The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-11-19

The number of inmates at present in the
home is one hundred five.
THE senate committee on finance and the
house committee on ways and means gave q
hearing Monday evening to the savings banks
and trust companies The financial GENTLE
men appeared to complain of the discrimina-
tion the revenue law makes in taxing saw
ings banks one-half Of one per cent on their
deposits, and trust companies one per cent.
1t was claimed that whatever reasons may
have existed two years ago for the discrimina-
tion, they will cease to exist if the Butterfield
bill, placing the two institutions upon pre-
cisely the same basis as regards their privi-
leges and restrictions, becomes a law. The
representatives of the banks and trust COM
panies declared that they were or would
be satisfied with the present tax rate on saw
ings banks, but could not stand rise. In
quiries by Mr. Dillingham; developed the fact
that Notwithstanding the tax, the stock
of some of the trust companies repre-
sented paid six per cent and sold at
high premium when any was put
on the market; that savings banks which
are paying now four per cent interest
to their depostors could still pay three and
one-half per cent to three and three-fourths
per cent If the tax were raised one per cent,
and that their interest rate would not be re-
duced more than one-fourth of one per cent,
If at all, if the tax were raised to three
fourths of one per cent Mr.! Dillingham;
showed that if the tax on trust companies
loss of revenue to the state would be about
$4,000, but If the tax on both savings banks
and trust companies was made three-fourths
OF one per cent there would be a gain of
about S11 900 in the revenue, while If the
savings banks were advanced to three
fourths of one per cent and the trust compa-
nies are still taxed one per cent the gain
would be about $4,000. The tax in Maine
is three-fourths of one per cent, in New
Hampshire and Rhode Island one per
and in MnasaphIqptta half of
one per cent, making an average OF
about seven-tenths of one per cent. In
New Hampshire eleven banks paid five
per cent dividends, forty-six four per cent,
six four and half per cent, and two two
per cent-average rate, four and one-sixth
per cent. In Vermont five banks paid four
per cent, seven paid four and a half and four
paid five per cent-average, four and forty
seven one-hundredths per cent. If the YER
mont banks paid a tax of three-fourths of
one per cent, they would still net higher
average rate than the New Hampshire
banks, which are taxed one per cent.
THE joint Judiciary committee gave a
hearing Friday evening on the divorce bills.
Rev. G. S. Smith called attention to senate
bill 70, which was prepared to elnbody the
| suggestions of the committees of the eccle-
siastical convention, of which the members
| were Judge Redield, President Buckham,
| Hon. Frederick Billings, Hon. George Mich
| ols Rev. III. f. Hill and himself The main
points are provisions for having all applca-
tions of divorce lie over one term of court,
| for compelling, when advisable, the attend
ance of the libellee, and for the punishment
! of the adulteries of divorced persons. Rev.
| S, w. Dixie then spoke at some length in an
| informal way on the general subject of re-
| form in divorce law and answered the
| questions of the committee. The plan of
laws of divorce in the system of law of the
| family was outlined, and the need of devel-
| oping this branch in connection with the
whole was shown. Some striking statistics
| of the relation of divorce and kindred evils
to crime were given, with the need of more,
| which could be easily obtained with bet
| ter system of official statistics. The inferior
protection law gives to woman in all that
| pertains to her marriage, from its beginning
| to its dissolution, compared with that given
her in the matter of property was pointed
| out. Two significant distinctions were made
| as to the evils of divorce and their remedy
| at law. The first was that divorce is an un-
| natural or violent termination of the family.
| And the fact that these unnatural or violent
| distinctions of families were as high as six
| per cent of the whole number ended in the
same period from all causes should alarm us
| somewhat as that ratio of deaths of ndivid-
| uals from casualties would. The state is
deeply interested in having as many fam
| lilies as possible go on to their natural end in
| the death of husband or wife. The second
| was that divorce is measure of last resort,
| a surgical operation of the courts which
| practically said the two thousand families
of New England broken up annually by the
| decree of the courts are past all remedies of
| religion or philanthropy and must be de-
| strOyed. This is heroic treatment that ig-
| nores and discourages all remedial agencies.
| So long as the present extreme freedom of
divorce continues, popular attention will
not readily look at the healthful remedies
| for domestic ills. Mr.. Dixie said he did not
look so much at present to reduction of le-
| gal causes for granting divorce as to stricter
| proceedings such as this bill contemplates, to
greater protection of the family against the
| particular crimes that assail it and a strength
| ening of marriage and other laws together
| with divorce laws. Senator Thompson and
| others questioned him as to the effect of the
property rights of married women in divorce.
Mr. G. e. PUTNEY principal of St. Johns
bury Academy, appeared before the commit
tee on education Wednesday night in favor of
the senate bill to prevent the Generalization
of the public schools. The bill gives school
committees power to forbid, under penalty,
owners or managers of skating rinks to adj
nit school children. Mr.. Putney said the
influence of the rinks was neutralizing
school work and spoke of the injurious
effect of the rink in St. JOhnsbury in divert
ing the attention of school children from
their studies. The influence of the rink
was also ruinous morally, and power should
| be given some competent authority to pro-
tect the schools The matter was discussed
| at the recent meeting OF principals in this
village and the bill drawn by Hon. H. G.
Belden was the result of the unanimous
recommendation of the teachers and had
the support of the superintendent of educa-
ton Mr.. Hopkins of South Burlington ex-
planned the provisions of house bin No. 95
in regard to compulsory attendance on dis
trict and town schools Mr.. Allen of Hines
burgh gave the result of the az option of the
| town system of schools in tl'.t town. The
system was adopted in 1876 against great op-
position by large taxpayers with few scholars
| and by the back districts which seemed to
fear that they would lose their rights and ad-
vantages under the system. After strong
opposition for five or six years the system
was permanently adopted, is now popular
and the town could not now be persuaded to
go back to the district system. Three years
Were taken to equalize the value of school
| property. The experience of this town, as
detailed by Mr.. Allen, was the same in re-
spect to the advantages of the town system
of school management as that of Waitsfeld,
Brighton, Middletown and others where it
has had the benefit of mature trial and op-
position has had time to sober off. There is
entire harmony equality of privileges,
equal taxation and frugal, wise, successful
| management, with more weeks of school,
better and permanent teachers. In Hines
burgh some teachers have been in service
| three or four consecutive years. Colonel j. 4.
b. Mead made a stirring appeal for the town
system of schools and highway manage
| ment The hearing was continued on Thurs
day evening, when Senator Hobson gave
| an appount nf tha praptical wnrlinu ~ tina