Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-10-27
THE LEGISLATURE
letter from uontDeIier.

THE NATIONAL BANK sURPLUs-THE
RATE OF INTEREsT-THE TAXATION OF
SAVINGS BANKS DEPOSITS THE TRAMP
NUISANCE, &C., &c.
MONTPELIER, Oct. "a, 1876.
Editors Of ThGRir! Three weeks of tho
session have already passed, but it is still
too early for the CLEANER of legislative notes
to pursue his calling with any degree of
success. Indeed, II Is impossible, at this
time, not only TO mention any important
thing that the Legislature has done, but to
gather sufficient straws TO indicate which
way the current is setting on any Of the
important measures which have thus far
been brought forward. In the matter of
the changes proposed by the two hundred
bills already introduced, however, there
is a much wider range for thought and
comment. As prominent among them
will mention the following: II is proposed
TO hold the Spring term of the Winjham
Co. Court in March, instead of in April as
at present, the reason for tho change being
based upon the suppostion that the roads
will he in better condition in the former
than in the latter month. 1t is proposed to
do away with the present practice of hold
ing yearly term Of the supreme court in
each county, and hold two general terms,
for the whole State, at Montpelier, instead.
The arguments in favor of the bill are, that
the full board Of judges will he together,
and that it will be the means of ending
much litigation, on the principle that the
more expensive luxury becomes, the less
general will be its use. 1t is proposed TO
repeal The law holding towns liable for
damage by means Of insuf1iciency of high
ways. 1t is claimed, in favor Of repeal,
that towns are very often victimized under
the present system. 1t may be claimed, in
opposition, that the travelling public would
demand much greater degree of perfec-
tion in our roads, and a consequent much
heavier outlay on the part of towns, did
they understand that they we're travelling
at their own risk.
II is proposed TO cut down the rate allow
ed those who work out their highway tax
es from fifteen cents per hour, to ten ceuts.
II is unnecessary to state that the bill was
not introduced by farmer, and safe 10
i predict that it will not become law. 1t is
proposed by IAN act relating TO husbands
and wives" that no deed or will disposing
OF real estate or personal property belong
ing 10 the husband ard wife, or to either,
shall DO valid without the signature of both
husband and wife also, that in case of the
death of the husband, the wife shall be en-
titled 10 all the rights in the real and per-
sonal estate OF the deceased, that by law,
would be vested in tho husband, in case Of
the death Of the wife. 1t is not expected,
of course, that this will become law, but
ii is hoped that ii will lead TO some amend
mont 10 the present law, by which married
women will be accorded more rights in the
handling. Of their own property than they
now have. 1t is proposed that 1.-THE kin
dred of any poor person who shall become
chargeable TO any town, in the line or de-
gree Of father or grandfather, mother or
grandmother, children or grandchildren,
brothers or sisters, by consanguinity, liv-
ing within this State, and of sufficient abil-
ity, shall be bound 10 support such pauper,
in proportion TO their respective ability"
The scheme Of Two years ago. making it an
ofiense for person 10 practice medicine
without possessing diploma or certificate
from some medical college or society, has
been revived. II was introduced by ply
stefan, himself graduate, and it is idle 10
suppose that 1t was prompted solely by a
regard for the interests of the afflicted.
The Democrats in the House are ailer the
National bank surplus, and have intro
duced bill, through their leader, Mr.. Ia
ion of Dlnville, 10 have it assessed like all
personal property in the towns where the
banks are located. There has also been a
bill introduced providing for state tax Of
one-half or three fourths of one per cent on
all the deposits in the savings banks ofthe
State, in lieu OF the present law requiring
only those 10 be reported who lave depos-
lis of more than two hundred and fifty dol
lars. This is substantially the same bill
that failed Of passage two years ago, but it
is thought that it has since acquired sufii-
Gent momentum, by au increase OF favOra-
BILE public opinion, to carry it through.
Senator Butterfeld proposes TO take up the
fight on. the interest question, where he
left it when member of the House four
years ago, and has introduced bill pro-
vidng that six per cent shall be the legal
Idl6 ulllGSS SOIllt OlutT Idlt SptClutu.
He believes that, in this matter, If our
practices do not conform TO the laws, the
laws should be made to conform to our
practices. Mr.. Swain has introduced a
similar bill in the House, but ii is doubt
full If il passes that body, as its habit of re-
cordlng verdict in favor Of an unmodified
six per cent, assumed chronic form long
years ago. An effort has been made 10
solve the tramp" problem, by the intro
duction of bill requiring each county to
provide suitable work-house, and place
Of confinement, and the selectmen of the
different towns, TO arrest, and cause the
detention in the same, of all persons of
wandering habits and suspicious character.
This plan, as well as any other which
might be proposed, would involve very
large expenditure, and an impression
seems to prevail that the question is too
big one 10 be handled this session.
1t is proposed, in a bill introduced by
Mr.. Sargent Of Wilmington, to prevent the
capture of fish in any manner whatever,
during the next two years, in Ray Pond,
in Wilmington, and In the Vermont por-
ton of the Deerfeld river and its tributa-
rles, under tho penalty of fines and impris.
onment. The wisdom of this provision
will probably not commend itself to those
citizens who are accustomed TO pay annual
visits to the wilds Of Somerset and Stratton
in pursuit of trout. 1t may interest them,
however, to know that there is now bill
pending TO increase the bounty on bears,
from SIS 10 S25, and they may possibly find
the rifle a more remuneraliYe aeeompani-