Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-10-13

tent of refunding any tax that may be
found to have been excessive.
The taxes collected for the first and
only year that the law has been in prac-
tical operation amount to $196, 678.51 Of
which S5,5l6.96 were collected from rail
roads and s56,50G.70 were paid under
protest.
If the receipts, expenditures and the
law remain substantially the same as they
have been for the last two years, the de-
felt at the end of the fiscal year 1885 will
be about 500, 900, and at the end of the
fiscal year 1886 will be further increased
to about $4,000.
Under these circumstances it is mani
fest that you will seek to increase the
revenue either from present sources. or
BY Il Tux upon The people or otherwise
If the Huntington fund is turned into the
treasury and its interest made Il pcrpetu-
al charge upon the state, to be paid an
nually to towns for the support of com
mon schools, in the same manner that the
u % sui PiuS luHu IL now )altt 10 The
towns declining to take the principal, no
tax per capita or upon the grand list
would seem to be necessary at present.
RAILROADS.
In my former message l suggested the
appointment of commission to which
should be delegated the general powers
of the state over railroad companies
Such commission, if appointed, should, I
think, be paid by the state and be requir-
ed to make inquiry as to complaints in
regard to discriminating and excessive
rates for freight and passengers.
The free pass system constantly brings
obloquy upon the state and l trust you
will consider the propriety of wiping out
the reproach.
But nothing is of such paramount i'm
pOrtance to the material interests of the
state as proper action by congress in re-
gard to the regulation Of Interstate COM
merce. | am informed that freight is sent
rom Chicago to Liverpool ut less rate
than is charged Vermont farmers on their
products to Boston. All are aware that
t he value Of farm lands and products is
largely increased by their proximity to
manufacturing centers. But it is claimed
that high and discriminating rates on
raw material, fuel and manufactured
goods are such as to practically exclude
manufacturers from establishing them
selves in this state, except perhaps at a
few points, and if we seek our markets in
Boston or New York, we are charged
higher rates than are paid to the same
points by dealers in the far west.
This is II grievance that neither Ver-
mont nor Vermont railroads can remedy
You have doubtless observed that Mr.
Stewart, our member of congress from
the first district, has introduced bill for
the regulation of Interstate commerce.
The governors of several states have
advocated the necessity of national leg
islation upon this subject and the presi-
dent urged it's propriety in his message
to congress in December last. The re-
publican national convention at Chicago
committed that party to the adoption of
measures looking to the same end.
Allow me to express the belief that if
you follow the example of many other
states and give the people railroad COM
mission and also give an impetus to the
Interstate commerce movement by arous-
ing the interest of the remaining men,
bers of our delegation in congress, you
may be assured of life long and kindly
| remembrance from your constituents.
JOHN L. BARSTOW.
Executive Chamber, Montpelier, VT,
| Oct. l, 1884.