Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-11-27

7 vice of idleness. He thought the propose
Q business was a good one for the boys, an
hoped the bill would pass
Senators Chesmore. Smith, Wilson
Windsor. Wilson of Orleans, further opp
sed the bill and Senators Reynolds, Grange
and Page favored it. On the question sha
the bill be read the third time, Senator Snit
demanded the yeas and nays, which were 9
. follows:
Yeas Senators Clarke, Edmunds, George
Granger, Homes, Howe of Wiodham. King
Page, Parker, Reynolds, Roby. Rowell
Tolman. Walton IA.
Nays-Senators Allen. Benton, Brookins
Chesmore. Colburn, HoughtoD, Howe @
Rutland, Ladd, Proctor, Smith, Wilson O
Orleans, " ilson of Windsor-l2
So the third reading of the bill was order
ed for to- morrow morning.
Senator Walton called up S So. an ac
relating to Insane Asy lums, and the ques
tion being on the adoption of the secunt
proposed amendment of Senator Rowe.l, i
was agreed to; and the bill as amendec
read the third time and passed.
HOUSE.
Unfinished businesses So. to empower thu
railroads therein named to consolidate with
each other and with other roads, was aker
up, the question being on the amendment.
proposed by Mr.. Grout of Barton. The rail
roads to be consolidated are the Portland
and Ogdensburg. the Montpelier and St
Johnsbury. the Lamoille Valley, the Bur.
lington and Lamoille, and such other road.
as are necessary TO form continuous line ol
road between Portland and Montreal. The
amendments were agreed to, and the bill
was then passed.
RepOrts-By Mr. Grout of Barton, from
majority of special committee on removal of
the county buildings in the County of Or
leans, favorable to such removal and by
Mr.. Tyler of lrasburgh. a minority report
| on the same subject.
Sundry petitions, memorials and remOn-
/ strances from various towns in Orleans
/ county were presented by several members
and referred to special committee, consist
ing of members from Orleans county.
Mr.. Hubbard of Springfield, called up the
| joint resolution relating TO the postpone
ment of the day for final adjournment, and
opposed the resolution.
Mr.. GrOut of Barton, moved the resolu-
! tiOn be referred to the select committee on
final adjournment, which was agreed to.
The special committee to investigate the
affairs of the University of Vermont and
Agricultural College, made report which
was ordered to lie on the table and 500
copies be printed.
Mr.. Grout of Newport, called up the re-
port OF the committee on elections on the
remOnstrance uf Milo B. Williamson and
Others against the right of Edward 5 Dana,
to seat upon the floor of the House As the
representative from the town of Cornwall,
and the report was read by the C. ERIK The
Nud
votes cast. making l03 necessary for
choice. Ot these, they find that Edward 5.
Dana received IOi. Milo B. Williamson re-
ceiyed 100. and Grin Field received L. The
committee decided that they had no right
to 20 behind naturalization papers when
issued from court of competent jurisdiction
and recommend to the attention of the
House close and critical examination into
all the details and particulars of the elIgi-
btity OF citizenship ln instances of natur-
allzatlon to prevent imposition. Ii we
have no right to 20 behind the naturalizi-
ton papers, We report IN favor of the
sitting member; II however, We can z
behind the naturalization papers, there
were i've voters for the sitting member who
were not entitled 10 be naturalized. and in
that case the remonstrant Is entitled to
seat The committee reported resolution
that Edward ;. Dana i duly elected and
entitled 10 his seat, which was unanimously
adopted
Mr.. Grout Of Newport, then presented
resolution that the State Treasurer be, and
he i hereby authorized and directed TO paw
Milo B. williamson, contestant for a seat
IN the House Of Representatives as member
from the town OF Cornwall, his mileage
and per diem for the present session.
The resolution was opposed BY Mr. Perrin
Of Brlin Mr. McFadden Of Wells, Mr..
