The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-10-18
MONTPELIER CORRESPONDENCE,

MONTPELIER CORRESPONDENTS,
MONTPELIER, VT. Oct, 10, 1888,
specisl to the BANNER.
Last Tuesday night Senator Morrill,
and Judge Powe saddr ssed the Legisla-
lure on the subject of granting State aid
to the University of Vermont. The
Senator rehearsed the history Of land
grant legislation in Congress initiated
by him, He said that the State OF Yer.
mont was under obligations to assist the
University, To be sure the State could
not approach the munlficence of Cor
aell who endowed Cornell University
with 50, 900, 900; still the State owes a
duty to the college. The State OF YER
mont has never supplemented the ma.
tional fund by a State appropriation.
Now, when the college needs aid, is the
time for the enactment of legislation
which will afford the necessary relief.
Judge Powers, graduate of the college, |
stated in brief, but forcible speech,
why the State should grant aid. When
the State granted the charter of the Uni
versity and Agricultural College in 1860,
| il insisted upon an even division OF the
property of the college, The university
agreed, in consideraI ION of the S, 900 TO
be- paid by the State, to give the State
half the dictatorship on the board of
management and half interest in the
property of the institution. The agrl-
cultural college thus became legal
bond of union of the State and the Uni
versity, holding, as it does, one-hslf the
dictatorship and title to one-half the
property. Judge Powers argued that
the State should do something for the
/ college. Both speakers were listened TO
with marked attention, and no doubt
their suggestions will soon materialize
at the State House.
In the lower house some queer legis-
lation 10 in progress. Mr.. Howard OF
Fair Haven has introduced bill for the
protection of the insane and feeble
minded. This bill imposes fine not
exceeding $500, or imprisonment, not
exceeding two years, or both, upon any
person found guilty of willfully teasing
a person of unsound mind. The intro
duction of the bill caused much merri.
ment in the House and divers puns and
and alleged witticisms resulted, 1t is
hard to discover the occasion of the in
PRODUCTION of such bill. Surely it is
not generally the habit Of people TO
"willfully tease" persons 'of unsound
mind" Perhaps, after all Mr.. Howard
perpetrated a stupendous joke II this
was his idea he certainly has succeeded
one of the most important bills yet
introduced is Fl IS by Mr. Walbridge OF
Concord, which proposes radical changes
} in the present laws relating to savings
banks and trust companies. According
to the provisions of this bill the tax n
J deposits OF savings institutions is made
one-half of one per cent annually; ON
savings banks and trust companies one
per cent. The limit of tax exemption
is changed from $1,000 to $500, and ii
shall be the duty of the inspector OF
J finance to report the number and amount
Of individual deposits. The Western
farm mortgage is struck blow by
provision which allows only 40 per cent
of the banks assets to be invested in this
line of "securities." The bill further
requires that one-fourth OF the banks
assets shall be invested in Vermont real
estate. The bill of Mr.. Walbridge
is evidently framed for the
purpose of preventing evasion of taxes
and to subject larger sum OF money
to local taxation Whether this bill
would prove to be remedy for what lie
undoubtedly an existing evil, remains to
be seen,
Senator Mansur introduced bill last
Thursday relating to the legal residence
of veterans in the Soldiers Home at
Bennington. This bill permits the vete-
rams to remain at the Home without
losing their legal residence in their own
towns. and prevents heir acquiring a
legal residence at Bennington.
Another hill relating to soldiers is that
introduced by Mr.. Walbridge in the
House, providing for the burial at the
expense of the State, of those dying in
destitute circumstances. There is no
danger of Vermont's Legislature for
getting the boys in blue.
NOTES.
Senator Simonds introduced bill last
Wednesday providing that wien barn
is situated on a town line and in the
territory of both, stock shall be assessed
by the town in which the owner is a
resident. Referred TO Committee on
Grand Lists.
By the same on Tuesday bill in
amendment of Sec. 2, 1870, Laws Of 1884.
DTUNluluR llldL lllb VI ublNCo VI bhN W.
diers' Home at Bennington be required
to make biennial report to the Legis-
lature. Referred to Committee on Mil
itary affairs.
In the Senate last Friday the Benning
ton celebration bill came up. Senator
Mansur moved by way of amendment
that the amount appropriated be $40, 900
and he Incorporated in the bill instead
of leaving the same to the discretion of
the committee in the bill. The debate
which ensued was participated IN by
Senators Sim )nds, Adams, Bunker, Taft
and Briggs. The amendment offered by
Senator Mansur was Rejected and the
bill passed.
Gen. j. G.. Mccullough of Bennington
was at the State House last Wednes-
day.
In the House last Friday a bill was
passed to incorporate the Bennington
Village improvement Society.
Senator Smonds introduced an act
in amendment of IS, Laws of 1882, al
lowing turkey shoots, prohibited in that
act. Referred to Committee on Game
and Fisheries. CLAYT.
House 101, by Mr.. Prouty of Newport,
in amendment Of Secs. 1902 and 1903 of
the Revised Laws. Make the penalty
for selling, furnishing and giving away
intoxicating liquor, upon the first con.
vction not less than SIS nor more than
800, and may also be be imprisoned in
the discretion of the Court, not more
than 80 days; upon second and subse
quent convictions, not less than $40 nor
more than 5000 for each offence, and
and shall also be imprisoned from 30 to
1855 days. Such forfeitures to be recov
cred in an action of debt in the name of
the State. Takes effect Dec 1881; to
Joint Committee on Temperance.