Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-10-30

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public library advantages that the people
general ly are not provided with suitable
hooks for reading that in many localities
they are not as well supplied as the con-
/ victs in our prisons or reform schools that
while it is admitted that moral and intel
| lectual progress are essential to the Stable
ity and perpetujty of our institutions
there is doubt whether in these respect
We have not been suffering decadenc,
for the last generation And it can but
be regarded as alarming that snch doubts
exist, for it proves at leastthat no positive
advance has made The opinion is well
founded that while the present almost ex-
clu i've newspaper reading stimulates
business enterprise to its utmost limit, it
at the same time tends to a dwarfed con
dition Of the higher mental powers. and to
superficial requirements. That while rap
id strides are being made in material
development and prosperity, it is feared
that moral and intellectual growth has
not kept pace, and that there is a stagna-
ton resting upon these vital interests. The
rIghtiul demands of society are that men
tai aliment Of the highest order shall be
furnished by government free to every
one Of its members. This is a truism in
separable from the agency of government
in its relation to society. And it is the
opinion of your committee that well
established public library system would do
much 70 counteract the superficial tenden-
cies referred to, and more to elevate the
people than any one instrumentality, and
in view of what it Is believed may be
accomplished bY the Introduction of such
an agency. the accompanying bill is here
with submitted
Asa REYNOLDS, for majority of Com.
H,is here5U enacted by The General Assembly
Of the STATE of VerHo7t:
Ser l The sum Of one hundred and frtv
thousand dollars is hereby appropriated for
the purpose Of establishing public town
libraries throughout the State
Sec 2 TIE treasurer of the State il hire
hv authoriz Il under the direction Of the
Governor and Lieut.. G nvernor, II borrow on
the credit Of the S'ate for the purpose
specified in the first section Of this act the
sum therein specified, and issue therefor the
u0ud- D the State. in such firm and in such
amount. and PAYABLE at such bank in the
city If Boston ~ the treasurer NAV designate
and on such time not 81 than twenty years
from tie date thereof as the overnor
Lleut- Governor and treasurer NAV deem
'FpTaienf. ana at a rate OF interest not eN-
e'ei''E e'N rer ''n'- per ann"m' Win an
""'' ,'''F - ''"i''u- NI-nfd nv ne treasurer
alta thereto. said COUPONS to he signed
hF e e ''F'rnnr dnl Lent. PoVerner, ana
countersrgned hy the trequrer and made
negotiable and q co7v Of the fist three sc
tion4 If this act. cert Fl "a bv the Secretary
RI STATE, shaA Dc printed on tie back ol sai
'na--
sec - Inc N.'F'tarY % state shal, k"ep
m h'- me- ? 'uH re-iS'rv or All the bonds
"..'h ~ ~ n@ issued ~ ai'resald
sec s. ne sum "t one hundred aui h'tV
tf'u-'n1 dollars, appropriated m section
ono nt tins aer. ''r the establishment o.
e." lc town hr'Tie~. snail .e Is 'odted
."r taat IhfP sc {" the several towns m the
state. fn the ratio aS the population OF the |
own = - me population OF the anl'ree
9faie-
Sec. 5. Each town sh"ll provide a suitable !
Dpifdirg or room for the purpose Of estab- |
l-aius ami maintaining a public library |
herein, and shall at any legal meeting Of the |
own elect some suitable rers1n to act ~
IbrFrian, 70 serve or the term Of one year
'r tlll q -uccesso- IS elected or appointed
nd In case Cf death. removal, or inability
q iIhrari t1 act, the board ol Feectmen
hall appoint a Librarian % serve till the next
uccceIinz annual meeting
Sec. e. The town librarian shall he sub
.ct tD such rul,s. rs,uIttions and bv-Irs
,r the rus,a.,ar,,nt or tho town Ibrarv as
nav he prescribed bv the trus ees If the
tate library.
Sec Tho trustees OF taa State librarv
halI Y.rc-..rit., arl resIr,I r,los ra,,,toti,,y
nd br-,.yrs e,r tb. rpanagar1ent ~ town
braries by town Librarians. and said trus-
res shall require in such forms rs they NAV
.lort n ren RI from each town librarian N
he STATE Ib~3rian annually bet,reen the
rst ana fIfeentb davs Of September of each
ear. and ais, a rcr,5rt from the State libra
ian 10 the General Assembly when the same ;
haII convene at its REGULAR sessions. exbib-
.in, in sucb reno-- tha oondition NJ the [
,y1 libraries tbrou -boot the S+ate. and 7
id trusreesare hereby ap.borized 10 denosit .
, town libraries any dunltc,te v,lnne.
.bies are in the Star. -Iibrarv on socb terms
= +i,a.- eb.u doom, f,r rho -, i,,aras, If &.
- S-o.o
Sec Eteb town librarv shall he fur |
.shed ,,itn a copy Of an l,,vs journals
.-.qrtz and other nublie 4 documents issnaI {
rnbl.she8 hv tbe STATE. and sid town Il
brarics NAV receive pubic documen5s and
her rublIcatiopa from anv deoartments of |
~ FEDERAL G,rrrnrnoot. and nav aIzo re-
ave aUV devise. b. Gur-t or q )DattOn. all of q
b,cb NJ no hold o,,-oaJ a,d ,,seI c,- tho
crease and ,nofr.ananca ,r aDv s,i1 town t
brsr, Q
10, o Anv town rnava anv Ies,aI moot
", r,+o ,o,Ie, an the orand ,ist f,r tho y
1ir,tena,,ca or i,croaso of the nublic tovrn e
iittoie ouhGinSs OF rooms Inerelor.
sec. ~. ~ any Iesal meeting c''Ieu 10
'aI Pur use '"o III 'u'9 VI auy To-"
idil erect Inreo suL'dpIe persons oy oallo',
u 'se uu1y u s"d'l oe 70 indAe seIectiou anu I
iIc"a-e OooE9 IoI s"ii Io"h VIII tue