Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-27
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1870.
Notes from the Capital.
THE INTEREST QUESTION.

THE INTEREST QUESTION.
The rate of interest is probable to excite
considerable attention at the present, as
it has for the two sessions past. Mr..
Whiteomb of Ludlow presents bill pro-
viding that the rate of interest, not other
wise specified in the contract, shall be
six dollars for the use of one hundred dol
lars for one year but any contract in
writing tor the payment of any rate of in-
terest not greater than eight per cent
shall be valid, and no money paid under
such contract shall be recovered back.
Mr. Bromley of Pawlet, presents Propo-
sition that any rate shall be legal when
agreed to by the parties in writing.
Whether either of these propositions will
meet with favor is uncertain. Heretofore
the representatives. from the smaller, and
especially the purely agricultural towns
have opposed tho changing of the rate of
interest, while the larger towns, engaged
in manufactures and extended business
have favored it. It is our opinion that
the contract system contained in Mr..
Bromley's bill will meet with the most
favor, aud more nearly correspond with
ths views Of the people.
BRANDON CONTESTED ELECTION.
A petition signed by fifteen of the citi-
zens and voters of Brandon protesting
against the right to seat in the House
of Representatives of Zachariah Clark, the
sitting member, was presented to the
House, one day last week, by Hon. James
NJ Slade of Middlebury. The protest set
up the allegation that Mr.. Clark secured
his election by fraudulent votes and bri-
berry. The petition was referred to the
committee on elections and set for hear
ing on Thursday evening last The con-
testants appeared by their attorney, B. F..
FIfeld, Esq, of Montpelier, who asked
continuance until Tuesday evening of the
present week. Hon. Charles H. Heath of
Plainfield and r. V. Marsh, E~q. of Bran
don, appeared for Mr.. Clark A large
delegation of the friends of Mr.. Clark,
from Brandon, were present before the
committee, desiring to be heard in the
case, among whom we noticed n. L.
Sprague, Jr., Volney Ross, Z. Nearing,
George w. Parmenter, and others. The
friends of Mr.. Clark were prepared and
anxious for hearing and investigation
On Tuesday evening, we learn, there was
no appearance for the contestants, which
is taken as a withdrawal of the protest
This is very happy settlement of the
question for all parties.
COMPELLING ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL.
1t will have been noticed that DR. Sc1yt,
the industrious ana intelligent Reprrsen-
tatiye frem Plymouth, has introduced
bill to compel the ATTENDANCE of children
upon school At first thought this bill
looks radical, and in former years many
very earnest and intelligent friends of
education have opposed similar measures,
on the ground that it was taking the con-
troll of the child from the parent, and WAS,
in one sense, system of slavery. We
believe that with experience public opin-
ion Is changing in this reg ard Our
school reports show that thousands of the
children of the State are growing up in
ignorance who are really truants We |
submit whether the State as an organized |
is discharging its duty in
thus allowing so large "A portion of its
children to grow UP in ignorance, to be
the future inmates of our j4ils, prisons
and Reform School, to scatter the seeds of
vice far and wide, to become ii curse to
and the most dangerous and
troublesome element in society Is it not
the duty of the State to compel the
parents of these children to give them the
of some school system, where
by they may be rendered fit to assume
the duties of citizenship? Has not the
State the right to protect itself against
evils which threaten its safety, its peace
and even its existence? This question
should be practically answered by the
enactment of such a law as will compel
each child in the State of the proper age,
under ordinary circumstances, to attend |
school given number of months in each |
year for reasonable mum Der of years.
Our people oannst but be aware of the
fact that there is an eiRment in this coun-
try which is seeking to overthrow our
common school system. Each year
it is becoming bolder and It's hos
tility more pronounced. Those who are
engaged in this assault upon the bull
warks of the republic are not true friends
of our free institutions, and should be
promptly rebuked by all good citizens.
The Montpelier correspondent of the
ST. Adams Messenger explains more fully
our State legislation upon compulsory
education, and we like his observations on
the subject and feel constrained TO give
them at length in this connection He
says:
There is apparently no interest of the
Ssate Tor which it is more difficult to leg
isiate, 10 the satisfaction of the people,
tnan lot the one of schools. It is import
aht Una, the school system should be kept
a slhPie as possible and not burdened
WIN Foioinlnous enactments and compli-
Seo machinery. 1t is true that o,,r leg
isiaeons in school matters has not al lwaYs
oeen cnutlous or steadily progressive IN
ih character, but, nevertheless, the naonIa
shouid welcome any change or reform - Z
our public school system that promises
even slight improvement
AN act was passed in 1866. provid;no ,
sna sa' any ahyn chiia between and IA years Of ,
age shall attend nnhl;o oohooI a.