The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-22


THE committee on education contemplate
getting Hon. j. w. Patterson, state super
ntendent of education of New Hampshire,
to give talk on school matters. The adj
dress will probably take place some time
next week in representatives hall. IL is
thought that as we resemble New Hamp-
shire more closely than any other state in
physical characteristics, industrial interests
and character of the people, we can most
proftably study their excellent system of
schools There il also talk of an educator
in New York coming to give his views.
THE committee visiting the reform school
made thorough inspection of the institu-
ton, the result of which was quite satisfac-
tory. 1t is not the opinion of the committee
that undue extravaganza is practiced. The
increase of expense per capita for the past
year over that of ten years ago is accounted
for by the decrease in the income derived
from labor Formerly the contractors gave
seven cents apiece for making chairs. That
contract expired and could not be renewed.
Now three cents is all that is obtained for
chair. This accounts for the increased cost
per capita. Ii is held that retrenchment
should be made in some other direction.
AND now Vermont proposes to join the
list of states that vote in November II is a
good idea, and we hope to see her perse-
we're in the adoption of the idea. One by
one the states that voted at other times
have Joined the November column, and it
probably won't be long before they will all
get into line" says the Boston Herdld 1t
should not be taken too much for granted
that the time of elections Is to be changed.
The path Of a constitutional amendment is
long and thOrny one, and many there are
which fall out by the way. A measure
must he almost universally demanded to
get a two-thirds vote in two successive legis-
latures and be approved by the people.
DIR. BoYNToN, while introducing the gem
tleman from Warren to the education com
mittee said he " was noted for foraging upon
turkeys, chickens and pigs. If, during the
late unpleasantness, he had been half as
successful in gathering information on the
school question as he had been in gather
ing provisions in the army, he could give
good deal of information" Captain Ell
dredge retaliated by saying that the greater
part of the spoils in the army were turned
over to the surgeon to keep him quiet, and
DR.. Boypton was in the habit of dividing
the booty with the chaplain. BY his able
presentation of his views, Captain Eldredge
showed that he had succeeded in accumu-
ating very important facts on the school
question
JUDGING from the number of bills relating
to game and fish that are being introduced,
the house numbers among its members sew
eral devoteeS of the gun and rod. All these
measures are efforts to remove hunting and
fishing into the domain of true sportsman
SNIP, TO DANISH Vile clumsy anu WHOLESALE
methods of killing and to fix restrictions
which will result in the increase of fish and
game. The purpose is good, but it is as true
as preaching that the men and boys who
live on the hills will, as a rule, hunt and
angle when and in what manner they
please regardless of the requirements of the
law. A farmers boy who had a good dog
and would refrain from shooting a part
ridge that he had freed might adorn the old
fashioned Sunday-school tale, but he
never would do for hero of mine"
THE committee on elections in the East
Haven case found in substance that at the
freeman's meeting of said town there was
an election of town representative among
other officers. Fifty-one votes were cast,
son, 49, Moultrop, Is; Lund, / and there
was no choice. The president of the meet
ing held that the ballot was in part illegal
but declared A. w. Hudson elected. Con-
siderable confusion followed, amid which
the president himself put a motion to adj
journ and declared it carried. Most of the
voters left the hall. Then the first select
man (NIr. Smith, called the meeting to order
and directed attention to voting for town
representative. Six votes We're cast all for
H o. Smith, and he was therefore declared
elected by the president. The committee
find and report that the first ballot was
legal and there was no choice; that the
adjournment was improper; that the sec
ond ballot was legal and Mr.. III. o. Smith
having received a majority of all the votes
cast was duly elected as town representa-
tive.
WASHINGTON county's time to be heard on
the school question came on Monday. The
committee room was well filled with inter-
eSted spectators when DIR. Boynton called
the meeting to order. Only about half of
the county delegation, however, were pres
ent. The representatives were called up in
alphabetical order and asked the usual list
of questions. The drift of sentiment eX-
pressed was very similar to that given at
previous hearings. The larger and more
wealthy towns were not affected by the
workings of the law, while the poorer dis
tricts were greatly dissatisfied because of
the increased taxation. This seemed 10 be
the basis of all the complaints. Princi-
pal Wheeler of the Union School spoke for
Montpelier. He was in favor of the law
| in its general bearings. The fact was
brought to light that very few school au-
thorites know Of, and a less number still
had taken advantage of, section 23S of the
school law, which provides that when any
district has expended for school purposes a
sum greater than the amount of the school
moneys for that year, and One-third of its
grand list it shall receive from the town
| one-half OF such excess, provided such eX-
penditure be reasonable.
THE first passage at arms between parties
occurred w euutSudy. Inc contested East
Haven case was the foot. ball kicked about by
the legislators. The report in the case being
called up, Mr.. Moloney moved to recommit.
He said the report was incomplete and
meager. 1t did not state the facts neces-
sary to consider the case Understandings.
The report referred to legal precedents the
! house did not know whether there existed
snch citations as were spoken of or not. The
motion was carried before members had
walked up to what was going on. a motion
! to reconsider was carried Mr.. Darling de-
| Tended the report of the committee. They
had made "a thorough investigation and had
presented all the essential facts. The com
mittee was not expected to bring in all the
| testimony but merely to state their YER
diet after careful examination of the case.
! Mr.. Thompson said if they We're obliged to
make further Investigations they would be
engaged in such useless proceedings till
after thanksgiving. The motion to recon-
init was lost A sort Of free TO all discussion
eusued. Mr.. Billiard offered an amend
ment to the resolution declaring the seat
vacant, which was voted down by strict
party vote. The report of the COMMITTEES
was finally adopted and Mr.. Smith was
| sworn in.
The Barre election case is now before the
committee. The following is the case. On