Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-10-19
TYfE LEGLSLATtRE
The Work of the session DeveIoping---
what hns been done the past wcch.

Letter from our special correspondent
MONTPELIER oct. II. 1855
The legislature is now getting down 10
solid work About one hundred and thirty
bills have been introduced to date. Several
of them propose very important changes in
existing laws. The school bill is generally
accorded the first place in Importance The
impression prevails here that the measure
will be adopted substantially in the shape
proposed by the Commission. 1t is felt that
the Commissioners who reported the bill
are experts in educational matters. have
studied the question thoroughly, and that
their views are entitled to more weight
than those of the average legislator. 1t is
estimated that the change from town to
county supervision will involve an extra
expense of about $4,000. The feature re
quiring that an amount equal to eighteen
cents on a dollar Of the grand list of each
town be divided among the school districts.
one half equally in most of the towns, will
go a long way toward lessening the burden
which the back districts now have to bear.
The provision that the prudential commit
tee must be elected by ballot will put a stop
to the 81 nominate you for committee, you
hire my girl TO teach business MANY
other features of the bill are generally com
mended
MIR. Sherwins bill providing for a return
to the old highway district system Of repair
ing the roads has many advocates, espec-
tally from the hill towns. and will probably
get ON to the statute book in some form.
The professional men do most of the talking
in the House. but this is one of the subjects
on which good many farmers will venture
to speak, and lively times may be expected
when it comes up for discussion.
The usual bill providing for the division
of the taxes on mortgaged real estate he
tween mortgagor and mortgagee. in pro
portion to their respective interests. has
been introduced, and will probably meet
with its usual fate. The question has been
too large a one for several previous legsla
lures and no new lights seem turned upon
il now
The bill relating to savings banks and
trust companies, introduced by Mr.. Wal
bridge of Concord is exciting good deal
of interest and will probably be strongly
opposed, although in the line of suggestions
of Gov. Dillingham; and ex Gov. Ormsbee
Bank officers claim that the reduction from
$1,000 to $500 as the limit above which de
posits would be subject to local taxation
would result in large Withdrawals bv de
., &
per cent. of the entire assets as the limit Of
investments in real estate mortgages out
side of the state has been strongly advo-
Gated by Inspector of Finance Page. and bv
Inspector Dubois before him The adop-
tion of the latter proposal, leaving the limit
Of local taxation of individual deposits as az
present, is what now seems most likely to
be accomplished by the bill
The bill introduced two days ago to re
organize and largely increase the militia Of
the state was a surprise to the rank and file
IN the legislature. Its passage in its pres
ent shape, especially if it calls for large
appropriation, is not probable.
Ex-Gov. Proctor made his first speech i'm
the House this afternoon on the subject of
Appropriations likely to be asked for at
this session. The Senate bill providing for
celebration at Bennington on the compile
tion of the battle monument was being
considered, and he called attention to the
fact that the expenses of the state were
some Sl5O.OOO more last year than during
the previous year, and that with all the
calls likely to be made on the treasury in
providing for the wards of the state. the
expense of the possible new school law. the
erection of a new building for the criminal
insane, and other necessary expenditures
1t would be expedient to go slow on extras
The bill was promptly ordered to lie, and
every one present had revelation as to
the probable policy of the House on the
subject of extra appropriations.
DIR. Holton's bill prohibiting the manu-.
face and sale of olemargarine was to .day
ordered to a third reading and will doubt
less pass the House tomorrow.
Mr.. Mann's bill providing for Commits
sion to investigate our internal affairs and
devise plan for a State Bureau of Immi-
grafton is highly spoken of on all hands
Our state has been flooded for years with
circulars and pamphlets setting forth. not
always in their true light, the attractions
of the far west. All of the Western states
heve their Immigration Commissioners, and
to them largely owe their rapid increase in
population. 1t is only by such a plan as Mr.
Mann outlines that our resources as state
can become known, and our waste places