Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-08-02
The Judeyine Bill

$50 called, we suppose. TO emphasize its
entire independence to other sorts of divine
laws and justice). is just now receiving
some considerable attention from various
papers in the state. An incident of late
occurrence has brought the matter home
to this community. few days since
Eriah Howe and wife of Moretown we're
on their way to St. Johnsbury for the pur-
pose of visiting a married daughter, and
had nearly reached East Cabot by way of
the Molly Brook road when the horse be-
came frightened by woodchuck and
sheered off to the side of the road. He
told his wife to leap out, which she did
with little injury. He, however, was
thrown out down an embankment and be-
came entangled in the lines. While in
this helpless condition his horse was rear
ing and plunging about him, and finally
struck him in the breast and killed him,
probably instantly. There was no guard
rail and the road at that point and many
others in the vicinity was in deplorable
condition. And what Is said of this piece
of road may truly be said of other portions.
We know of miles of road along White
River banks where any like accident
would seem to mean certain death-banks
of twenty or thirty feet nearly perpendicu-
lar down to the river, entirely without rail-
ing or with but an apology for one, and with
the roads in the worst condition we ever
saw them. But what is the odds. What
is a valuable life, or a few broken limbs,
the town is not liable for its criminal care
lessness, and few dollars are saved in
taxes.
The following communication in the
Essex county Herald, fully endorsed by
the editor Of that paper, shows how tho
law works In that section of the state:
"Nr. Editor:-This being tho year for
our legislature to meet, is il not about
timo to begin to discuss the action this
legislature should take in regard to some
of the acts of its predecessors? For in,
stance, the law relating to highways which
the assembled wisdom of 1880 ooncocted
with so much pains and labor. Let the
voters of the state candidly look the mat
ter over and see whether this law is prov
ing beneficial to the community at large
in providing better roads at less expense,
or is by the neglect Of towns in repairing
their highways, laying the foundation for
many accidents, much discomfort In trav,
cling, and large expense in the future As
a specimen OF the workings of this law
we would refer any one anxious for infor.
nation to the highway leading from Island
Pond, through Morgan, east of Seymour
Lake to Holland. A hard, bad road and
poorly repaired always its condition now
is disgrace to any civilized community.
"VIAToR.'
The Vatchman which with us opposed
the adoption of the law comments as fol
lows:
Undoubtedly many towns are conscen
tiously caring for their roads, but the gen
eral tendency of the new law undeniably
is to foster negligence and carelessness
and because this is its practical working
and that under it life and limb are more
unsafe, the demand for its hspeal seems tc
be general and emphatic.
"Direct pecuniary responsibility for The
reasonable safety of travellers seems TO bt
the only wholesome and effective suasior
which will avail to keep the public road
in measurably safe condition; and this
requirement, protected by every possibl,
check upon abuse and imposition, shoult
be restored with the restoration of the ole
law and its sensible methods of takin!
care of the highways of the state. Tn,
new law is especially unjust to stranger
travelling the roads, particularly at night
They cannot be expected TO know of ever
water way, or of the many O. her insult
cencies' of which local or daily p,sser
may be familiar. Railways are held 10
strict accountability for all damages t
life, limb or property received upon thei
lines, Notwithstanding the eXtraordinar
precautions taken to prevent accident; an
yet the state has said by legislative enact
mcnt that the towns, exercising little Q
no care over their roads, shall be respon
sible only for damages which may lesu
from imperfections in bridges of not lie;
than eight feet span. Sauce for the COOS
should certainly be sauce for the gande
even when the gandcr happens to be
sovereign state, and it is possible that
test of the validity of the law releasin
towns from responsibility may be brougl
before a court of competent jurisdiction
At all events. the legislation had at tt
session of 1880 in regard to highways ar
bridges is wrong in principle, bunglr
and inefficient in business methods, al
enc Of the earliest acts of the next legisl
ture should be to correct this serious mi
carriage Of its predecessor
Our readers, and all who value justit
and life and limb more than few cen
paid in taxes should see that man is so
to the next Legislature from their rcspe
tive towns who will do his utmost to repc
50 odious and unjust law, and pass o
which shall secure for the travelling pub
reasonably safe and comfortable roads.