Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-10-31
Legislative Matters.
LOccasio"M Montpelier Correspondence OF
THE HERALD

THE HERALD
MoNTPEIIER, Oct. 81. 1872
Edjto,. Rutla7ld HeraM .-Lcgislation
moves uncommonly slow. Various
things have tended to retard committee
work, and the practice of those living
along the line of the railroad to 20 home
Friday night or Saturday morning, and
return any time duringthe next Monday,
and this every week whether vote to
adjourn over that time is had or not. has
the effect to very much hinder the work.
inc Of the various committees The
usual number Of bills for the changing
names of individuals, have come before
the legislature, hut the general com
mittee to whom they were referred. have
reported that the act of 1870 makes am
pie provision for this class Of casts
The different railroad interests are
calling for legislative enactment 1t is
generally understood that a general rail
road law will be presented for considrra-
ton Present indications are that it will
pass this time and become a law. The
mass of people are becoming more and
more Interested in this principle, and it
must prevail sooner or later.
1t seems to be generally coucrdrd
that the board Of directors of the State
Prison should be reelected for another
term; they have been very successful
in making change of contractors, and
getting the labor Of the prisoners On to
paying basis. And the prospect now
is that under the present contract, the
labor of the cOnvicts.will more than pay
the running expenses of the institution.
Whereas under the old contract, there
was deficiency of from five to eight
thousand dollars annually. which had to
he raised by a state tax.
The temperance question is exciting
not only the Legislature somewhat, but
the people of Montpelier are becoming
awake to this subject. Meetings are
held every Sabbath at o'clock p. m.
Last evening the leading spirit in this
work. Mrs Joel w. Foster. Jr., gave
statement Of the work they had under
taken. what had been accomplished, and
many incidents of appeals made to her
by wives, mothers and sisters, in behalf
of their home kindred, and then she APP
ppaled to the hearts, the COnsCicnces and
the Judgment of those present for their
CO-nDeratiOn in this work to put down
rum-selling in this village, and pleading
as only mothers and a woman can plead.
She laid the whole subject before them
i'm ladv-like and COmmOn-Sense way.
Our only regret was that her voice was
not sufficiently strong to be heard in all
parts of the house While we have no
sympathy with female suffrage, yet we
are in favor of women presenting the
subject OF temperance to an audience
when they can do it as well and as effect
ually as Mrs. Foster did last evening.
The State Police bill, introduced seve-
raj days since, is being talked over
among members at their boarding houses.
The hearing has not been heard before
the committee yet. In offset to this bill
there has been license bill introduced.
The reports of State officers have not
been distributed, the printing not having
been completed. The election of these
officers will not take place until the re-
ports are had.
Present indications are that members
of the Legislature may possibly cut
their Thanksgiving turkey in Montpe-
iier, or else return to finish up the work
of the session in December. Most OF
the members would like to get through
by the usual time. The ''lnsane Com
mittee," so-called, have returned from
their investigations at the Asylum at
BrattlebOrO, and their report will be
looked for with interest.