Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-12-03
THE WORK OF THE LEGIsLATURE.

THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE
The following, taken from the
Montpelier Daily Journal, gives, we
think, fair, candid, and impartial
statement of what has been accom-
plished by the Legislature. The
italics are ours, and refer chief Y to
the bills introduced by our senator
Hon. +. D. Hale of Lunenburgh, or
those in which he was int ested
and took an active part either for
or against. We shall refer in
future issue to the work accomplish
ed by the Representatives in the
different towns Of the county.
The legislative session of 1886
which came to an end this morning
is the shortest by 7 days since 1874,
its actual length being fifty days.
The number Of really important
matters before it was small, though
the volume of It's business was large
in amount. 1t has considered some
900 distinct propositions in bill form
but the total number which became
laws is only small proportion of
the whole. The legislature can
point to some useful legislation as
the result of its labors, and it can
also point with pride to large mass
of proposed legislation, which after
due consideration, it refused to
enact. 1t is true that it could have
passed many just and proper meas
ures which it failed to pass; yet we
think that, on the whole, it has been
conscientious body of men who
have according to their light, en-
deavored to serve the best interests
of Their constituents, and that the
work they succeeded in accomplish
ing has been wholesome in char
acter.
The elections of United States
senator, state officers and supreme
court judges were attended with
comparatively little friction; and
the only contest which provoked
unusual interest was that over the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of Rutland. Other
matters like the Orange county shire,
the license, woman suffrage, free
textbook, temperance, education,
school commission and railroad COM
mission measures have caused con-
siderable discussion, both in and out
of the legislature; and there have
been some interesting hearings be-
fore committees. Notwithstanding
the insinuations of discounted sche-
mers and disappointed place hunters
we have found no indications of
any corruption or jobbery in the
Legislature; aud, in fact, this body
has had no special temptation to
make other than an honorable
record.
Among the more important acts
of the session, are the following:
the creation of a railroad commits
sion; Incorporating the towns of
Proctor and West Rutland; ABOLISH
ing the office Of highsooy Surveyor
and making the highacay tao at least
fifteen per- cent to be collected IN
money; raising the salaries of judges
of the supreme court from $4,000 to
$4,000; making $40 the lowest lin it
for trustee process; appropriation of
$4,000 for a soldiers home, $4,000
for monuments and grounds on the
battle field of Gettysburgh, $4,000
for improved arms, ETC., for the
National Guard, and $4,000 for re-
pairs in the state prison; providing
for the appearance Of the states
attorney IN divorce cases; providing
penalty for Misrepresentation in
applications for marriage certificates
prohibiting the unlawful wearing OF
Grand Army badges; gj0j'ag.j,tstices
Of the peace authority to compel per-
sons to make disclosure; 1orovidjnJ
imprisonment for third con0ictior
Of Mto&jcation; authorizing the con