Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-29
VERM0NTS LEGISLATURE +,
BARELY y QUORUM IN BOTH HOUSES
MONDAY.
Another Railroad Commission Uill Ne
morlals Protesting against the valued
Policy Insurance Bill-A Nov" To-
ward fastening Adjournment.



Caledonia As this bill is in many re
spects quite different from those of Mr..
Higbee and Gen. Ripley introduced in The
House give tull abstract of its pro-
visions. 1t provides for the appointment
by the governor of q board Of three able
and competent men to serve as members
of a State railroad commission each for
the term of two years from December /,
1886. amt to be appointed biennially there
after one of the members to be designated
or be made chairman and one to act rs clerk;
no emplOye or stakeholder of a railroad
to be eligible, and no commissioner to per
form any professional service for such
corporations This commission Is TO haV-
general supervision of all the railroads in
the State. examine them keep informed
as to their condition, the manner in which
they are operated, the security they offer
to the public and their compliance with
their charter and laws Of the State.
If Il railroad neglectS to comply with its
charter or the laws of the State Or the law
full direction of the commission, the latter
shall give notice and if such neglect Is
continued after such notice the board
shall institute proceedings against the road
in the name Of the state, The board snail
fix tables OF maximum charge tor fares and
freight rates, change the same from tim"
to time as the public good may require
changes in the same, and if the road fail
to comply, then any two judges of the
supreme Court on complaint 10y the
board to them as court of equity, shall
give a hearing and if they judge the rec
concentration Of the board to be reasoua
bic they may ratlty, or may make modl-
ticatiOns, and enforce their decision by
mandamus On complaint of the mayor
and aldermen of a city or of the select
men of Il town at the request of any 10
citizens, or on complaint OF these 10 Cltl-
ZenS if the authorities wrongly refuse
their request, the board shall examine
causes OF complaint, decide and enforce
decision as III last instance. The board
shall give notice To roads OF needed r.
pairs or changes they deem for the public
good in rolling stock. stations or mode of
conducting the business and affairs Of
such ROADS, Investigate the causes of acct
dents and include its recommendation in
its annual report to the LEGISLATURE, Rail
road corporations shall furnish to the
board all information required as to its
business ANA affairs, also copies of all
leases, contracts and agreements of trans
pOrtaton with express and other com
panies, and arrangements for force aud
rates with connecting roads and shall
pay so for each days neglect or refusal
to furnish the same after ID days notice
by the board. The board may summon
witnesses who shall be paid by the State.
The board shall prescribe the form in
which the annual returns 10y railroad cor
poratious shall be made, after the same ON
one day notice, and may require changes
in the methods and form OF keeping ac-
counts by railroads. Blanks for these re-
turns are TO be furnished by the board by
September l. in each year, and returns are
to be made to the board on January |, de
fects III such returns to be amended with
in - days after made. The board shall
prepare tables, abstracts, etc, and make
1.
ing such statements of facts and eXplaua-
tons as will disclose the actual workings
of the system of railroad transportation in
its bearing upon the business and prosper
ity of the State, and give such suggestions
as to the States general railroad policy as
it Shall deem appropriate, all of which
shall be given to the secretary of state by
June |, each year and by him transmitted
to the Legislature bennially The mem
berS of the commission shall receive - per
day for actual service, besides expenses ::
and the total cost of the commission to the
state, including witness fees, printing,
etc, shall not exceed $4,000 per year.
Senator Stevens of Chittenden intro
duced "A bill to pay l.. X. Barnes a sum of
money for services and expenses i'll pro
curing the arrest of Willie Jerome.
A resolution offered by Senator Val
entne was adopted requesting the
State superintendent of education to fur
nish the Senate with an official copy of the
report of the superintendent of schools for
1884 or So much Of the same as relate
f., tevt bnoLc
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Dasnita tba small rumhar If ma,nI.rs
Ne'P''C 'Ne 'i''"i' '"'iiD0' VI 'iT'i''0i
present in the House that body kept at
or,, for roo,I,, +,,.o bonn, Trd,,o poIn,,d
occuDied the spealer,s chair for a short
time and gave evidence 70 fine
member that the floor of fine
House is not the only Mace where he
is at home in legislative work Two re
monstances against the PASSAGE of thp
"valued policy bills were offered this
afternoon, The one by Mr., Haselton of
burllI zion was slSileu ny ~ olher prom
liienI oTSliISas l.l,ilS anu cl.iIths VI the
W! VI od deP oro III the
aaSEIe .Ii over f''Uuo,ooo ol ms uraiiCe'
inns APPROPRIATENESS ''lIi,t was releIIeu 10 me
Seileiai oolllliiVtee'D - olllil"l leiiloIi
ati"nce lionl ueo' ~ Su"PHlah am ~
ptheIs' SitlnGns SI " o9ust4ch was ouereu
ny Mr' Mdlsn ol w oousuoCh'