Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-17
THE VERMONT LEGISLATURE.
LETTER FROM MONTPELIER.

ELECTION OF STATE oFFICEEs-REDfsTR1cT
THE sTATE-HAYDEN's cAsE-THE HIGHWAY
BILL-REv1sINd THE TAX LAws-RECoHD OF
BILLS PASSED.
Special Correspondence Of Tns PnuSix.
MONTPELIER, Dec. II, 1880.
Editors IF Tie P1GHir.
To-day the election of certain state officers
was had in joint assembly. 1t will be seen
that in most cases the present incumbent vas
reelected except to fill vacancies, the only ox-
ception being in the Office of Judge advocate
general, to which Col. G.. W. Hooker was
elected in place of Col. ButtorGold. An Of
fort was secretly made to displaco Dr. George
Nichols as Secretary of State, and Senators
Gleed aud Dillingham; were both talked of for
the position, but the idea did not take. "
The members Of the legislature have too
much respect for Mr. Nichols and
appreciate too thoroughly the advantage of
having living cyclopedia to whom reference
can be made, and who is ever ready to give
information to any citizen Of the state to
even think Of such popular gentlemen as the
ones mentioned in opposition to him. The
ballot did not have to be called into use in
any instance, but each officer was elected by
reclamation. DIR. Henry James of Water
bury was elected to fill vacancy in the
Vermont and State Agricultural College, aud
Hon. Henry S. Barstow Of Shelburne was
elected to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Hon Asahol Peck as "A trustee of
the University of Vermont. A deserved COM
piment was paid to H. II. Powell in his re-
election as auditor of accounts. Vermont
has had no more watchful or efficient officer
than he. Many dollar has been saved to the
state 10y his careful auditing OF claims Mr.
Wendell =. Rice has received his re.appuint-
ment rs superintendent of the state prison
from Governor Farnham a better mAu could
not be found for the place. The state has
reason to congratulate herself that it's Offices
will for the next two years be filled by gen
tlemen of tried experience in the several de-
partments.
Tho committee on rcdistricting the state
have finally decided to report the following
new districts in case Congress should make II
new apportionment aud Vermont should lose
a representative First district. Addison,
Bennington, Chittendon, Franklin, Grand
Isle, Lamoille and Rutland population about
lGS, 600; second district, Caledonia Essex.
Orleans, Orange, Washington, Wiudhnm and
Wndsor-populaton about lGi. 200. The
committee on public buildings have decided
to report fayorably to an appropriation of
So, 900 for additions to the state house. We
take this occasion to say to the taxpayers of
the state reading this that there is no danger
of the legislature making such an appropri-
alton. The Hayden committee reported to
the Senate yesterday, through their chairman,
that the bill to commute the sentence of Ed
win c. Hayden ought not to pass but the
committee suggest that in their opinion the
new testimony relative to his insanity is of
great importance and should be weighed by
Judicial body and not decided by the lcgisla-
L.. g. 81 l.. I
ton to the effect that the secretary of the
Senate be instructed to turn over copies of
testimony in his possession to the counsel for
Hayden, to enable him to make application
to the courts for a new trial. The report of
the committee on the Revised Statutes was
accepted without much argument and all their
proposals of amendment were adopted. so
that question, so long dreaded, was quickly
disposed Of
Many persons will be interested TO know
that Judge Judevine's highway bill removing
from towns all liability for damages sustain
ed on the highway, has passed the Senate to-
day. The bill as it left the House includ-
ed bridges, but it was amended by the Senate
so that bridges of eight feet span and over
are not included in the provisions of the bill
1t is provided that board Of three commits.
sioners shall be appointed in each county,
whose duties shall be to cause towns to re-
pair insufficient roads on the petition Of three
or more citizens OF the state. The House
this forenoon went into IA committee of the
whole, with Mr.. Palmer of Jericho in the
chair and Mr.. Merrifeld as secretary, to con
slider House bills iii, 81, 1873, 2OG, 3Oj, 439.
and others referring to the subject of taxation
Nearly every member had "a chance to ex.
press his opinions on the subject The com.
mittee occupied the entire forenoon, then
arose and reported progress The afternoon
vas spent in the discussion of the same ques-
ton, as this il perhaps the most important
question for the present legislature to enter.
tain and determine. 1t is well that sufficient
time should be taken for its discussion. The
only trouble is that the committee did not re-
port earlier SO that the time could have been
taken when the members were less anxious
to finish the business and return home
The following bills of public character
have been reported as signed by the governor
since last Thursday
Senate bill lO7, providing for the proper punishment
OF any prison employs who shall furnish improper aid
or articles to prisoueA confined therein Is iUI an
act enabling municipal corporations to refund their
debt by issuing new bonds. S. a. act relating 10
the establishment Of high aud central schools aud to
the election Of prudential committee. S. 49, to FL.
clude the property Of railroad corporations from the
exemptions Of sec. 6, chap. 81, <. H. s. ll2 an act
providing for the laying ont Of public parks. $. 94
giving the endOrser or surety upon prumissory
the same right Of the principal to pay the same on
maturity, and dischargug him from liability after
having once rendered tue full amount due. S. 80
providing for change Of venue in criminal causes
S. &c. providing that in prosecutions for forgery or
countereiting justice shall not be defeated Ly cleri-
cal errors or verbal Inaccuracies. r. ls6 an act in
relation to executions in OF nuuctions aud In
Of subsequent attaching creditors S. ia re-
peaiDg sections TO o. AZ to 49, CT G5 aud 10 Of
chap. rs, 5. House bill Ill, act abolishing the
office Of court auditor, and requiring the duties be
performed by the state auditor II. 29l relating to
deaf dumb and blind State beuehciares. II. 1856, re-
latng to guardians and wards II. 32l, providing for
the erection OF the Bennington battle monument H.
l13, allowing defrauding collector 10 petition the
court for privilege to take the poor debtors oatb and
for the liberties of the Jail yard H. $780, making the
records Of the U. S. signal service department evil
dence in court. II. 2ll, allowing any iuhabitant Of
any highway district who is aggrieved by any act Of
the highway district to appeal to the seectmen Of the
town. II. 22G, compelling county treasurers to make.
and county judges to publish an annual statement Of
county finances II. 1877 relating to the compensation
Of school SUI erintendents. H. 900, enabling school
districts to send scholars TO academies certain cases
II. 1893, enabling school district TO dispose OF its
property. II. 2S9 requiring rarCa d trains TO have
brakes operated from the engine. H. 265, appropr-
ating $1,000 for tho house Of correction.
Yesterday the committee on final adjourn
ment returned to the House several resolu.
tions fixing date without expression of opin
ion but reporting that at that time there were
293 bills undisposed of. The House now as
sembles at O'Clock A. NJ, and, as soon as the
committee work is out of the way, will prob
ably hold evening sessions but even with
this extra work, 1t is not now expected that
an adjournment will be reached this week
S.