Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-11-06


To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times.
There has been, l Think palpable change
in the feeling of many members. on the sub
iect of railroad legislation, since the session
opened. OF course, many of the Represent
atives had reaG good deal during the past
wear about the dangers from great monopo-
lies. and the bad influence and bad prae-
tees of railroad corporations, and they
came here with an indistinct impression
that it was going to be one OF their
duties to give a general oyerhaHling TO the
Vermont railroad companies I'D managers.
So the first railroad bill introduce Ito 4boI-
ISL free passes-took very well for a day OF
| two. Members said - Now that j. a pretty
/ good bill-they say even the judges take
passes, and we better put stop to 1t. As
time has gone alorg, however. and railroad
bills of all kinds-to regulate freight and
passenger rates. and tax railroad property.
and incorporate new companies to ran old
roads, and appoint commissioners 10 pry
into the inside management Of the roads,
aud the like-have poured in and no sign or
symptom of 4 railroad lobby. or Of resist
ance 10 these various measures, on the part
Of the roads have appeared. the feeling
has changed The impression has become
pretty distinct that most OF these
bills have originated in some private
grudge or quarrel or interest, aui
the members have asked themselves
whether they were paid by the public to
come here to help along either side of a
clique quarrel, or to crafty private resent
ments. They have, think, RIOS; OF then.
concluded that they DO not desire 20 take
part in any general raid on the railroads
The circumstance that almost every Member
and Senator accepted free pass, to-day, to
Waterbury. from the Central Vermont road,
is not calculated to help the bill against free I.
passes. and it looks a. il a good share Of /
the anti-railroad bills would fall through. /
TIE EXCURSION TO THE Reform SCHOOL.
This afternoon both houses adjourned and .
went to Waterbury to look over the Reform
School on the invitation Of the trustees. 4
special train OF ten cars, under charge Of
Superintendent Hobart, was in reaiiness,
nd members wita their wives and friends
W re welcome to the ride. \ run of forty
minutes took the party to the school. Here
they were received By Mr.. J. NJ. Sade
and ex-Gov. Dillingham;. Of the board Of
trusto = Of the school, and - Superintcn-
dent Fairbanks. and were escorted through
the hiding and about the grounds. it
was all l,ow to most OF the members. and
they were greatly interested in the extent Of
the establi9 <. ment; the excellent facilities for
comfort and cleanliness 4; and the arrange
nents for giving steady employ ment. in
,truction and training to the boys. After
SEEING the boys at work, at their steady !
of boitoming chairs with
,ane, the visitors were ushered into the
chapel, where the boys were examined by
heir teachers, in geography and mental
and were exercised in singing q
The healthy appearance Of the boys there }
icing but / in the hospital out of li5 in the +
chool, the neatness of the kitchen, bakery, 7
ormtory. school rooms. etc. and the nu- :
nerous evidences of kind and helpful care t
nthc part Of Superintendent Fairbanks and u
{ the matron his excellent wife. who is ad-
lirably fitted for her position, and their
ssIstants, pleased all the visitors; and
one were found ready TO quarrel with the III
smark Of the trustees, in their report. that u
he care morals and schooling these boys re- D
eve in the Reform School, are vastly su- A.
rior to those of such homes as they knew ii
# IRE they came there. Some brief speeches p,
er made to the boys by Speaker Powers. |
I'd Senators Page, Clarke and Granger, g.
ID AFTER two hours and half spent at the ~ NJ
hool, the party returned to Montpelier. ~
Among the new bills il one to lessen liti- % %.
lton By means of referee courts, to decide u. VI
yil eases in which the sum at issue does VI
It exceed 800
Both llonses have voted in concurrence to .
journ IN three weeks-yiz, Nov. Goth, and OF
ey will doubtless do So Thanksgiving tn
III probably be appointed for Nov. Goth. on
Yours Oh