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

h the memorial of S. S. Peach and others
thereon. This memorial asks that the fine
: OF $500 imposed on Clark Thompson at the
orange county court in December, 1873 for
: assault. may be remitted on the ground that
the same is excessive; and also on the fur
ther ground that there is doubt as 10 the
q guilt of said Thompson.
BY Mr.. Smal,ey of Burlington to legalize
the grand list of the city of Burlington. for
the year 1874; to committee on the grand
= list
BY Mr.. Slade of Middlebury, regulating
the fees of justices of the peace flor eaen
r action tried, when time spent, is one hour
or under 81. and Is cents for recording
each additional hour, for each judgment
20 cts. to committee on Judiciary.
BY Mr.. McGaffey of Lyndon, in relation
to trusts in lands; to committee on iudici-
ary.
Mr.. Well of Cranky, called up H. so in
amendment of an act relating to the grand
list, approved Nov. 20, 1872. lie had ex-
amlned Tor himself the amendment proposed
by the committee, and also the amendment
proposed by the gentleman from Marlboro.
lie was satisfied that the amendments pro-
posed by the committee ought to be adopt
ed, and that was all that was necessary to
be done.
Mr.. Lynde of Marlboro favored his amend
ment. and said that the arguments advanced
yesterday by thegenteman from Stockbridge
against the amendment which he now pro-
posed, was equally forciblc against any
equalizing committee. The bill is drawn
for the purpose of the better equalization
OF the appraisal Of the property of State
and he wanted it so amended as that the
dlherent classes, OF property would be equal
lzed. As to the assertion that this bill was
IN the interests of the farmer he had only
to say that only so far as Justice and right
was IN the interest Of farmers. was this till
in their interest. In his section of the
State the farm lands were depreciating in
value, and unless some remedy was granted
the farm lands as to taxation the farmers
would either be taxed oat OF the State or
into the poor house.
Mr.. Culver Of St0ckbridge, denied he i'm
putatiOn that be desired the equalization
board to be abolished. for he believed it the
simplest and best method of Securing a Just
and equitable appraisal of property lie
then pointed out what appeared to him an
absurdity IN the amendment proposed by
Mr.. Lynde. lie thought this bill did not
work for the interest of any class of our
citizens either Of farm lands OF village pro-
pertY. Every man has an opportunity to
examine his own list in the town where he
resides, and see that it Is correct. and II is
/ his own fault if he neglects to do So He
| thought It not just that one man Of any
county in the equalizing board should be
| allowed to change what the whole county
| board had SAID was correct
Mr.. Davis of ST. Adams, said that it ap-
| peared that the question before the House
was the enactment of the second section of
/ this hill aDaIus. the 10 tiar of tho
| Com. The only change proposed in this sec
ton to the law as it now stands consists in
requiring the State equalization board to
| equallze the different classes of property: a.
/ for instance if the board should say that in
any county the village property l. too nigh
and the farm property too low or rice rerSG.
they should equalize the different kinds of
property. This be objected to, because the
equalization OF the kfnds of property as
the business OF the county eqGalizing COZ J.
mittee, and the State board had cnlY to :,
that the different counties were equally an !
justly appraised.
Mr. Houston of Victory, said the town
listers first make the equalization Of the dif-
ferent kinds of property in their town, and
then the county committee equalize the
different towns in the county. lie thou ght
there was no necessity for any difficulty
about appraiSels as between different kinds
of property as it was for the interest of all
/ classes to secure Just and equitable apprais-
ment IN the towns and there was where the
remedy must lie and not il a State board
| Nr. Cook OF Mendon. taking the same
| view OF the case as Mr.. Houston. said that
the town listers understand the relative
| value Of property in town better than any
one not resident Of the town; the county
/ board then equalize the appraisal Of the
/ rRyEr lf-rnr 0r,A ka haf
l sufficient. If we are TO add 10 the powers of
the State equallzing board. we should soon
1 have another legislature sitting here with
unlimited powers, which he Is opposed TO-
/ lie said the difficulty was in the system OF
l listing, by which a sort of jealousy existed
all over the State, and the listers, instead Of
appraIsing property according to Its actual
value. were fearful they should get their
list higher than some other town or county,
and - they begun 20 cut down 70 or 80
per cent, and thus make list that was not
correct We must look to our town listers
il we want just and equitable lists.
Mr.. Gillett of Thetford. demanded the
previous question. which demand Wa :
seconded by the House. The amendmen
proposed by Mr.. Lynde was then rejected.
and the amendment proposed by the com
mittee was adopted, and bill as amended,
was read third time and passed.
RepOrtS.-Fr0m committee on claims, IN
favor Of II. l76. to pay Wm. II. SpatiOrd the
sum therein named, with amendment fixing
the sum at Sl375, which was agreed to /,
bill read third time and passed.
From committee on highways against Il.
III, providing for the Improvement and
beautifying public highways; third read
ing refused.
From committee on agriculture in favor
Z . 4 ~, =
tribution OF the report of the Secretary OF
the Vermont Dairymen's Association, with
proposal OF amendment, allowing 9 900 copies
to the association, which was agreed 20;
read third time and passed.
From committee on public buildings. on
! the resolution requiring them to inquire
into the expediency and necC ssity Of pro-
vidInG better accommodations for the State
| Library. the State Cabinet. ne collections
of the Vermont Historical So cety and also
for the better ventilation of Represent
atives' Hall and the Ser.ate Chamber;
reported unanimously that theY have
considered the same, and find that
the present library room Is entirely in
| adequate to the purposes Tor which 1t was
intended, there not being capacity for more
than twO-thirdS of the books now on hand /;
and that the increase OF the library is at the
rate Of about eight hundred volumes year;
and that there is no place III the present
capital suitable for storing and preserving
| from injury that part OF the lioI airy not con-
tained in the library room.
The committee also find that the state
| cabinet collection Is in much the same SIT
uation as the library and that larger ac-
commOdatiOns are imperatively required.
Also that there Is no suitable space in the
/ present capital that can be appropriated to
] Il - l1.s.A . R..
Vermont Historical Society in which the
State owns an interest.
Also, that three or four additional com
mittee rooms, store room, a wash room,
and packing -oOm in connection with the
library are much needed.
Also that the ventilation of the Represea-
tatives' Hall and Senate Chamber Is very
deficient.
Your committee would therefore recon-
mend the erection of an addition 10 the
present capital building TO meet the wants
and necessities already specified; and your
committee offer the accompanying bill and
recommend its passage
III. 22s, to provide for building an addi-
tion to the State House. The bill appro-
pirates $50 600 for the addition proposed,
| by the committee. and the GOyeruOr Is
authorized and directed to appoint com
| mlttee oil three 10 prepare u pihh acoOtu-
ing to which such addition and repairs are
to be made: the plan. when prepared to be
approved by the Governor and the COM
mittee to appoint some suitable person to
superintend the making of such addition
and repairs agreeably to the plan adopted
On motion of Mr.. Gilman OF Montpelier.
the report and bill were laid on the table,
and the clerk was directed to procure the
printing of 300 copies Of the same for the
use of the general assembly.
AFTERNOON
Reports-From committee on manuiact-
ures. on the proposed reciprocity treaty
with Canada. The report is full and de-
tailed statement of the provisions of the
treaty and the effect it, adoption will have
upon the manufacturing interests OF the
state and the committee after careful