Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-01
From Montpelier.
MONTPELIER, Vt. Nov. "a.

1t has been, on the whole, rather slow
session Of the Legislature but things are
moving much more rapidly under the spur
of the approaching close of the session. As
usual, the most important work has been
crowded into the last week. The Senate is
well up with its end Of the work and its
excellent President clears It's tGlle almost
daily. The House, of course, has more bus
mess and works under higher pressure; and
many of the members are now wishing they
could have some Of the time that was daw-
died away during the first four weeks Of the
session
The Senate Las passed WOikhouse bill
providing for single woikhouse for the
| State. where men sentenced for minor Often
ces can work out their fnes--to be estab-
lished al cost not to exceed $4,000. 1t
has passed an Insolvency bill''-a bill Of a
hundred section. modelled on the Massa-
chusetts law which, if it should become a
/ law, will be of service in the event OF the
repeal Of the National Bankrupt Act. 1t Is
not unlikely. by the way, that the tate OF
tie national law will depend on the action
Of our Legislature. The United States Sen
ate is pretty nearly equally divided in regard
| 10 the matter, an. & oar Senate should concur
in the House resolution requesting the Yer
mont Sera..'- to favor repeal, it NIL proba-
bly detc1m.se ale ,r course. If they favor
repeal, tie til for repeal, which has already
PASSED the lower branch of Congress, will
probably PASS the Senate, and an important
and dangerous element Of uncertainty be
thus added TO the emlci:a monts Of busi-
ness men throughout the country.
The Report Of the Joint Special Commit
tee On tie increase of State expenses, pre-
pared by Senator Williams, has been print
ed. and attracts much attention. 1t points
out where the largest additions to State ex-
penditures have taken place, and advises
changes which cannot but result in impor-
tant retrsnchmen:. The need OF more de-
tailed and specific accounts from sherits,
states attorneys, justices and county
clerks is especially. NOTED, and an important
resolution Is appended, directing the State
Auditor to classify the orders paid by him,
and to publish properly classified statement
of the expenses.
The House has been at work on the grand
list question, the prOhibitory law, and
other standing subjects of legislation. The
Bennington Centennial bill went through
the House without orpOsition-a very rare
occurrence for a measure appropriating near
" twenty thousand dollars for Z special and
unusual olject-and it viii doubtless pass
the Senate
Some important hearings have been in
progress before committees. The Railroad
Committees lave held two hearings, and will
hold mole on the subject Of the consolita-
ton Of the Central Vermont and the Vermont
and Canada roads 1t was understood last
week that the managers Of the two com
panies Lad agreed upon terms Of compro-
mise hot the matter seems 10 be still
anoat
\ leaIirg Oh the resolution OF inquiry
into tie management Of the Agricultural
College Fund took rlace before the House
Committee u Agriculture, On Tuesday even
ing. Nh Woodbridge, at the request Of the
chairman Of tie committee, explained the |
law, showing that tie Legislature had no
power oycF TIE disposition Of the fund, the
question whether It Lad been expended &C
cording to tie act Of CongIess being ore
solely for tie Suwome Court. President
Buck ham was examined at length, and
showed very fully that the fund had been
used in iuli accordance both with the letter
and sIigit Of the act Of Congress, and Of the
charter Of the University of Vermont and
State Agricultural College. Hon. Alexis
I. Smith ard Hon Daniel Roberts took
oart briefly in the discussion, sustaining the
course Of the Trustee Of the University and
leprecating the attacks upon them. The
hold another hearing this even
ng, On tie subject.
At a hearing beio;e the spec. mmittee
n sanitary affairs. or Tuesday, on the bill
o establish Beard of Health, Drs. Wor-
ester, Of Plil'rgrl Waugh, of Fairfax,
nd Brigham, o. N,,trelier, appeared, and
posed SOD ei provisions of the bill and
loyed an ame- duont, providing that all
'hooIs Of medicine shall be represented On !
be board. Dr. Butler, Of Essex. Of the com
littee, thought the bill was well enough as '
was. lie was opposed to bringing ism
NJ ''I2thies" into the board at all. The
III. a it stood, he said, Disseminated against '
: in favor Of 10 particular practice, and tie I
roposei change was, to say the least, IN =
seesslry. 5