Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-22
THE LEGISLATURE.
THs SECOND wEBKs work.

From our Montpelier correspondent
MONTPELIER, Oct. 81.
II is now only little more than two weeks
since the legislature convened, but both
Houses Lave settled down to hard work.
Nearly all the committees have held their pre-
liminary meetings. and before the end of the
present week they will have begun to discuss
some OF the knotty problems in legislation
which have been put into their hands. One
hundred and forty one bills have already been
introduced into the House and Al into the
Senate
Anyone who Is inclined TO advocate the
need or benefit of third party in politics
would learn some convincing proofs Of the
unsoundness Of his belief il he could be at
Montpelier this session and note the decided
way in which our Republican Legislature
grappes with the temperance question. New
or in the history Of our state have her Repub
licsn representatives taken more determined
stand for the Effective suppression Of the liz
uor traffic than those who compose the ma
iority Of the present Legislature One of the
first moves taken by them with reference to
this question was that of the past week when
both the Senate aud House voted to Withhold
all matterA pertaining to the subject from the
committees on the Judiciary, and to appoint
special committees on temperance to whom
all measures pertaining to temperance or iu
Temperance should be referred. The COM
mittees thus appointed were, in the House,
Messrs. Williams Of Bloomfield, Kingsley of
Salisbury, P,tkin of Fair Haven, Daley Of
Richford Hgbee of Charlotte, II 'ynolds Of
Albany, aud Hldreth Of Newport in the
Senate, Senators Blake Of Odesns, Hale Of
Essex, and Hall OF Grand Isle. Besides tire
measures for strengthening the prohibitory
law mentioned in last weeks letter which
these committees will have to consider, are
several bills increasing the penalty of the
first offence TO 500 others making the first
offence punishable by iue OF $50 and one
months imprisonment, and many others in
creasing the penalty for selling. bill in
troduced by Mr.. Fitch OF Highgate provides
that the finding Of intoxicauts kept for sale, or
the proof OF i've acts of selling, or the hav-
ing Of United States license for selling liq-
uor, shall prove the place, where such acts
are proved to have been done, nuisance,
which shall be- closed aud subject the keeper
TO a fine of from $50 to 500 and three
months imprisonment Procedure may be
had by indictment by the grand jury, infor-
nation by the states attorney, or complaint
of the town grand juror and II the proper
officers neglect to proceed against such keep
! er any person 10 the county may act a. prose-
cutting officer The prosecuting attorney is to
/ get bis fees only in case of obtaining con-
! giction, when one-half the fine goes to the
prosecutor. Mr.. Williams, chairman Of the
| House temperance committee, introduced
bill on Tuesday abolishing the office Of town
agent, aud giving to the selectmen of the
town all the duties now required OF that offi;e.
Many bills to equalizs taxat on and to pre-
vent double taxation Of mortgaged property
have been introduced. The most comprehen-
sive bill on this subject, by Senator Spear Of
Orange, provides that all debts due evidenced
by promissory notes secured by mortgage or
conditional deed on real estate within this state,
| bearing interest at a rate not to exceed per
cent, shall be exempt from taxation and all
| persons nov holding such debts 80 secured
where no rate Of interest, or higher rate than
per cent il specified, may have the benefit OF
this act by executing to the person legally bound
to pay such debt an agreement in writing to
take a. his interest SUN not exceeding per
cent Ia the same way savings banks may
be exempted from paying state tax on sucn
debts. Any person receiving a consideration
for the use of money exceeding per cent,
aud e1emptng the same under this act for
feits all rights to receive either principal or in
terest No Offset on personal estate is allow
ed by the act, which is to take effect April
14t 1887.
The committees in the two Houses on edu-
cation seem determined to establish some
uniform method for the selection aud distri-
button OF school text books Many bills
have been introduced on the subj ct, the gen.
eral purport OF which Is to furnish free text
books for the use of all scholars at the ex-
pense of the towns, and TO make a uniform
selection OF books throughout the state by
leaving the selection of these books TO state
text book committee. Bills to raise the limit
of attachments in trustee process continue to
be introduced A dozen bills on the subj .ct
are now in the hands Of the judiciary com
mittees, aud it seems probable that the latter
will decide to change the present oppressive
law by recommending to the legislature the pas
sage Of a bill fixing the limit at from $40 to
500 aud providing that when the wages OF
an employe are attached the limit shal
be measured by the wages OF a certain length
, Of time, probably by the wages Of one or tive
months
The most important bill which has ye
come from the hands Of committee il tina
+ of Judge Poland, introduced on the first day
8 of the session, repeating the law giving per
D son a illegal settlement and substituting
D therefor merely a residence. The bill was re
e ported favorsby and WAS made a specia
y order for Friday morning. The first extend
d ed speech Of the session was made on Tues
day, when Judge Poland explained the pro
;, visions of his bill to repeal the law which de
e prives persons guilty of desertion or con
!. victed of felony of the right to vote
e H4 said that the present law was an E.
Y post f,IctO law and unconstitutional. The die
franchisng OF persons convicted of felonie
was making an addition to their punishment
4 When the crime had been punished and ex
~ plated the released criminal should be free 1
Il vote without special act to restore his right
as a citizen. Judge Poland's bill is now be
, fore the House on question OF is third reading
The first bill passed by either House thi
- session was S nate bill No passed by th
i Senate on Thursday, providing that il a tow
- votes to pay highway taxes Otherwise II ct'
% on dollar in labor it shall be 20 cents. o
I, the same day the House also passed Mr.. Ha
= elton's bill to incorporate the Burlington Car
Ger Relief Association The bill went immi
- diately to the Senate and was at once passe
by that body in concurrence. The purpo'
of the act il to provide an institution at Bu
lington where INDECENT persons afh cited wit
" cancer may receive treatment.
ri The question of additional legislation Il
J. the Bennington Battle Monument which Go
Ormsbee refers to in his message will soou
o. presented 10 the legislature Senators WriRl
ys aud Bailey, and representatives Bntterfeld
re Grafton, II ,ndall OF Glover, Wall of d jrse
Dennison OF Pittsford, and Ward of Du
d. bury, have been appointed joint commits
m. on the subj sct. 1t is proposed by the mon
ment association to have the state buy al
h., own the site for the monument, which will i
=, clude several acres of land on the hill whe
y" the old continental storehouse stood and
which are now situated many old and u
sis slightly buildings Two important )int res
90 lutions, introduced by Senator Stanley Of A
oy olson, were passed by both II buses on Tue
eli day. These were as follows
So "Whereds, It being true that our valuable pub
lands In vast tracts passing into the possession
in aliens which promises to ultimate at no distant
in a dangerous land monopoly aud species of tenl
'n- cy akin TO that Of Ireland and wholly ut variance
the spirit and policy OF American inslitutionsi the
ex fore be It
- "Resolued By the Senate and House Of Represen
on tires That our senator's and members OF congress
he aud hereby requested to give their early and ca
est attention to this subject aud labor for such leg
latiOu 10 the premises will arrest the evil and
for the best interest Of the American citizens.
x "Resoired, That the secretary Of state be diree
Tis TO furnish copy of these resolutions TO each OF
- senators aud representatives in congress from l
nc state
ing Doe OF the most noteworthy days e'
ere passed bya Vermont legislature was vest
Inc day when the election of United States Sci
oy tor aud the election of Judges took pia
On that day the representatives OF the p
an pie OF this state Tebuked the calnmnat
to of two Of the states highest officials by
lies electing them TO office. ID stalls of the el
Dad ton OF United States senator and supre
was / oonrt iudoaa ara uivan in another cOluu