Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-25
Letters from the People.


several districts no work has been done. Now,
the towns are compelled by law to raise high
way tax Of twenty-five per cent the same as when
our grand list was only about one-haf as large as
now and besides wages have been reduced from
fifteen cents per hour to twelve and one-half cents
per hour. Now let me ask j. S d. what becomes
Of the money? Surely there Is blame somewhere.
II the surveyors do not work the tax the select
men should call them to an account ! know
from personal observation that the roads in this
town were never In better condition than they are
to-day. Mr. Editor, il It not a fact that the de-
mand for the repeal Of the Judevine law comes
largely from the lawyers, who in the past have
reaped a rich harvest in suits for damage? The
sentiment in this town is altogether in favor OF the
present law. II.
Nr. Editor.--In reply to II. f. Pond Of Wells
in regard TO the bad condition of our highways,
is the new law at fault ? Have the town officials
done their duty? Are they not more to blame
than the law? Have the selectmen done their
duty7 Have they looked after the roads and
bridges Of less than eight feet span? Have not
surveyors allowed roads TO remain almost impas-
sable for weeks before repairing after they had
been washed out by heavy rains? Have they not
allowed small bridges with broken planks to go
for weeks to the danger of every traveller, before
repairing? Have not town officials allowed rail-
ings to rot down and remain In that condition for
the last year? Has the new law anything to do
with negligent town officials? The new law
makes every travel the roads at his own
risk, but 1t does not say anything about the town
officials taking advantage OF the new law and
allowing the road to become impossible by their
neglect Of duty. Let the new law be so amended
that every selectman and surveyor who fails to
look after and keep the roads In repair shall be
fined ten dollars, and you will have just as good
roads under the new law as the old ]. GOLDEN.
TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS.
Mr. Editor The comments in the WATCH
MAN of October 18th upon the petitions to
the legislature asking for scientific temperance
education in our public schools may have been
inspired by a commendable spirit" but more
logical argument than that of the present lack
qualification on the part Of common school teach
ers would be more to the point" The laws Of
demand and supply obtain here as well as else
where, and we might as well say that because
we have as yet failed to obtain, in all cases. re-
specially efficient instruction in the three RS"
therefore 1t Is getting the cart before the horse
to ask that our children shall be taught In the
best manner they may these elementary branches
If thing Is worth doing at all 1t is worth doing
well, but that does not prove that because we
cannot get thing perfectly done we should
refuse to attempt to do 1t at all. Was it getting
the cart before the horse" when some years ago.
a law was passed requiring teachers to answer
correctly certain percentage Of proposed ques-
tons in order to receive certificates TO teach? 1t
was certainly going beyond the previous attain
ments Of large number Of teachers, and the
sitting process which was then commenced has
not resulted unfavorab.y for our schools, as the
increased percentage required later would indi-
cate. Some Of us who were interested in those
matters will remember the flutter Of dismay in
the ranks OF poorly qualified teachers and the COM
mendable efforts at self-improvement made by
In their chosen calling. The demand created the
supply, and SO it always will. Whenever the call
Is for better qualified teachers, and II comes with
the guarantee of authority behind it, whether Of
legal requirement or pecuniary stimulus, the state
can have just what 1t wants and will pay for.
We might as well have said that mot one in five
hundred knew the a b C of our constitution and
civil government before 1t became legalized
study in our schools" but 1t was thought equally
necessary for our youth to learn something OF
these, as to depend wholly upon "the three RS"
and it did not take our teachers long to famiiarze
themselves with the subject Just as readily will
they adapt themselves to whatever demand shall
be made upon them in the way Of temperance in
struction. 1t would be surer indication OF pro-
gress II the cart UdS put before the horse, and an
impetus were given 1t from the prompt response
Of an enthusiastic army of common school teachers
than TO have 1t at standstill belinda bdlky mule
that would neither ''start the vehicle" itself nor
allow it to be started even though hundreds Of
petitioners pushed against the tail-board" The
question seems to be not 80 much as to its pract-
Cability, as to its desirabilty, and had hoped the
exhaustive discussion of the subject by Mrs. M. H.
Hunt of Boston might have settled that. 1t seems
there has begun to be a demand for this most nee
essary instruction in our schools. Let it grow
more and more energetic and persistent, until the
supply shall be forthcoming j.
TARGET FOR THE LEGISLATURE
Nr. Editor.-ls 1t advisable to tamper with q
safe bridge? Our present tax law has stood the
test for two years, The first year 1t more than
met the expectations of its friends The second
year, notwithstanding the cry that it would drive
large amounts of taxable property from the state,
the grand list shows an increase over the first
trial year OF the law and large class, the debtors
Of the state, the burdened and poor have felt
lief from excessive taxation. How much the pres
emit legislature in its wisdom will tamper with the
law remains to be seen. By reports In the WATCH
MAN ! see that numerous and various are the
shots aimed at some OF the important sections of
the law. Now this may be done for an honest
purpose, but is there not danger Of striking some
point that will weaken the entire structure? Let us
"a xuh 10 hv ha iutr
duced. House bill No. A. by Thompson Of Iras-
burgh, provides that in making the annual grand
list for the assessment Of taxes deductions shall
be made by listers from PERSONS tdrdble personal
estate for debts owing by him, and that sections
319, $40 and 4l Of the revised laws shall be re-
pealed. A radical chdngei and while such
change might bring in small amount of taxable
property from dishonest tar dodgers who may have
been dealt with by i0edk-kneed listers, 1t would
bring increased new burdens upon the majority
class Of the state, Perhaps Orleans county or the
town of Irdsburgh have no debtors to be affected
by such change in the law, yet 1t is believed
there are scores in every town burdened with
debts who would suffer from the proposed change
Enterprising farmers struggling to Lift mortgages
thrifty merchants and lumbermen doing business
on borrowed captal-is this the class we wish TO
relieve or burden? And how would it be by
the amendments proposed by the member from
lrasburgh The next raid Is by house bill No.
on sections 297, 29S and 327. fail to see any rad
ical change proposed and II there is none except
what appears in the legislative reports would it
not be well 10 let well enough aoneY House bill
No would seem TO be a move In the right direc-
ton, and II Massachusetts has succeeded in graft
ing into Its statute books law providing for
offsets on real estate to the satisfaction OF the
state and the people 1t would be worthy of our
imitation. 1t has been thought such a law would
not be practicable on account Of large amounts OF
mortgages being held outside our borders and
also the amounts covered by more than one mort
gage, that 1t would lead TO difficulties and incur
losses to such extent as to debar the practicable
workings OF such a law. House bill No 20, by
Mr.. Lynde OF Dummerston, so far Ms It relates 10
section 326, makes plain what by some was be-
lieved to be the intent and meaning of that sec
ton; but inasmuch as 1t Is not generally under
stood, II is hoped \ will be made 30 plain that