News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-12-04
The LEGISLATURE.

marked by no very important enact
ments, and the verdict of the press
seems TO be unfayorable as to its gen.
eraI ayerage-with an especial tenden-
CIV to criticise the Senate, which Is
quite generally conceded to have been
less liberal, less comprehensive, more
narrow and rutty than the House. The
truth is. and we must sooner or later
awaken to its force, the cause OF edu-
cation is the all-important subject
which our commonwealth must Crap
pie and master. The enterprise, the
progressive element embodied largely
in the young men who do not stay
with us, but who embrace the philoso-
piers advice and go west-departs
with such a steady and increasing
ef1ux that the remaining element is
too largely composed of the tight
listed and over-economical element,
who fail to catch the inspiration of the
times and are quite too prudent in
matters pertaining to education. vi
this element the majority of the Senate
were the opponents, and the liberal
spirit shown by the House, in matters
pertaining to education, was sure to
meet parsimonious reception in the
Senate. All honor to the House in
passing the free textbook bill, a
measure strictly in accordance with
that spirit of enterprise and iberality
which should and does actuate every
patriotic and true-hearted Vermonter,
whose love for our Green Mountain
State prompts the sinking of acquisl-
tiveness in the noble pride that in the
educational field Vermont shall raise
men-educate men--men well equipped
for the wider fields of the west and
she'd lustre on the State of their birth.
Of course there were notable excep-
tions in the Senate, men to whom the
spirit of our criticism does not apply !;
but with few exceptions the live, pro-
gressiye element was in the lower
branch, which contained many MEM
bers who gave evidence of a wide and
wise liberality, which struggled-tho
in vain-for measures of reform which
the Senate deliberately killed.
Among the bills passed are those in
amendment of the corporation tax
law; the grand list law assessing 10
per cent. State tax; to enable towns
to raise a sum not exceeding $500 on
each poll for town library; eracting
more stringent laws to enforce prohl-
bition in sale of intoxicating drinks
appropriating $4,000 in aid of the
North Hero bridge; raising the Gov
errors salary from 81, 900 to $1,000
appropriating $4,000 to enable thu
State to have representation at th'
New Orleans Worlds Exhibition; ap
propriating $4,000 for Soldier;
Home changing the shire of Orlean
County to some point on the line
the Passumpsic Railroad; enlargin!
the property rights of married women
fixing tax on Saving Banks and Trus
Companies at 3-5ths of one per cent.
giving Constables same rights to serv'
processes as Sheriffs, where town
vote such jurisdiction /; allowing town
to raise 25 cents for each poll to en-
courage planting of shade trees on pub
lie squares and highways; giving dea'
bodies of paupers to physicians; de
creasing amount for which trustee ca
be held from $40 TO S.; punishin
adulteration ofhoney, maple syrup an
sugar; Incorporating the Vernon
Telegraph & Telephone Company; th
Green Mountain Live Stock Company
the Trout River Railroad Company
Deerfeld Valley Railroad Company
Lamoille County Savings Bank; Can
bridge Savings Bank and the village
of Morrisville, Barre, Proctor On
Windsor.