Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-18
The Highway Law.

The general committee of the house, of which
the Hon. Loveland Munson Of Manchester is
chairman, gave public hearing in the large
committee room Of the state house Wednesday,
upon the bill introduced by Mr. French OF Under
hill (H q which repeats the present law popu-
larry known as the Judevne law, and establishes
the old damage act. The room was crowded with
senators and representatives, and the speakers
who opposed restoring the damage act (all but
two were frequently applauded. Mr. French
himself spoke first. He explained the provisions
Of the bill in detail. He said that Massachusetts,
Connecticut and New Hampshire had damage
act, and by that means their roads were kept In
good repair. lie claimed that the operation of
the present law was unsatisfactory to the people,
,nasmuch as the roads had deteriorated rapidly
Since its passage. Instead of working the greatest
good for the greatest number 1t worked the
greatest evil The people wanted law which
shouh protect them while travelling The Jude
vine law with its cumbrous machinery, did not
The Rev Mr.. Sherburne, the member from Roch-
ester, believed that some sections of the Jude
vine law might be modified but he favored try
ing the law two years more, as the old law had
become obnoxious to the people, and they did not
want 1t restored. Mr.. Rooney of Fairfield said
that to his personal knowledge nne-tenths OF the
people OF his town approved the Judevine law
Mr.. Gushing of Hartford, in opposition to Mr.
French, cited several cases OF fraud under the
damage act, and said that the old law was an en-
couragement to gross imposition upon towns
Messrs. Partridge Of Norwich, Shepard of STRAIT
ard OF Halifax, Fish OF Ira, Barnard of Winhall
Bridgman of Barton, Sherwn OF Jamaica and
Robinson of Wardsboro, and Senators Cutting OF
Westminster and Childs of Wallingford spoke
against Mr.. French's bill Mr.. johnson of Fays-
ton was the only speaker who entirely sided with
Mr.. French. He thought that the roads were
kept In better condition under the old law be-
cause towns felt their responsibility. Senator
Burnap Of Burlington, who is one Of the county
road commissioners under the Judevine law Of
Chittenden county, said that he had been called
out to act during the past two years and had a
chance to see the practical operation Of the law
In relation to the power Of the commissioners to
order the repairing of the highways, he was con-
WINGED that it was not wise to leave In the hands
of any three men the absolute power Of saying
how, when and where money should be expended
He thought the new law was commended by
some men through ignorance Of its practical OPP
Grafton. 1t was very imperfect and needed con.
siderable reformation as to its machinery. Grave
questions have arisen as to the constitutionaity
OF the law, and he hoped the committee would
scan the law closely and make the necessary
changes in its constitution. 1t needed many
amendments, for 1t was cumbrous and unwieldy,
The general committee, Thursday evening, gave
second public hearing upon the highway law.
The large committee room was crowded as before,
about half of the legislature being present.
All the speakers but one were in favor of the law
as 1t is. Among the speakers were Mr.. Edison Of
Mendon, Mr.. Partridge of Norwich, Mr.. Shepard
of Stratton, Mr.. Wells of Cranky, and Mr., o. M.
Tinkham Of Pomfret. Mr.. Tinkham opposed the
law as 1t now is and claimed that the roads were
better under the old law than now.