Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-10-25
letter from Montpelier.

MONTPELIER, Oct. % 1873.
'Solid work from now till the end of the
session" is the remark which enc hears on all
sides at the commencement of this, the fourth
week Yet it must not be inferred that the
time thus far spent has been destitute of tan
gble results. Though but few bills have
been finally acted upon, large number have
been introduced and discussed, much COM
mittec work has been done, the members
have become somewhat acquainted with the
forms of legislation, and the public sentiment
of the State has had time to voice itself
through the press
The bill for the reduction of the number Of
Supreme Court Judges, which passed the
House last week by large majority, received
but four votes when it came up for final ac-
ton in the Senate to-day. The bill for the
reduction Of the salaries Of the judges from
$500 to $1,000 per year will probably re-
ceive a stronger support although there are
many who think that the interests Of true
economy will not be subseryed by making the
salary so low that the State cannot command
| the services of her best legal talent. The
bills providing for the taxaton of deposits in
savings banks are attracting much attention,
and the subject is justly regarded rs one Of
! the most important that will be brought be-
fore the present Legislature Srhe plan pro
posed by Mr.. Pollard Of Windsor seems to
meet with the most favor at the present time.
! It provides that each savings bank shall pay
| into the State treasury an annual tax of one
! half of one per cent on all of its deposits, and
report the amount of deposits from each town
| in the State TO the treasurer, who shall pay
back to the several towns the tax received
from their respective deposits. Many towns
in tho State have but little money deposited
in savings banks while others have large
amounts and would suffer an injustice were
the tax to be made simply n direct one to
the State. Mr.. Aloxanders bill providing for
a tax Of thrcc-fourths Of one per cent. on de-
! posts is met by the objection that it would
have tendency to cripple the smaller banks
and drive away much of the outside capital
which is now deposited here on account of
immunity from taxation.
The bill now pending in the House TO in
crease the Appropriation in aid of the Board
of Agriculture to $500 per year mas provoked
more discussion than any other measure that
has been brought before that body. The
people in Windham county whose good for.
tune it has been to attend the meetings of the
Board in past years will be surprised to learn
that its members are charged with being
broken-down farmers seeking to enrich them
selves and defrnud the people by travelling
over the State for sl.jO per day
Al. l.. a.
posal of which the members will have to make
a record of their regard for the rights of wo
men. One provides that the contracts or OBJ
legations made or entered into by married
woman shall be as valid for all purposes as il
she were unmarried. The other provides thai
every single woman having certain property
qualifications, and every married woman
whose husband is a voter, may vote in school
district meeting.
This mornings session of the House wa!
somewhat enliyened by spicy debate on The
bill introduced by Mr.. Huse of Montpelier
which provides that in actions against town
for damages arising from injury received
through insufiiciency of highways, it shall b,
no defense to the towns that the injury wal
received on the Sabbath The bill was ably
defended by Judge Poland, from whose com
mittee, the Judiciary, it had been fayorabl!
reported, and was opposed by several gentle
men who failed to see why the State SHOULD
make unnecessary travel upon the Sabbath
crime and at the same time protect those who
INDUCED in it,
The Judiciary committee will have a hear
ing the present week in regard to granting
new trial TO John Z. Phair. They have beer
flooded with petitions in favor of such
course from all sections Of the State, and it il
said that much testimony viii be brought be
fore them tending to show that the crime wa
committed by s1ne other person. think
majority Of members now favor new trial
On the other hand a considerable number o
them take no stock in Phair's innocence
They assert that he has had one fair and i'm
partial trial and that to grant him auothe
would establish precedent which would lea,
to numerous applications in the future, an,
he fruitful source of annoyance to succeed
ing legislatures.
Mr.. Edward Conant, State Superintendent
of Education, delivered an address in Repre-
sentatiyes hall this evening. 1t was chief.
devoted to q plea for the Normal schools, bu
also advocated State tax for the support o
schools and a greater uniformity Of tex
books.
Several prominent lawyers from Windhan
county are in Attendance upon the Suprem
Court which be- gan here this morning.