland to the quarries
in West Rutland, running very near the
Rutland and Washington road. This charter
is asked for by parties interested in the Rut-
land and Bennington road who desire better
facilities for getting their freight from the
quarries. 1t Is opposed by the owners Of the
quarries, but has many strong friends and
the chances of its passage seem about even.
A new feature in Vermont legislation has
been passed,-the act Incorporating the
Tehuantepec Railway Company. Authority
10 build this road, and thus create new inter-
oceanic communication, has been granted by
the Mexican Government, and the parties in
interest asked for corporate existence in
the United States The capital of the COM
pany is fixed al eighteen millions of dollars,
and as this is 3 large even in Albany, it
was found impossible to get charter there
without immense expense, which the
directors did not see fit 10 incur.
A joint resolution has been adopted, by
which the Secretary of State is directed to
obtain information from selectmen as to the
available water power in their respective
towns and how much of the same is in use.
This is step in the right direction, for if
any source of wealth IN the State has been
neglected, it is our immense natural water
power. 1t is only u be regretted that the
legislature have not gone farther and ordered
an accurate photographed survey to be
made by competent engineers. \ proper use
of q single one of the many idle water priv
leges would in one year return to the stats
all the expense incurred. Other states have
done this, and the results have astonished
the most sanguine. If it is worth while Il
encourage manufactures by authorizing ex
emption from taxation, a measure of thi
kind is surely desirable. We have no doub
that the reports of the selectmen, incomplete
and unsatisfactory as they must necessaril,
be, will lie I'd to a more careful and thorough
survey next year.
A Committee on Retrenchment and Re
form, with power to send for persons an
papers, will be appointed TO see that ther
il no waste in any department of the Stat,
Government the resolution seems to b
aimed at the various officers and messenger
employed about the State House Honorabl
members will doubtless rem ember that
these fuuctionaries sometimes slight thei
work, they never ~ adjourn over :" and leav
it entirely.
The large difference between income am
expense at the State Prison has elected con
siderable comment for several years. A bill
has been passed directing the Governor t
appoint committee who shall investigat
and report as to the feasibility of removin
the Prison 70 Isle La Motto. or some othe
place away from Windsor. Ii is urged tina
the quarries of Isle La Motto would furnish
healthy and profitable employment to tn
boarders, and the fact that the locality
surrounded with deep water would tend II
diminish the longing for % sweet home,
usually SO prevalent in remedial institutions