The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-10-25
moNrrrLIrR conREsroNDENOE,

Specisl to the BANNER
MONTPELIER. Vt. Oct, "a, 1888,
At this close Of the fiscal year the
books of the treasurer showed that there
was $l67, 40b in his hands in excess OF
current liabilities. This fact seems to
nave inspired some ofthe extravagantly
inclined Legislators to make 1t their
business to lid The State OF this surplus.
The result is that today $l4O,O 200 have
been disposed OF and a greater part oy
the Legislature. The appropriations
sought by represent Legislature Tor I tne
next two years aggregate shout $oUO, OoO
These vary in amount from $4,000 to
S66. 900. There is the Bennington cele-
bratlon, the University of Vermont, the
Militia, the Soldiers Home, South Hero
bridge, various State institutions includ
ing the Asylum for the Insane for which
the sum of 500, 900 will be set aside.
The Legislature will undoubtedly re-
ouire $50, 700. In view of this it IS es
ssntiai to consider the outcome before
voting on appropriations. Two years
ago the excess in the treasury was SOU
900. The excess of this year-Sl6i. 4Oo-
the treasurer reports to be the result oil
the disposal of securities belonging 10
the Huntington fund and the appilca-
ton of The proceeds to general State ex-
penses, but not due to the increase 10
the regular revenues 1t Will thus De
seen that by reason II the use Oh tne
Huntington fund the condition OF the
finances IS deceptive. Last year TAX
of 10 cents was assessed on, the grand
list and the corporation tax amounts 10
about $3.50, 600 annually. In order TO
produce the existing financial condition
there would be required direct tax OF
% cents on the grand list, over and above
the corporation tax. But the Hunting
ton, fund cannot be used again so that II
the present expenditure is to be main.
tanned some other money must be relied
upon, Where it Is to come from is an
interesting question. IL the present
Legislature keeps on in It's preseh1
course, the appropriations VIII exceed
the resources and then the State VIII
either have recourse to war rate oil
taxation or will be obliged to negotiate
a permanent loan. Either contingency
is to be avoided and it is to be hoped 'ha'
members will look this matter so uarely
in the face, just as they would II IL were
a private concern of their own.
MIR. Dale OF Mortified, has introduced
a bill in the Lower House approprlating
$1,000 annually to the Vermont Dairy
mems Association which ought to be
favorably reported and acted upon
A bill has been introduced in the
House against the use of barbed wire for
building fences. Passage was refused
RarbsI wire fence is the cheapest,
easiest, and quickest to build and more
effectual than any other ever invented.
Stock respect aud keep away from H.
and the cheapness Of it has made 1t a
great boon for farmers. Statistics 40
not show iU to be more dangerous to lie
or limb than some other kinds of fence.
The farmer can use barbed wire fence
without fearing a patent rlght man OF
sheriff. The refusal of the House 10
pass the bill was just right as there IS no
demand for such legislation.
The Senate committee on game anu
fisheriest have reported that the bill per-
hitting turkey shoots ought not to pass.
They say THE committee have wres-
tied with the bill as the subject OF pre-
venting cruelty to animals seemed to
them to demand. They have pondered
on turkeys and fowls-on fowl turkeys
and turkey shoots with their benzine &C
compartments. They have been minG-
full that Thanksgiving is near at hand,
and of the important relation OF turkeys
to that New England festival. The
committee are unable to see why tur-
KEYS should be singled out as the only
bird which may'be thus cruelty perse.
cuted and rather than be lnstrulnentai
in this legal torture OF the family iaV9i-
ite dinner bird they say let the Dill ule
and the turkey live" =. 1870
The bill introduced providing that no
Supreme or County Judge should oe-
come a director in a railroad corporation
within this State, has been unfaVOraDly
acted upon. 1t is too arbitrary and was
unpopular from the start.
4 Hill has been introduced to incor-
porated the Maritime Canal Company OF
Nicaragua. The capital stock is to con-
.ist of / ZOO, 900 share at s 90 each, tne
object OF the company being the build
ing of the Nicaragua Canal. ms OH
ought not to pass. The canal business
on the Isthmus is not likely to prove
profitable to anybody, except those who
handle the money. The only way to
connect the two oceans is by the Eaus
Ship Railway across the Isthmus OF
Tehauntepec, Mexico.
NOTES,
The bill providing for az approprla-
ton of $25, 900 for the Soldiers Home
was considered in the Senate last lhufs-
day and ordered to lie on the table,
The member from Bennington lost his
umbrella from the court room last FIJI
day evening, but says that he knows the
thief and that if the latter does not show
up he will expose him.
Mr.. Coohrane OF Dorset introduced a
bill last Wednesday to legallze the quad
rennial appraisal and the grand list OF
the town OF Dorset for the year OF 1880.
Referred to committee on grand list
Rev. Geo. w. Perry, State Geologlst,
is to give an address this evening in
Hall on THE Marbles
of Vermont"
The bank bill is to be discussed Thurs
day, and Inspector G. S. Page is to APP
pear before the COMMITTEES. on Banks
The discussion will be most interesting
one.
The final hear hearing in the Under
hill election case was held last night TOO
late for consideration in this letter.
Senator Edmunds was at the State
House yesterday, looking well.
CLAYT.