Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-24

the support Of the State by taxing certain
corporations was begun in the House, this
afternoon Col Hooker offered some amend.
ments which were agreed to- One of these
reduces the salary of the tax commissioner to
$1,000; anothc provides that when the value
OF the real estate owned by life insurance
company exceeds the amount of the reserve,
such excess shall be deducted from the sur
plus, Otherwise no deduction shall be made
for real estate This apwlies to the half
per cent tax on the surplus reserve a third
amendment allows dividends to policy hold-
ers to be deducted from the gross amounts
OF premiums and assessments of insurance
companies in making up the two per cent
tax; another provides that this act shall not
affect the liability OF express or telegraph
companies TO pay their tax TO the
State for the six months preceding December
3lst 1852 Col. Hooker then explained the
provisions of the bill in detail and advocated
its passage. Mr.. Childs made tedious
haranguc of an hour or more against the BILL
particularly where it touches The insurance
companies. lie said that it was both cx
post facto and unconstitutional. Not con-
tent with snch slight charges as these against
the legality of the bill he announced in con-
cluslon that these remarks were merely pre-
liminary that he had left his papers in his
room and that later he would engage in an
exhaustive discussion of the subject. The
bill is made the special order for tomorrow
morning, Saturday, at half-past ten. 1t is cxs
pected that the debate will last several days.
No attempt will be made to cut off debate
and every one will have chance to say his
say. The lobby was crowded with Insurance
men who are strcnuously opposed to the sec
tons which affect them.
The Railroad Hills.
This evening, the railroad committee of
Senate gave public hearing upon the va
rious bills in the Senate affecting railroad
companies, particularly the bill 6. 10S) it,
troduced by Senator Walker, providing for
board of three railroad commissioners.
There were before the committee President
A, b, Harris of Springfield, Mass, Connccti-
cut River railroad, President d. Il. Sottwcll of
the Montpelier and Wells River railroad and
Mr. 5. G. Shurtlclf attorney of the road, Mr..
John w. Hobart, General Superintent and
Mr. T.. A. Chitttendcn general freight agent
of the Central Vermont railroad, Mr.. j. V.
Futvoyc superintendent of northern dlvi-
sion of the Central Vermont, Hon. c. w.
Writer'S counsel of the Central Vermont,
Messrs }. Il. Dickcrman and John Young
of Newport, counsel of the Passumpsic rail
road, Mr.. a. Il. Jcwctt superintendent Of
the st. Johnsbury and Lake Cham
plain railroad and Colonel Walker.
Mcssrs. Jcwctt, Harris, Dickcrman and
ShurtlcH addressed the committee in oposi-
ton the bill as impracticablc and tyrannical.
The first three also discussed 5. ia, the bill
folbidding determinations in freight charges.
and agreed that they were regulated by com.
mercial considerations to which every road
had to yield Mr.. Fiicld not being able to
be present this evening, the committee will
sit again next Monday evening, The con-
sidcraion of the new jail for Chttcnden
county is postponed till next week.