Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-11-21
THE LEGISLATURE OF 1890,
OUR MONTPELIER LETTER.
A Week Of New and Lively Business.

The New School Bnl---The Proposed New
Corporation Tax Law---The House Votes
TO Cut the Supreme Court Judges Down
TO Six, Kills the Liquor License Bill,
and Passes the Bill for a New Agricul-
tural College by a Strong Vote.
MONTPELIER. Nov. 10
The committee on education presented the
long expected school bill Tuesday after
noon Its leading provisions are as fol-
lows Each town is TO constitute a single
district for school purposes, with the ex-
ception that incorporated school districts
are to remain separate, but may vote to
become nart Of the town system if they so
desire. All school property is to be APP
praised and credited to the several districts
towards their proportion Of taxes. The
districts are TO retain their organization
only till the school property is adjusted.
Each town is to choose three prudential
committee to hold office three years, with
terms so regulated that one new member
shall be chosen each year Towns of 5000
10 10000 inhabitants shall have six com
mitteemen; towns of more than 10000 nine
committeeman One-third Of the members
of the board in each case may be females
Each committee shall choose clerk, having
similar duties to school district clerks.
School shall be supported at least twenty
four weeks in each district, and the com
mittee may use a portion of the school
money in providing conveyance for pupils ;
also may arrange for instruction of pupils
in adjoining towns, and may provide grad
ed schools and the teaching of higher
branches.
The committee shall draw orders on the
town treasurer for all school expenses,
which shall be charged to the school fund
in their hands. Selectmen shall assess a
tax of not less than twenty cents, or more
than fifty cents ON the dollar for school
purposes, to be collected as other town
taxes are The school year shall begin ON
the day of annual March meeting. The
prudential committee shall choose "A super
intendent of schools, who may be a woman
whose salary shall be voted by the town, but
shall not be less than 81 per day. Two
or more adjoining towns may unite on one
superintendent. The superintendent shall
visit schools, make recommendations to the
committee, and may issue special permits
for persons to teach in small districts, with
the consent of committee, but for not more
than two terms for one teacher. The state
superintendent of education and the gov
ernor shall appoint one person in each
county, who shall be a resident to act as
public examiner of teachers The pJblic
examiner shall have no jurisdiction over
the principals of higher departments of
graded schools and teachers in such schools
are required to take but one examination
| during their connection Herewith. The
examiner shall grant them grades of certi-
| ficates, the first grade to those who have
| had fifty weeks or more Of successful ex-
| perience in teaching, which certificates
shall be good for five years anywhere in the
state the second grade to teachers of
twelve weeks experience, and good for
two years anywhere in the state and the
third grade for a specified time not to eX-
]
tricts No third grade certificate shall be
issued to teachers of more than twenty
four weeks experience, aud no teacher
/ having failed at one examination shall take
another in less than three months. Teach
ers must be at least seventeen years of age
The examiners shall hold institutes under
the direction of the state superintendent
and shall furnish him statistical and Other
information, and shall be under his genera
supervision. They shall receive 81 per day
for time actually employed, and necessar!
expenses not to exceed 81 per day, an,
shall be paid semi annually from the stat,
treasury. incorporated school district
shall share the school money in proportion
to their grand list.
Chapter two of the school law of 1888 i
repealed, and this act is to take effect Alarcl
/, 1891. The bill amounts substantially
to the town system with additional machin
cry, and will hardly meet the views o
those who wish to return to the simplicit,
of the fathers The feeling of many Is tina
it will be more expensive, if enacted, thai
our present law.
Tuesday was also notable for the adven
of the corportion tax bill, the report o
committees on the high license and agri
cultural college bills, the contest owe
the supreme court judge question an
other minor matters, which, taken all tc
gether. made it the busiest and most inter
esting day of the session The corporatio
; tax bill will doubtless be accepted as til
result of too much paiustaking thought an
investigation on the part of its trainers
admit of much Improvement at the hand
of the law makers at this late day of tn
, session, and will be likely to go throug
without change. Some Of the insuranC
: men and other parties affected are maxim
vigorous protests, however and will secur
better terms if possible. The estimated il
: crease of revenue under this bill over th'
from the present law is from 100000 I
$40 900 annually. The main features
the bill are given elsewhere,
Mr.. Clark of Halifax opened the debat
on his bill cutting down the number of Il
, supreme court judges and reducing the
salaries in a fifteen minutes speech,
which he quoted widely from legal author
ties to the effect that court business vi
S decreasing and less number of men cou
is perform the work. This legislature WI
A elected, he said, on a special issue which
=, must meet or be consigned to oblivion, al
3 no matter where the knife might strike
> must be applied, This was the first oppo
y tunity squarely presented and should
k met. The people were expecting it al
d any evasion would meet its deserved r
ward Mr.. Sherwin of Jamaica and NJ
Brown of Nottingham strongly favor
VI the bill, the latter proposing an amendme
lie making the full bench consist of six judg
lie and retaining their present salaries, viii
d finally met the approval Of the house, al
n thus amended the bill was passed by a vC
-. of more than three to one.
~ The arguments presented by Jud
I'd Thompson and others fAvoring the contin
c, ance of seven judges were strong ones, a
ne without doubt, had it not been for the
-. trenchmeut issue the vote for a chan
/. would not have been carried. The fact ii
nc Judge Thompson lwho by virtue of
nj chairuanship of the judiciary commit
nd was forced to defend the action of his co
ms mittee in reporting against the bilD, i
.s leading candidate for the judgeship. sery
to greatly lessen the effect of his able arl
ment Another thing that no doubt &C
~ trihuted to the result was the uncalled-i
p attack made by him on Judge Barrett,
a cause he had made IA recent statement
an the effect that six judges are enough. I
"a bill now goes to the senate, but as Il
- body has already defeated measure i'd
teal in substance, It is claimed by so
ed that this one cannot be considered by tn
in under parliamentary law. This cont
Use gency aside, it is not unlikely that the s.
,es ate would reconsider its former vote, VIII
ia was a close one. The strong vote of
"' house, and the practically unanimous me-
CT paper demand would contribute to sue