The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-10-21
THE STATE LEGIsLAruRE.

The second week Of the session dnds the
Legislature 10 good working condition.
The committees have been formed and ere
at work Investigating the merits Of about
. hundred bills, a few OF which have been
reported and acted upon but none Of those
already passed are Of general interest.
Two railroad commission bills have been
introduced The one which seems TO have
the mos, merit Wa introduced by Gen.
Ripley Of Mendon and was probably
drawn by Col. Walker Of Rutland.
Ii provides Tor three commissioners TO be sp
pointed by the Governor with the approx
al OF the Senate. who shall have general
Supervision over the railroads OF the state,
aud 10 whom oil complaints Of the insufii
cheney OF railroad accommodations. extor-
tomato rates or unfair discrimination shall
be made. and who shall Investigate such
complaints. and II the proof supports the
charges. they may advise such changes on
the part Of the railroads ~ will remedy
he wrongs. II the railroads do not make
such changes An application may BE- made
TO the supreme court for an order CON
polling the roads 10 comply. The comis-
sioners shsll also report TO the Legislature
This blll or one similar 10 Il will probably
pass.
A shot haul bill has been introduced 10
ne seurte hut IA the subject Of freight
discrimination will be included in the
commission bill short haul bill will hard
iy be necessary. The railroad compani, .
say they will Lot oppose any reasonable
measure Of control but they will be likely
10 use their influence in reducing the pow :
W given 10 the railroad commission 10 thu
Smallest possible linit
Au Insurance bill has been introduced
similar 10 the ono which became Law IN
New Hampshire two years ago and which
made great deal Of trouble in that state
for time. II compels insurance companies
to pay the full smount Of the policy in case
Of loss by FIRE, insicad oi actual value u
the property destroyed. This q course
u only 10 case Of total loss. In Ns~
Hampshire III the foreign insurance cotn
pAuiss withdrew from tho state leaving
the property unprotected. but We learn
thar they are coming back again, and tha.
the number Of fres have been reduced
more than one half A large number OF
bills have been introduced changing *
isting laws 10 some respects. but none Q
very great importance. There Is . dispo-
s,siou in every legislature to tinker the
Laws more than there Is any ncccssity Tor.
4 b,il lot The CREATION Of board Of arbi-
tration 70 settle labor troubles has been
introduced by Mr.. Hogan Of Rutland, bul
II IL doubtful IL II passes. There has been
no trouble such - the bill guards against.
10 this State aud there are few II any local
titles where there Il likely 70 Be any.
There will b. an effort made 70 adopt
ths town system q schools bnt u will not
b likely 70 succeed In the isos Of 20 much
fssling ssainst Il ~ has besn shown in
the vctss Of tbs several towns the past two
years Bills will be introduced 10 secure
uniformity Of sext books in al The towns,
and also 70 furnish frss TAFT books 70 al
the pupils 10 our common schools. The
latter provision has besn adopted 10 Msssa-
chussssS. whore Il has bsen found that Il
reduces The cost Of tsxt books nearly one
hall. besides furnishirg each pupil
with Just tho books be needs. the want oi
which IL great hindsrAncs in most Of ouI
schcols