Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-11-29
THE WORK OF THE LEGIS.
LATURE.

THE WORK OF THE LEGIS-
LATURE.
The legislative session of 1886 |
which came to an end Wednesday
morning, is the shortest by seven
days since 1S74-its actual length |
being fifty days. The number of
really important matters before it
was small, though the volume of its
business was large in amount. 1t
has considered some 700 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 a large mass of proposed
legislation. which after due consid-
GRAFTON, it refused to enact. 1t is
true that it could have passed many
just and proper measures 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, endeavored to serve the
best interests of their constituents,
and that the work they succeeded in
accomplishing has been wholesome
in character.
The elections of United States
senator, state officers and supreme
court judges were attended with COM
parative little friction; and the only
contest which provoked unusual in
terest was that over the dismember-
ment of Rutland. Other matters
like the Orange county shire, the IL
cense, woman suffrage, free text
book, temperance education, school
commission and railroad commission
measures have provoked considerable
discussion, both in and out of the
Legislature and there have been
some interesting hearings before
committees, Notwithstanding the
insinuations of discounted schem-
ers and disappointed place-hunters,
we have found no indications of any
corruption or jobbery in the legisla-
ture and, 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 railroad commits
sion incorporation OF the towns OF
Proctor and West Rutland; abolish.
ing the office of highway surveyor
and making the highway tax at least
fifteen per cent to be collected il
money; raising the salaries of judges
of the supreme court from $4,000 tt
$4,000, making so the lowest limi
. for trustee process appropriation
of $4,000 for soldiers home, So,
900 for monuments and grounds OF
the battlefield of Gettysburg, $2,50'
for improved arms, etc., for tn
National Guard, and $4,000 for re
pairs in the state prison; provldin!
for the appearance Of the states at
( torney in divorce cases providing
e penalty for Misrepresentation in ap
e plications for marriage certificates
!. prohibiting the unlawful wearing Q
: Grand Army badges; giving justice
!, of the peace authority to compel in
!. toxicated persons to ma ke discle
e sure; providing Imprisonment c
e third conviction for intoxication
), authorizing the construction of
:. bridge from Grand Isle to Mort
;, Hero but making no appropriate
u therefor; authorizing the ST. Johns
! bury & Lake Champlain railroa
+. company to build branch 10 col
e meet with the Southeastern railway
II Incorporating the Hardwlck an
2. Marshfeld railroad company; pul
IS ishing public officers for embezzl
5 ment; giving registers OF proba
the power to hold court and perfor
J. the duties of Judge when the latt
as is sick, dies, resigns, or is absen
j. providing The making OF abstrat
10 of grand lists to be. sent to the Sc
fk rotary of state; prohibiting judges
he the supreme court from acting
~ auditors and referees prohibitil
10 proprietors and keepers of hote
e. restaurants, etc.. who furnish thu
a patrons with imitation butter. pnle
as they placard ''oleomargarine SC
nd here in the dining or lunch room
on preventing the use of defective stes
ar boilers; giving dealers in monumer
IN and copings liens on their work I
no Poland pauper bill, which does aw
Use with the old recruitment OF ''sett
on Nent," and making towns liable
fl support of paupers when the lat