The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-10

hibited by law. We believe that Justice be-
! tween man and man, as well as the obvious
interests Of the people of the state demand
that the principles embodied in what is
| known as the " long and short haul " pro-
vision of the interstate commerce law and
the laws of several of our sister states
should find place in the statutes Of Yer
mont, and that our state railroad commits
sion should be clothed with ample powers
to exact obedience to such laws and to
their own judgments and DEGREES.
Governor Ormsbee and Governor
Dillingham; both respond to this
declaration by planting themselves,
substantially, on the provisions of the
interstate commerce act Governor
Dillingham; says:
There is also widespread feeling in our
state that the provisions of that law con-
! corning the duties and obligations of com
mon carriers in their relations to individuals
and to the public should he, so far as is
| practicable, incorporated into the statute
| laws of this state, with proper penalties for
! the enforcement of the same, and that en-
| larged power should be given to the board
! of railroad commissioners in connection
| herewith If, as is claimed, the adoption
! of such provisions will place all patrons of
/ railroads upon "A common iOOting, remove
unjust determinations wherever they exist,
! and serve to allay any feeling of distrust,
| founded CT unfounded now entertained
| toward this class of corporations, and, on
| the other hand work no injustice to the
| classes to which they are made to apply,
| nothing better could he desired in legsla-
| ton. The proposition meets my approval.
The national act prohibits the issuing
of free passes to all persons except
those engaged in railroad service
and the duties and obligations, to ndi-
viduals and to the public, it lays upon
common carriers are of the most sau-
tary kind. Nothing more radical has
ever been sought by the advocates of
railway regulation in this state. If the
provisions of that law should be, so
far as is practicable, incorporated into
the statute laws of this state with proper
penalties for the enforcement of the
same" and the powers of the railway
commission correspondingly enlarged,
the law would be all that any reason
able man has ever asked or sought in
statute. Supplemented by the APP
partial and thoroughgoing in the dis
charge of duty as the majority of the
men on the national commission, there
would be little left but to let the law
and its agents have free course in deal
ing with the management and operat-
ing of railways in this state. A propo-
sition of this character, Governor Dill
lingham says, "meets my approval"
Governor Dillingham's recommends
tons as to the savings banks derive
force from his established character as
man of sound judgment in general
affairs. But in this instance a good
judgment is reinforced by practical ex-
perience in financial management, and
his reference to the tax rate on savings
bank deposits will command added at
tention as virtually the judgment of
the efficient tax commissioner for six
years past. He has been an interested
observer of the workings of the school
system of the state, and has had the
cause of popular education very much
at heart. -Four years ago, as the repre-
sentative from Waterbury, by voice
and vote he aided the school legislation
proposed at that session. He recog-
nizes the inadequacy of both the dis
trict and the town systems to work a
reformation in the schools, and, like all
intelligent friends of popular education,
turns eagerly to the report of the school
commission for a measure of relief
upon which it is hoped that the friends
and opponents of the existing order of
educational things may cordially unite.
All his discussions of state affairs are
characterized by force and clearness
and by so high a regard for justice
and equity that his views and recon-
mendations must impress themselves
upon the legislative bodies to which
they are addressed, and by them be
incorporated into the statutory laws of
the state-and we pray that their en-
actment under so wise and capable an
administration may mark the dawning
of a new and brighter era in Vermont.
- \. E~I.