The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-11-12
The Orleans County Shire.

BY special order house bill No. 294 pro-
viding for changing the shire of Orleans
county, was taken from the table at half
past ten yesterday. 1t provides that a
committee of three freemen, non-residents
of Orleans county shall be appointed by the
governor, who shall select a site for the
county buildings at some place in the county
on the line of the Passumpsic railroad, and
also contains all the necessary provisions
for raising money by tax erecting the new
buildings, disposing of the old etc. Mr..
Parker of Troy advocated the bill, and said
the contemplated removal was demanded
by the times. Mr.. Franklin of Newfane of
fered an amendment, providing that the To-
eating committee should not act until
majority of the freemen voting in town
meeting next March should have voted in
favor of removal. Mr. Stickney of Bethel
called for the reading of the report upon the
question of removal made to the senate by
its members of the special committee, and it
was read by the clerk. Mr.. Franklin argued
in favor of his amendment, saying it was
simple justice to allow the freemen of the
county to settle the question, which con-
cerned them more deeply than any one else.
Mr.. Parker answered Mr.. Franklin. He
said that there were two precedents for the
interference of the legislature to remove
shires where the people of the county could
not agree-in Franklin county and Caledonia
county. He said that Irasburgh was not the
place for the county buildings since the
building of railroads and telegraphs, and the
people would be satisfied with the change
after it should be made. Mr. Douglas of
Whiting opposed the amendment. He said
that this contest had been raging ever since
he was a member of the house in 1872, and he
found it raging then. Mr. Franklin again
advocated his amendment Mr.. Stickney of
Bethel, the chairman of the special commit
tee ON the part of the house who made the
report and reported the bill, opposed Mr..
Franklin's amendment. He said that this
court house question in Orleans county was
like cancer, and it must be removed by
outside aid, Removal was necessary, and
it was evident that the county itself would
| never settle it. Mr.. Chamberlin of Albany
said that while he himself did not favor re-
| moval, he would acquiesce if a majority of
the freemen of the county should vote in its
favor Mr.. Fullerton of Manchester opposed
the amendment, and said that it was useless
to leave the question to the freemen of
| Orleans county, for, while they might know
what they wanted, they evidently did not
| know what they needed The committee
had investigated the matter fully, and had
submitted a bill which met the case. 1t
should be passed unamended. Mr.. Abel of
West Haven believed that the people of
other sections of the state had no right to
interfere with the wishes of Orleans county.
The people of Rutland county would resent
such an interference, he knew. Ten years
ago he voted for such an amendment as Mr..
Franklin's, and he should do so now. 1t was
the people of Orleans county who did busi-
ness at its shire and the majority of the
votes of its freemen should settle the loca-
| ton. Mr.. Stickney replied to Mr.. Abel, and
said that Mr.. Franklin's amendment would
be the end of the bill. Mr., Dillingham;
of Waterbury said that he understood that
it would be impossible to get a vote of the
freemen of Orleans county to lay tax for
the erection of new public buildings at Iras-
burgh, yet it was undeniable that the county
buil1iups ar Ira burph
for use. This fact settled the question in
his mind The only feasible way of getting
new buildings was by the bill reported by
! the committee. The thing had got to be
settled in favor of new buildings, and they
ought TO be on the line of the railroad; and
il might as well be settled now by the legis-
lature. Mr.. Grout of Derby summed up
for the friends of the bill. He described
the history of the agitation for a new shire,
which began twelve years ago. He also
described the condition of the county build
ings at Irasburgh and said that if the men,
bers of the legislature could only see them,
there would not be ten votes against reno
val. He said that this idea that the ques-
ton of removal should, of right, be left to
the vote of the freemen of the county would
not bear examination. The legislature ere
| ated the counties, and laid their taxes, and
why should it not locate their shires? Twice
before it had changed the location of county
buildings. The legislature was the great
anu sehelal court oi the state, ana IL was lts
! right and duty to hear such quarrels as this
and decide them upon their merits. Mr..
Buttertield of Wilmington opposed the
amendment. He said the question was a
simple one. The present buildings were
unfit and badly situated A change should
be made, and the bill was the quickest and
cheapest way of making it, therefore the
bill should pass Mr.. Parker of Cambridge
advocated the bill. Mr. Adams of Fair
haven demanded the previous question.
The demand was seconded by the house,
and the main question was ordered to be
put. Mr.. Franklin's amendment was lost
by large majority and the third reading of
the bill was ordered for tomorrow morning
with but few votes in the negative.