Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-11-10
THE LEGISLATURE.


The leading events of the week have been
the election of State officers and supreme
court judges Both houses have been stoadi-
ly at work but decisive action has not been
reached in any of the leading measures.
Col. Hooker has introduced bill ito Sc
cure liberty of conscience in matters of relig.
ion to persons imprisoned or detained by au-
thority of law" which removes the rule Of
compulsory attendance upon religious service
es, when it is Of form against the convic-
tions of any prisoner and provides that the
officer in charge of penal institutions shall
furnish facilities for the prisoner to receive
instruction from clergymen OF their own re-
ligious denomination under reasonable reg
ulations, provided no additional expense is
incurred. The bill is introduced to give Ro-.
man Catholics their reasonable rights in the
matters named.
Mr.. Mobiles bill restricting the sale and fur.
nishing Of opium, morphine or chloral was
reported favorably by the Judiciary Commit
tee with proposals of amendment which pro.
vides that neither of the articles named shall
be furnished more than once upon a phys-
clans prescription, unless the prescription 80
states.
A majority of the Judiciary Committee Of
the House have reported against the commu-
tation OF Almon Meaker.
In the Senate on Tuesday forenoon, the
consideration Of Senator Towards bill to sub
stitute the town for the district system Of
schools was begun, and Senator Howard
made an able speech in its behalf.
Col. Booker offered Joint resolution in
the House that joint special committee Of
three senators and five representatives be
appointed to consider what legislation ia nee
essary for the publication Of the military his
tory of Vermont now in preparation, and re-
port by bill or otherwise. Adopted In both
houses.
The bill to compel the study in public
schools of the effects OF stimulants and mar
cotics has passed the House in concurrence
by yea and nay vote of l02 to a. This bill,
which is in the supposed interests of the tenn
perance education of the young has taken
up great deal of time in both houses.
Mr.. Holmes of Grafton has introduced
bill ''releting to the adjudication of claims
against the state" 1t provides that the COM
mittee on claims consist of Il, one from each
county-ive from the Senate and nine from
the House, and they are to have the auditing
and settlement of all claims for extraordinary
expenses, including the purs nit and arrest of
criminals, etc.
The committee on the grand list have I'M
der consideration bill ito legalize taxat ion &"
which was introduced by Mr.. French of IN
derhill, and provides for the allowance of Off
sets on real estate, or in other words, to di-
vide the payment of taxes upon encu mbered
real estate between the mortgager and mort
gagee, according to their respective inter
ests.
In the senate on Thursday Mr. Howe's bill,
establishing the quadrennial valuation OF the
second-class real estate of Newfane at 50 per
acre, was passed in concurrence. third
reading of the bill to pay Geo. A. Illness
claim was ordered.
In the House a third reading of the bill
committing Almon Meaker's death sentence
was ordered. Mr.. Stickney OF Brookline in
troduced bill ito punish tax-dodgers." This
bill provides:
Sec. l. Any judge Of this state who shall refuse to
make out his tax list and to il shall be seutenc
ed to the state prison for term Of not less than ten
years more than is years Sec. 2. Any lawyer who
counsels any taxpayer not to give in true list or
refuses to make ont his list and to it, shall
be sentenced. hrst to years in the workhouse and
then to state prison for not less than 10 than
~ years. Sec. 3. Any common who refuses to
make out sworn lis shall go state prison for not
less than months or more than oneyear.