Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-15

pired term Of the late Asahel Peck. No better
selections for the incumbents Of any OF the Offices
could be made, and there can be no doubt that
the state will be creditably served.
THE committees on railroads on Monday eve
ming were addressed by General Superintendent
Hobart. OF the Central Vermont railroad upon
the bill to prevent the running Of trains on Sun
days, except through trains, wrecking trains, etc.
Mr. Hobart asked TO have an exception made In
favor Of live stock trains which the esigepcies
OF commerce made 1t absolutely necessary to run
through the state on Sunday It seems that the
live stock trains come from the West, and tina.
their destination is Brighton market, which ia
held every Tuesday. They arrive at St. Johns,
Province Of Quebec, on Sunday. BY the federal
law, cattle cannot be transported more than
twenty-seven hours without being taken out Of
the cars and fed and watered There Is no yard
for such purpose in Vermont, and the nearest
place Is Cold river in New Hampshire, near Bel
lows Falls. As soon as the arrival Of the stock
trains at st. Johns is telegraphed, engines must
be sent there from St. Adams, and the train must
be hauled as quickly as possible TO Cold river, in
order that the twenty -seven hours may not expire
before arriving there. This necessity alone
makes 1t imperative that the stock trains should
run through the state on Sunday II there should
be a law passed prohibiting their running through
the state on Sunday, the traffic would be diverted
to rival lines such as the Grand Trunk, and Della
ware & Hudson, which are located in states
where there is no such law Mr.. Hobart was
asked II the Central ran any freight trains on
Sunday. lie said no; that they endeavored to
give all their employees rest on Sunday lie
was asked II the Central had ever run any excur-
sion trains to and from religious meetings on Sum
days. He said no; but that he had often been
solicited to do so by religious bodies
SHORT hearing was had before the committee
on corporations on house bill No. 33S, an act to
amend the law Of 1872 incorporating the Central
Vermont railroad. This proposed act provides
for the taxation of the property Of the Vermont
Central railroad notwithstanding the exemption
of the property as contained in their charter Of
corporation. Ex-Governor Smith appeared be-
fore the committee and explained why the stock
had not been subscribed In accordance with the
provisions OF said act He showed to the COM
mittee that the interests which he represents were
powerless to do what this proposed act requires
that they must do. hearing was next had be-
fore the committee on ways and means and the
the joint committee on the grand list on the sub
ject OF the general taxation Of railroads AZ con-
tanned in the several bills before these commit
tees. Governor Smith appeared and expressed
his belief that railroads should bear the general
burdens OF taxation, and that he was satisfied as
the law now is, limiting the tax to two thousand
dollars per mile, but, in his judgment, an equally
just method would be to levy tax on the gross
receipts Of the several roads, to be paid into the
state treasury, that all the towns in the state
would share in the benefits. In his Judgment the
the raising of larger tax on railroads and other
corporations than is necessary to pay the state
expenses as provided by the bill of the committee
| ON ways and means, and then to refund the ex-
cess back to the several towns as provided for in
said bill, would be unjust to the smaller towns,
citing as an instance the town of Rutland, which
would recover one-sxteenth part of this excess,
in accordance with the present grand list Gov
ernor Smith was catechized by Governor Page,
Senator Dwinel, DR. Clark Of Windsor, and Colo
unel Scranton of Vergennes Attorney Shurtletf
also appeared in behalf of the Wells River rail-
road, and expressed his views in regard to tax
alton. His views upon the subject substantially
agreed with those of Governor Smith.