Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-11-20
ing of the bill. which was agreed to-ayes
l22, nays Is. g..
The third reading OF the bill was then re-


fused.
.Senats bills referred.-S. ITO, to amend
sec. 81, chap. %, G. s., relating to railroad
corporations: to committee on railroads.
Reporfs-From general committee, in
favor of Ii. 26i, to authorize the removal OF
distractions from Willoughby river, with
proposals of amendment, pending the con-
sideration OF which the bill on motion of
Mr. Grout, was laid on the table.
From committee on corporations IN favor
( of H. 3l4, in amendment of an act to incor-
porate the village of Bennington, and in
relation to Bennington graded school dis
trict, with proposals OF amendment, pend
ing the consideration of which, the bill
was, on motion of Mr.. Henry of Chester,
laid on the table.
From committee on banks, in favor OF ii.
3Sl, to incorporate the Burlington BANK
ing Company; read third time and passed
AFTERNOON.
| RepOrts-From committee on education
| in favor of S. 1856, to amend sec. s, Of an
act to establish the Douglas graded school
| district in Chelsea, approved Nov. 26, 1872;
read third time and passed in concurrence.
| From the special committee, in favor of
| II. 39l, with proposals OF amendments,
which were agreed to; Mr.. Guild ofRupert,
moved to amend so as to provide for two
examining physicians instead of one, agreed
to; the bill was then read the third time and
passed.
From committee on banks in favor of 5.
100, to amend an act entitled an act to in
corporate the MissisquOl Savings Bank and
Trust Company; read third time and passed
in concurrence.
From committee on manufactures in favor
6 IN Tho Ufnoa hurrb
union cheese and butter manufacturing
company; read third time and passed.
From committee on claims, IN favor of II.
PSI, to pay Charles Z. Ransom the sum
therein named, with proposals of amend
ment, fixing the sum at $50, which were
agreed to, and the bill was read the third
time and passed.
From committee on claims; in favor Of ii.
4OS, to pay Daniel Crofut the sum therein
named, with proposal of amendment fixing
the sum at 1913 %. which was agreed to,
and bill was read third time and passed.
From committee on military affairs, in
favor of IL. 357, to provide for further dis
trlbution OF testimonials of honor to sol
diers; read third time and passed.
SDeclai order-Il. POI, to abolish the
board of education was taken up, the same
being the special order, the question being
on agreeing to the amendment proposed by
the committee.
Mr. Martin of Londonderry, moved to
amend the amendment proposed by the
committee by inserting in sec three the
word annually
Mr.. Bailey Of fairhayen, moved to dismiss
the bill. lie stated that he made this
motion for the purpose Of bringing the
whole matter before the House in one ques-
ton.
Mr. Davis Of Reading, approved the
motion TO dismiss, as settling ut once what
action the House desired to take in regard
To the Board of Education; and if we
dismiss tnis bill, We shall have the bill re-
committed by the minority Of the commit
tee. Mr.. Davis opposed the repeal Of the
various sections included in see of this bill.
lie also opposed the abolition of the Board
OF Education and the substitution Of State
superintendent IN whom /, vested unlimit-
Cd power over our schools. This State super
iutentent j. to be elected here in joint
assembly, and there Is no power Of removal
except We impeech him. lie compared az
some length the workings of the system
proposed with the workings of the system
under the Board Of Education. and claimed
that there would be no more economy or
efficiency under the new system than under
the old
Mr. Say.es Of Huntington. defended the
bill under consideration - proposed 10 be
amended. nder 1t We abolish the Board of
Education and its secretary, which. though
composed Of men noted Tor ability has ont
lived X u>eiulnc--, we abolish the list Ut
text books that have been adopted by the
board. in place of these We give the State
a State Superintendent, retaining the e.
sential features Of the Board of Education
without the eos; and interference Of the
Board.
Mr.. Gr3ut of Newport, though; this one
most important measures before the House.
and one that should be considered dispas-
>ionateiy. He said there Is - deep seated
feeling of dissatisfaction with the present
system and management Of the Board Of
Education, that a change was demanded;
and the question is what measure can We
best adopt that viii be satisfactory To the
people and best meet the demands OF the
State. lie preferred a Board of Education as
recommended by the minority Of the committee
in the passage OF House bill No. 3g2. BY
that bill the Board Is to be elected by the
Joint Assembly. and when we elect that
Board we virtually elect a Secretary. The
trouble l. with the Secretary. and not wiki
dismiss this bill, and consider the bill which
retains the Board
Mr.. Davenport Wilmington, opposed the |
di-mission OF tie bill lie wa, opposed |
to the Board Of Education mainly because /
of their arbitrary and dictatorial measures /
in regard to books. lie did not like the /
provisions of the present system in regard /
to teachers Institutes which were Of very
little practical value 10 our schools, lie /
did not believe that the present intelligence /
OF Vermont i owing to the STATE Board of
Education; It Is rather owing 10 the school
system Of Vermont before the Board was
brought into existence.
Mr.. Dartt of Weathersfeld, thought the
recommendation Of the Board had not Sc
cured any uniformity in text books in the
schools of the state. there had been numer-
Gus editions of the same book. and such
charges made as that they were suhstau-
tally different books He believed the peo-
pie OF the State would vote, by very large
maj orlty, % abolish the Board OF Educa
,ion, and thu bill meeting the demands Of
The people. should not be dismissed.
Mr.. Martin of Londonderry, in answer to
he objection raised against this bill, that
ne elect man As State Superintendent and
nave no power of removal, said that We
'lect Governor. Observation-Disclosures. and
he whole list of State officers for two years.
md there Is no more danger in electing
state Superintendent than the other
state officers. lie was opposed to the sys-
EN- Of a Board Of Education because it
vas simply a part of the machinery
hat was 20 take the responsibility of the
cts Of the secretary, whose authority seem
d to be supreme. During the last year. !
he secretary has spent much time in the I
tate Of Maine. and received for services
eri0rmed there, the sum of 81 100. which a
dded 10 his salary of : 200, made his I
ilary really 3 800. He did not believe /
] electlng Board 10 take the responsible I
! Tor the acts OF the Secretary: but prefer d
ID 10 elect Superintendent of Instruction,
no shall take all the responsibility and h
and or fall on his own merits. He did il
)t believe the Secretary was any more to Il
anne than the Board both were equally /,
sponsible for the present state of affairs II
this State. and he thought both should v
abolished. "
Mr. Boynton Of Woodstock was. in his
rlier life, for twelve years connected with c
e schools. in Massachusetts, and he did N
1t in all that time. hear so much said Ii
'out Board OF Education or Secretary, tc
he had heard since the 4th day OF Sep Il
mber. There was universal discomfort NJ
pressed with the present Board of Educa- l.
IN. Now We may say what We Will about B
E Board, it Is very evident that the people :,
III not any longer swallow Mr.. French. p
le whole trouble is with the Secretary and n
the question Is, shall we retain the
ard with the present Secretary he should di
lphatically answer, no. lie would stand at
chances for the next two years without
her; but he preferred the amended bill
der consideration to any other PROPOSE
N yet made III
,lr. Grout of Barton referred the bill as M
by the minority ofthe commit re-
;. Ii We prefer to retain in our hands the ali
elton of the Secretary, We can 50 amend as
and 1t would then best meet the wants on
the people The bill now under consid- IN
ltion completely overturns the present
lool system. and put US back to system, ma
oloded quarter of century ago. He IN,
eferred that teachers institutes should r,
held when teachers were in their schools