Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-07

The Legislature adjourned, Friday
noon, until next "Wednesday afternoon at
two o'clock, and the Capital and the Capt.
tol have resumed their usual quiet APP
pearancc.
On Thursday evening the committee on
railroads gave pubic hearing in the Sen
ate chamber upon senator HOltOn's bill
to establish Il railroad commission, and
upon lockwood Barrett's bill to permit
II highway, laid out after the building of Il
railway. to cross such railway at grade.
GOV. Smith appeared for the railways,
Directing to Mr.. Barrett's bill upon the
ground that it would increase grade cross
ngs and make railway travel more dan
gerous and expose the railways to great
losses on account of accidents from cross
ngs. He said that grade crossings are
the most fruitful source of railway acct
dents and the greatest danger of railroad
travel George +. Lawrence, Esq, of
Rutland, advocated the bill in behalf of
public convenience In behalf of the rail
road commission bill Senator liolton and
Col. Aldace +. Walker were the principal
speakers, Dr. HOlton rrcited the history
of the origin of such Il law in England,
| forty years ago, claimed that it had
proved of great practical benefit there,
and would here. Col. Walker went
| through the provisions of the bill in de
tail, stated its scope, and claimed that the
enactment of such IL measure would
create IA better understanding between
railways and people. Governor Smith
opposed the bill. He said that the laws now
upou the Stntutp hook were all that were
needed for the regulation of the relations
1 between the people and the railways lie
called the attention OF tie committee to
the very suggestive fact that the railways
of the State and the people were in accord
that no mans finger can point to Il dis
pute betWeeD them. No man could truth
fully assert that there was not entire con
cord between the people and the railroads
Their interests are common ANA this com
munity was recognized by all. Railroad,
were II public necessity and the people
were Indispensable to the support anC
prosperity of the railroads. He belieN eC
that the establishment of commission
like that provided for in DIR, Hol
tons bill, would disturb and perhaps
disrupt the friendly relations which
now existed between the roads and tn,
public. Many of its provisions would
work injury to the roads and at the sam,
time DE of little or no benefit to the PEG
pie, particularly those requiring road t.
expose all its contracts and accounts, thu
giving its rivals an injurious knowledge
of its business and operations, lie showed
to the committee that no law could ef
feet such regulation and adjustment o
charges for freight rs was contemplate
by the bill, since no State law could b
operative beyond its own boundaries, an,
the rates for freight We're controlled b,
, the charges of connecting railroads, ell
trely beyond the control OF Vermont. II
asserted that the people of Vermont hat
cheaper railway facilities than the peOpl
2 of any other State in the Union. Col
, Weaver admitted that Governor Smith
statement in regard to the regulation o
freight charges was true, but he elaine,
f that the people did not understand tn
, matter, and that a commission WOul
, tend to their enlightenment.
, The committee on agriculture have aT
pointed Il subcommittee, consisting q
- senator Hill of luhbardton, Mr.. Dougla
Of Whiting and MIR. Martin of Marshlield
, to consider the ELECTROMAGNETIC bill
and petition, and to draught substitut
bill TO prevent the evils complained of.
Dr. Cunlaud of Brattleboru, has intro
duccd the liquor license bill which Nh
t Chlds of Bennington fathercd in 1852.
/ will prove an ill-starTed buntling like ii
% predecessor
At the conference of the Democrats q
t the Legislature, on Thursday evening,