Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-11-17
THE LEGISLATURE.


ton, has introduced general license liquor
law. The bill contains "a sections and occu-
pies 80 pages of the House bills. When it
passes we will let our readers know.
On Monday the Senate bill relating to the
construction of tramwaYs in the towns of
Readsboro, Wilmington Nottingham, Sears
burg and Somerset" was reported favorably
from the committee in the House. On mo-
ton of Mr.. Childs of Bennington IL was or
dered to lie.
Gov. Barstow has vetoed the bill to pay the
Rutland County National bank S370.74 for
capturing its defaulting teller. This bill has
had hard time from its first appearance in
the legislature. Gov. Page introduced IL in
1880, asking for a much larger sum-SSOO.
The committee ON claims cut it down about
one-half, whereat Page lost his temper and
said he would take all or nothing. SO the bill
failed to pass. VIM. @. Brown, tho banks
teller, skipped the state in 1878, and went to
Denver Col, a defaulter in large sum. The
sheriff and states attorney went to Denver,
and brought him back to Rutland. He was
put under heavy bonds which were forfeited,
and $500 was paid into the state treasury.
He was never brought to trial The principal
objection to the claim is that there was no
need of the states attorney going, and it is
also argued that the bank needed Brown for
its own affairs, and his arrest subserved no
public good, for he has never paid the penal
ty of his crime, as he would had he been a
chicken or sheep thief. The governor says:
"The statute provides that certain expenses
incurred in the pursuit, capture and Transport
tation of criminals may be allowed by the au
ditor of accounts. Other claims of this kind
come before the legislature, and their allow
ance has for years been substantially guarded
| by certain rules based on experience. por-
| ton of the amount embraced in this bill is to
reimburse the claimant for the expenses of a
| person who accompanied an officer on his
| journey to receive the requisition and bring
to Vermont an alleged criminal already under
arrest at Denver, Col So far as l an able to
| learn, this is the first case where a claim of
this kind against the state has been allowed
| by the Legislature If allowed, it will estab-
lish precedent for paying the expenses of
| two persons instead of one in such cases. For
this and other reasons 1 am constrained to
withhold my approval of this BILL"
Last Friday was the last day for the intro
| duction of bills in the House except by unan-
imous consent. On that day G2 bills were in
| troduced. The whole number of bills intro
| duced in the House is 800, against 272 for the
same period of the session of 1880. Senate
bills have been introduced to the number of
| l4O, against Iii for the same number of legis-
latiye days in 1880. The number Of bills
passed by the general assembly, thus far is &C,
of which the following are some of the more
important, in addition to those already re-
ported
House bill repeating the ''blue law which makes tbe
exhibition Of tragedy or comedy penal offence and
imposes ine Of $50 upon the owner or lessee Of q
House bill to incorporate the Warner Home for Lit
| tie Wanderers in 81. Adams
House bill making it a penal offence to break the
House bill fixing the license on dogs at 81 for males
| and "a for females
| Senate bill, introduced by Col Fstev emnowcrino
the governor 70 require commissioned militia officers
to meet annually for instruction in theoretical tactic.
al and practical details Of military duty and drill
Senate bill approprating 5000 for completing the
bridge from Alburgh to Isle Ia Motto.
House bill protecting black bass in Monkton popd
House bill establishing the valuation Of real estate
| in Newfane
House bin taxing all fowls in excess Of $40 in value
| ana also an dressed poultry.
House bill providing that the Quartermaster Gene
raj may loan military arms to Grand Army posts under
| certain conditions.
| Senate bill adding to the studies Of tho common
schools physiology and hygiene, whchIsha give spe.
cla prominence to the effects Of simuants and mar
| cotics npon the human system.
| Senate bill to incorporate the Burlington Trust CO.
House PHI to incorporate the Rutland Trust Co.
| Senate bill incorporating the Trenor w. Park Homo
| for Destitute Women and Children.
| House bill to repeal the law exempting railroads
from taxation for eight years from the time trains
| gin running
House bill amending the revised laws so as to give
commissioners named in Sec 1899 power to determine
the times when trains Of connecting railroads shall
| connect with each other.
One of the most important legislative COM
| mlttees Is that on claims. OF 3O1 acts and
| resolves of the general assembly of 1880.
81 were to pay certain parties the sums there
in named for services and expenses in the pur
suit and capture of persons charged with
crime. Inc amount of money necessary to
| pay these claims was several thousand dollars,
| while the consideration thereof in both bous
es occupied nearly weeks time which, reck-
oned on the basis of $1,000 for each leeisla-
tive day, involved an additional expense to
the state of $4,000. The record of the pres
ent session thus far indicates that the usual
| number OF bills ito pay the sum therein
named" have been introduced in the general
assembly. Mr.. Ide of Caledonia county has
introduced bill in the Senate to constitute
| court OF claims in each county, which shall
consist of the judge of the supreme court,
| the two assistant judges of the county court
In which the chief judge presides, and the
state auditor of accounts, which court shall
| have jurisdiction of all claims against the
state, of the class mentioned, in favor of per-
sons residing in the county where the court
is held. The bill provides that a session of
the court of claims shall be held once year
in each county, and that the decision of a
majority of the court shall be final. The in
terests of the state are to be represented by
the states attorney. No additional salary is
allowed the chief judge or other officers.
The bill to change the name of the town of
Ely back to Vershire passed the Senate in
| concurrence by unanimous vote without de-
bate.
The House was crowded Tuesday afternoon
in anticipation of a lively debate on the bill
| to commute the sentence of Almon Meaker :.
but not speech was made, and the bill was
| passed by yea and nay vote. The Senate
committee have reported adversely on the
bill, and sharp contest is expected.
In anticipation of the probable passage of
q Dill Tor the erection of public buildings in
Brattleboro and Montpelier, Col. Hooker has
introduced bill which cedes to the United
from taxation.
There was spirited debate in the House
Tuesday afternoon on Mr.. Mobiles bill pro-
hlbitlng the sale of opium, morphine and
chloral except on physicians prescription.
Mr. Noble and Mr.. Woodland of Halifax favor
ed the bill, and Childs of Bennington, MAY
ham of Bethel and Col. Hooker opposed it, A
third reading was refused, SO TO ITO.
On Wednesday Col. Hooker's ways and
means committee introduced in the House
bill taxing corporations, which it is believed
roads $3.50, 900, insurance companies 500 600
car and steamboat companies $40, 900, savings
bank and trust companies $40, 900. The bill
provides for tax on railroads at the rate of
per cent on the first $4,000 per mile of earn
ings, or per cent on the total earnings if less
than that sum on the first $1,000 or part there
of earned per mile; and per cent on the
first $1,000 per mile above $4,000 Every home
or foreign insurance company doing business
in the state is to pay per cent on the gross
amount of premiums and assessment collect
ed on business in the state, and every life in
surance company is additionally taxed ! per
cent on the surplus over the 4 per cent re-
serves savings banks per cent on the aver
age amount of deposits and accommodations.
The bill was ordered to lie and 1000 copies to
be printed. 1t is believed that the bill will
pass the House by handsome majority, but
that 1t is liable to meet considerable opposi-
ton in the Senate.