Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-17
THE LEGISLATURE.
Lesser from Montpelier.

AT WORK IN EARNEST SUMMARY OF THE
WORK DoNE-REDUcTIoS OF SALARIES
MIR. HAoER's DoG-LAw-A VICTORY FOR
oUILFoRD-REMAPP1So THE STATE, ETc.
MONTPELIER, Nov. IA, 1876.
Editors of he PhGnik. The proceedings
OF the Legislature are jnst beginning 10 he
interesting. The members seem 10 have
awakened to q sense OF The fact that we are
fast approaching Thanksgiving time, and
have set 10 work in earnest. Even The
presidential question, as a topic Of CONVEX
saion Is becoming secondary, aud The mer-
its and dement's OF The different subjects
for legislation are receiving their foil share
OF attention. The results Of the ir-t six
weeks of the session may be expressed
with few words. OFT four hundred bills
introduced less than fify have become
laws twice as many, probably, have been
condemned by committees, and refused
passage but the great bulk, including all
the really important ones, will have to be
considered and scied upon during the he1t
two weeks. The question which has thus
far received most attention, is that Of the
reduction Of salaries Of State officers. Sew
eral portions OF days bat been devoted to
this purpose, and many able arguments
have been made on both sides. Some men,
bers OF the House, who have been conspic-
uous by their absence from that body dur
ing two working days OF the week, and
thus instrumental ia prolonging the ses-
sion, at an expense OF s1l0O per day, have
been very jealous in this movement for re-
form. Reductions in The salaries OF Treas
urer, Secretary Of Slate, Auditor, Quarter
master. General, Adjutant, aud Superin-
tendent Of the Reform School, have been
voted 10 an aggregate amount OF $500.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Hager OF Hal
fax, in relation to dogs and the protection
Of sheep, has passed the House, and been
reported favorably by the Senate Commit
tee, and will probably become a law. 1t is
quite new departure from the present
law. l will mention some OF its provis-
ions. Every person keeping dog is re-
quired 10 have ii registered in the town
clerks Office each year, paying therefor
fee Of two dollars also, 10 have it wear a
collar bearing the owners name and its
own registered number Any person keep
ing a dog not thus registered is liable 10
fine of fifteen dollars. The selectmen are
required each year TO issue warrants to the
constables or police officers, directing them
TO kill all dogs not registered, for which
service the constable or officer is to receive
one dollar for each dog killed. The fees
and fines accrulng under this law are 10 be
used as fund for the payment Of damages
done by dogs TO sheep, fowls or other do
nestle animals. OF course this law repeats
the presen. one by which each dog repre-
senis a dollar OF grand list; and conss-
quenuy makes a reduction OF about $4,000
in the grand list OF the State.
Mr.. Alexander OF Guilford scored a vic
tory TO day, With which he may well feel
satisfied, by getting through the House in
face ofan adverse report from the committee,
the claim OF the town Of Guilford against
the State for $500, for supporting at the
Asylum, an insane person who was right
fully State pauper, but who, the town sup
ported for several years in ignorance Of
that fact. Mr.. A. managed the case, con-
trary 10 the usual custom, without the aid
of the speaking members, and probably
gained thereby. The main opposition to
the claim sprang from the feeling that its
acknowledgement might establish dan.
gerous precedent; but it went through by
good majority.
The discussion in the House of the bill
relating 10 the distribution OF the public
school money, occupied a considerable
portion Of this forenoon. The bill as it
passed that body provides that there shall
be no change from the present law, except
in towns having more than twelve hun
dfed dollars OF school money, in which
cases one-third, only OF the money is 10 be
divided equally among the districts. There
have been many bills introduced looking
to an Improvement in our school laws, and
grand list laws, aud it is to be hoped that
they may result in some beneficial change.
The scheme for remapping Eastern Yer
mont, in the Interest of Chester, has its
first hearing before the committee this eve
ming. 1t is not thought TO be gaining much
Roadway. The committee consists OF Judge
Wales of Burlington, Mr.. Newton OF st.
Adams, Mr.. Estey OF Brattleboro, Mr.. Dill
lingham OF Waterbury, Mr.. Curtis OF Low
ell, Mr.. Farwell of Dorset, and Mr.. Webb
OF Shrewsbury, and is very satisfactory
one TO the opponents of the bill. The elec-
ton Of Secretary of State, Auditor, Quar-
termaster General, and other State officers,
has been fixed for Thursday afternoon of
tkis week. There seems TO be no opppsi-
ton 10 the present ineumbents, aud they
will probably be reelected. Many of the
members have had their wives or children
with them some portion of The session.
Aside from that there seems 10 be but few
strangers here. 1t is somewhat singular
that so few Vermonters take the trouble 10
visit the capital OF their State, when they
can do ii SO eheaply. All the railroads now
carry visitors TO Montpelier for fare one
way, and the hotels here are not extrava.
giant in their charges. There are many OBJ
jecls of interest here. The proceedings OF
the Legislature from now forward will be
entertaining 10 say the LEAST. And then it
cannot help but stimulate the pride and
loyalty of any citizen of Vermont, to look
upon lis Capitol.