Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-11-20
orr MONTPELIER LETTER.
MoNrrEL1ER. Nov. Il. Is

MONTPELIER, Nov. II, 1874.
Editors Of THPpjr Tn, new county
movement still seems to We uppermost In
the minds OF those most interested. The
investigating committee have held evening
sessions for a week, but have closed the
public hearing this evening by listening to
the arguments of counsel pro and con. To-
morrow they will probably make their re-
port, and, If it is favorable to tho project,
we may look out for sharp fight in the
House. AS fast AS facts have been brought
out before the committee, substitute bills
have been introduced for the purpose Of
leaving out or putting in towns favorably
or unfavorably affected. The present and
last bill IS almost entirely different from
the first, and provides that Westminster
and Athens shall be included in The new
county, and Windham and Plymouth shall
be omitted ; also that the question shall he
submitted to the people of the towns in
cluded, at their next March meeting, and
that If three-fiflhs of all the votes then
cast shall be in favor of a new county, it
shall he formed. The apparent object in
leaving out Wiudham, almost surrounded
as il is by the other towns included, is that
1t would vote almost unanimously against
the project and still not be great acqusi-
ton, while by including Westminster the
population and grand list of the new coun-
ty would be very materially increased. 1t
will be seen that Allen county, as blocked
out by its projectors, will include all of the
growing and manufacturing towns Of both
Windsor and Wndham counties, with the
exception of Brattleboro and that the
population of Windham County will be SO
far decreased as to entitle it to but one SEN
ator. A glance at the map of Windham
county will be necessary to show how Jag
ged these self-aggrandizers propose TO leave
our northeast boundary line. 1t is thought
that the bill will be much more likely to
pass in its present shape tn AN in its origin
al, and that its friends have fair chance
for accomplishing their desires, unless in
their greed, they have reached out their
arms too far and will thus be unable to car
~ a three-fflhs vote.
The remainder of the State officers, in
Guiding seven Judges of the Supreme
Court, were elected this afternoon. The
democrats certainly ought not to complain,
as they received quite liberal sprnkling
of the offices. Hon. Victor Atwood of St.
Adams, tho only democrat in the Senate.
was elected one of the trustees of the Re
form School, the nomination being made
by republicans, on the ground that he was
not only man OF much worth in private
life, but also the acknowledged and un-
aipnhiprv landau Of N Iapnnnrnnx- in bo
Vermont Senate" The Judges were all
reelected without dissenting voice. For
the vacancy caused by the resignation of
Judge Peck there was considerable strife.
Speaker Powers was elected, however, on
the second ballot, by small majority. His
chief competitor was Judge Duuton of Rut-
land, for whom most of the members from
the southern part of the State voted. Wind
ham county was complimented by receiv-
ing three votes for her Wilmington mem
Der. Had he been put in regular nominal
ton he might, perhaps, have received ma
ny more, as he is probably the most gen.
orally known .man in the Legislature.
Frankly expressing the opinion that that
body is a humbug, and caring nothing Tor
its favor or comment, not bound by any
creed or party against his convictions Of
right, and seeming corruption at a fabu-
lous distance, he is just the man TO make
trouble for those who desire to push through
bills of a doubtful nature.
The bill abolshing the Board of Eluca-
ton and its Secretary, passed the House by
a vote of 1870 10 20, and will probably be-
| come law. 1t is considered 10y many TO
be unwise to do away with the services Of
an advisory board, but if a suitable man
eau be obtained for a State Superintendent
there can certainly be no great harm done
until a remedy can be applied by the next
Legislature.
The railroad committee have been kept
busily occupied most of the time, listening
to discussions by some of the most eminent
lawyers in the State upon the various COM
plications of the Central Vermont and 9TH
er railroad companies. There have been
many railroad bills introduced, but it il
thought that there will be none of them
passed unless it be the one relating to their
taxation. There seems to be strong feel
ing in favor of such move, but different
opinions as to the way it should be done
The'towns through which railroads pass
desire to take the matter into their own
hands and tax them as they would Other
town property. Towns differently situated
fail to see why State tax should not be
levied, claiming that the towns which re-
ceive the most advantage from railroads
should not receive all the revenue.
Efforts have been made to extend The
date of final adjournment till "Wednesday
of next week, but have not met with sum
cient favor to allow a belief that the thing
will be done. There seems to be desire
on the part of many members to get up
cheap reputation for economy by advocat
ing an early adjournment, even if many
important measures have to be acted upor
with indecent haste. : An adjournment
on Friday morning of this week, o
course, implies Thursday night session,
big supper at the expense of the State, an'