Newell of Sheiburn, Powell of Rlchfurd and
Mr.. Wells OF CRANKY
The resolution was favored By Mr. Gr0ut
of Newport, Mr.. Abel Of Wes; Haven, Mr.
Guild OF Rupert. Mr. Daniorth of Barnard
aud Mr. Grout Of Barton.
The adoption Of the resolution was then
reiu~ed-yea~ 55 nays lei.
Special order-u. u, to assess and tax
the real estate Ut railroads in this State,
vas taken up as the special order, the ques-
ton being on amending the amendment
proposed By the comnltteo as proposed by
Mr.. Cook ct Msudon
Mr. H0board OF Spring 6ed, SAID he be-
lieyed the time had cJme hen the immense
amount OF real estate owned in Vermont by
these railroads should be taxed like other
rght to demand IT. and we should grant
their request.
Mr. Snurtliff Of Plainfeld, said he con
ceded the point that the property Of the
Safe should pay the taxes Ot the State, bat
he could not vote for the amendments pro-
posed by Mr.. Cook. He said the fact Is
that the railroads do not o,cH the land oc-
cupiei by them the land is only occupied
by the road and IN case the road j. dlscon-
tlnued, reyerts to the original proprietor
the same as public highway. The farms
through which railroads pass are not set IN
the list at q less valuation than they were
before the roads were laid through them.
and 50 no real estate Is taken out OF the
grand list. He also objected 70 the specific
valuation of 81 600 per mile; if we are to
assess II at all, We should have il appraised
like all other real estate. He said the tax
proposed by the committee of $50 per mile
l. not subject to the claim OF uncOns;itu-
tiouaIity. as set up by the gentleman from
Mendon, as it Is a tax levied alike upon all
that class OF property IN this State. We
must not tax these railroads too heavily; If
we do we shall prevent the selling of the
bonds of those roads not yet completed. and
it should be the policy of the State to encOur-
age the investment of money in our roads.
lie would favor a tax payable directly into
the State Treasury and not leave it subject
to the local tax collectors. II there l. any
Constitutional objection to the taxation let
the State test il. There are various systems
adopted in several States; and II appeared
to the committee that the proposition Ofthe
committee Is the simplest anc best, and the
one that the State should adopt. ln most
of the States the direct State tax has been
adopted, and it was found very much more
satisfactory than any other plan.
Mr. Ladd of Alburgh said thi, was a meas
ure involving the taxation Of $50 900 900
OF property in the State, heretofore exempt
from taxation. 1t appears that the owners
and managers of these roads have assented
that the property should be taxed as a mat
ter of right; and the only question was
what was right The road OF which Gov.
Smith has the management runs I20 miles
In New York which pays tax of $40
900 in Connecticut, they pay $4,000 on
81 miles of road in New Hampshire, they
paw Sc 600 on 90 miles; in Massachusetts,
they pay SlI ,0OO on 80 miles oi road in
Canada tney pay $4,000 on 65 miles OF
road The tax as proposed by the comnlt-
tee was preferable TO the amendment pro-
posed by the gentleman from Mendon, an
less the latter proposition could be modl-
fed so as to fix the maximum at $40 900
per mile instead of 81 900.
Mr.. Munson of Manchester, said there
was no difference of opinion among he COM
mittee as to the propriety of the taxation of
railroad property. All were agreed that it
should be taxed; the question was how
shall it be done? One system fixed a specific
tax on each mile ofthe road bed Of the roads;
and the other sets all the property Of the
railroad corporation in the grand list of the
towns. Ii is for tho House to decide which
system they prefer; and the first vote of the
House should be upon a choice between the
two. He preferred the system which puts
railroad property into the list for municipal
taxation as other property is taxed it the
House are not satisfied with the amendment
to the amendment We can raise the proposed
limit of valuation. The amendment only
fixes maximum limit at which it shall be
listed and the listers canappraise it as much
lower as they please. The only ones to
raise the constitutional objections are the
towns, if they see fr to risk the property
at IL higher rate than Is named in this bill.