Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-11-16
THE LEGESL4TURE
A WEEK OF SOLID WORK.
Mr. mnnn's bill Passes the House,
Dr. uIoIton'a OIeomnrRRrine Hiii Kilt
ed In the senate.

ed in the senate.
INCIDENTS or LADIES wEEK-rHE WOMAN
SUFFRAGE BILL GETS 4 DECIDED COLD
SHOULDER
letter from our special correspondent
MONTPELIER, Nov. IA, 1888.
In the House 442 bills have thus far been
introduced-a somewhat smaller number
than during the two past sessions OF
these, only a have been finally disposed Of,
80 becoming laws and 81 failing to receive
a third reading. In the Senate 1886 bills
have been introduced, of which II have re
ceived the governors signature and have
beer kifieii None Of the more important
measures have yet received final action. 1t
is obvious that the next two weeks will be
busy ones Nearly all of the bills passed
are of private nature, Incorporating diff
ferent villages and institutions, amending
existing charters changing names and le
CALLING grand lists. OF the public acts,
one abolishes the self acting sled brake, an
other provides that married women shall he
eligible as guardians of their husbands, and
another provides for the erection of guide
boards. 1t is said that the latter was push
ed by some Of the city people, who in their
annual carriage drives through our state
sometimes miss their way. 1t provides that
the selectmen, under penalty for neglect,
shall report at each March meeting the diff
ferent places in town where, in their judy
ment, guideboards should be erected also
"a fpr IA q,
guideboards as recommended The act fails
to state, however, what shall become of the
selectmen if they fail TO see the need Of any
new facilities for the direction of the public.
The committee ON education have report
ed a substitute for the bill known as House
hill No 3, reported by the educational com
mission. The new bill is substantially the
same as the old one, with the normal school
part eliminated, but is brought nearer to
our present law by the reduction from Is
to - per cent as the amount of school
money required to be divided among the
districts The new bill provides that vocal
music may be taught in the public schools ;
that supervisors may be appointed from
without the state that the text book com
mttee shall consist of one member from
each town, to be appointed by the select
men that each district must expend for
school purposes at least ten cents ON the
dollar of its grand list in addition to its por-
ton of school money, and that the amount
so expended less shall be deducted from its
| portion that when district expends for
school purposes more than 33t per cent of
its grand list, above its school money. one
half of such excess shall be received back
| from the town. 1t also strikes out the
clause of the old bill requiring committee
men to be elected by ballot The objection
most often met by the friends of the bill is
that the supervisors will not be able to visit
the schools often enough to make the office
of practical value. To meet this objection
Dr. Holton will offer an amendment pro
vidng that the state shall be divided into
% districts each Of which shall have su
| pervisor Each district shall have a board
| of education, one member of which shall be
elected from each town and this board
shall elect the supervisor, whose salary
shall be $1,000 to $1,000 per year and Ger
| tain travelling expenses. One third of the
/ supervisor salary is to be paid bv the
counties and the balance by the state The
payment of a portion by each county is u
check the possible tendency TO be too lavish
with state funds. Windham county would
have two supervisor districts divided a.
the probate districts now are This would
give an average of 100 schools ~ each dis
trict Each of the % districts in the stat,
would contain from % to ll5 schools
Large graded school districts like Brattle
boro may have supervisors Of their own by
50 voting and paying one-third of the saa
ry, at the same time being exempt from
contributing to the county portion of tn,
salaries Of the other county supervisors.
The committee on highways, bridges an,
ferries are unable to agree ON "A satsfactor,
highway bill. The committee consists d
- members, is pretty well distributed
through the state. and probably voices tn,
general feeling of the House quite accurate
ly. Eight of the committee are understOo,
to favor the bill of Mr. Rogers of Wheelock
which provides for the assessment of
money tax Of 10 cents ON the dollar an,
such additional tax as may be thought nee
essary in money or labor may be voted
all to be worked out under the direction o
AN agent in each district. The balance d
the committee favor the present road com
missioner law. Some members advocate
the passage of "a bill making it optional will
the towns to select either the old HIGHWAY
system with the labor tax, or the presen
system of road commissioners but they ar
evidently in IA minority.
The Senate bill providing for the election
of selectmcn, listers and auditors for tn
term of three years, filling one vacancy bl
expiration of term each year, was defeate,
in the House by "A large majority Tn
drift of expression on the subject was tina
in our haphazard way of electing town Off
GERS too many men were elected who ough
not to be retained for so long term.