Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-11-05
At a hearing before the committee

At hearing before the committed
on banks, Mr.. Walbridge of Concord
spoke in defense of his bill providing
for the reduction to the sum of $500
the amount to be exempted from tax
alton in individual deposits. Inspect
or Page showed that about one in
eight of the depositors had over $500
in the banks, but that these deposit
ors were mainly of tue poorer classes.
He deprecated any action reducing
the amount below $500, believing
that thereby large sums would be
driven out of the state. Tn 1884 the
amount was reduced from $4,000 to
$500, and Immediately afterwards
nearly 1856, O50 were withdrawn from
the savings institutions of the state.
He also disapproved of the PROPOSE
ton to increase the rate of taxation
to one per cent in case of trust COM
panies, believing such action uncalled
for, and detrimental to ALL On Tues
day evening the woman suffragists
held forth in representatives hall, but
the attractions of the Duff Comic OPP
era Coat the Blanchard Opera House
proved greater to many of those not
ed for "wisdom and virtue" A
goodly number, however, were at
tracted to the copitol to listen to Pro-
fessor w. H. Caruth of Kansas, I'll.
B. Blackwell of Boston, and Colonel
Albert Clarke of Rutland Miss Lau-
IA Moore of Barnet, and Mrs. w.
NJ. Foster of Montpelier also spoke
briefly. If one may judge from APP
many hearty supporters in the house,
and if the bill for municipal suffrage
should escape the death trap in that
branch of the assembly, it is extreme
ly doubtful whether it's breath of life
could be maintained in the senate.
Year after year the agricultural
college and University of Vermont,
make their best bow before the legis-
lature and cry backsheesh. This
year $4,000 is asked for, 5000 of
which sum is desired professedly for
Instruction in the science of agricul-
ture, and S2,40O to pay college ex-
penses of thirty students to be APP
pointed by county senators. Until
the status of our common schools is
greatly improved, it is believed by
many that appropriations for the col
lege and university can be safely
withheld. The local option license
measure has also been thrown into
the house again, this time by Mr.. Pit
kins of Montpelier. On the other
hand Mr.. Ball of Rockingham pro-
poses to add to the stringency of the
prohibitory law by enabling chancel-
lors to close at any time as nuisances
places where Intoxicating liquors are
sold contrary to law, ON hearing, in
stead of waiting for the converting of
county court.
Mr.. Palmer of Waterbury also has
an eye upon the public morals, and
rightly wishes to rid the state of the
so called "bucket-shops, institutions
in many of the larger towns where
stock gambling is INDUCED in. His
bill provides not only penalty for
keeping such dens, but also for pun
ishing those frequenting the same,
and the owners of premises permit
ting them to be used for such pur-
poses. The deadly cigarette also re-
appears at that session, and is sup
plemented by Mr.. Billiards. bill for
bidding the gift to minors of tobacco
in any form.
Among the measures which have
come to an untimely end during the
week is one providing for the exemp
ton of pensions from trustee service,
except in cases of debt for necessa-
ries of life for the pensioner and his
family. The fate of oleomargarine
is also sealed SO far as the house is
concerned, as DR.. Holton's bill, with
some amendment, has passed that
body by an overwhelming vote. The
discussion of the question, Tuesday
morning, enabled Mr.. Prouty of
Newport, who opposed the bill, to
make the greatest speech thus far of
the session. The militia bill has been
killed in the house after an adverse
report from the committee because of
the great expense its passage would
involve. Possibly another measure
may be introduced, but it is more
probable that no further attempt will
be made to re-organize the militia
until more favorable period.
The report of the railroad commits
sion, and of the state superintendent
of schools, so long delayed by the
printers, have at last made their APP
pearance. The school report shows
a continued decrease in the number
of schools, and in the aggregate at
tendance of pupils, Notwithstanding
a slight increase of children of school
age. Not very fiattering exhibit,
especially when the fact is considered
that the expense of maintaining the
schools is considerably increased.
The former report is valuable and
interesting, but bulky, document, in
Guiding all the official doings of the
| board.
Speaker Grout has a noteworthy
gavil. which was presented him few
days since by Mr.. Adams of Panton.
1t is made from piece of oak taken