The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-11-06
Review of the Work bone ut the
SInIe HOuae.

Review of the Work Done at the
state House.
Col. Forbes in the Boston Journal, re
views the Vermont law makers up h
Monday of this week in these words
1.-THE Vermont Legislature has, up t.
the present time. been in session % days
it having convened Oct. 1. During this
period 127 bills have been introduced in
the Senate and 337 in the House, making
total of 464 bills offered in both
branches for enactment. The limit OF
time for offering bills, except by permis.
sion of two-thirds of the members, ex.
pired Oct. 81. Some very important
legislation has been proposed in the Gen
eral Assembly, but thus far no measure
of much consequence has passed the
Senate or House. The Legislature has
usually adjourned sine die the day pre-
vIous to Thanksgiving, but if final adj
journment is effected this year by Nov.
u, which is the latest date on which
Thanksgiving Day can be properly APP
pointed, it will be necessary for the
members of both branches to expedite
business much faster during the remain
ing 81 week days than they have in the
past.
"GOod work has been done in the past
three weeks by the Senate and House
committees, and numerous as well as
protracted hearings have been held for
the consideration of the most important
bills. 1t is likely the coming week will
witness the reporting of several of these
bills by the committees having them in
charge. IL seems to be pretty well estab-
lished in the minds of experienced
COOKERS on" at the State House that no
measures which are not conservative in
their character, and for the bestinterests
of the people of the State, can be passed
Many unwise acts proposed have been
killed, much to the credit of the Senators
and Representatives.
THE principal measures yet to be con-
sidered are these: A bill to establish a
separate and independent State Agricul-
tural College, to be maintained by the
land grant appropriations made by Con-
gress, which now form an annual fund
amounting to $4,000 in round numbers
The University of Vermont and State
Agricultural College at Burlington is at
present the beneficiary of these appro-
priations. The movement to establish a
new agricultural college has very
strong and substantial backing among
the leading farmers of the State, but the
proposed measure is being vigorously
opposed by the friends of the University
of Vermont. The school law of 1888 has
been the subject of much consideration
among the assembled Legislators. Several
bills have been introduced repeating or
to revise the present law, and the Com
mittee on Education has heard several
hundred interested persons on this sub
ject. There are many opponents of the
school law as it stands on the statute
books, but the friends of the act are nu-
merous, and include the great body of
teachers in the public schools of the
State. The supporters of the present
bill favor amending the bill in several
important particulars, and it is probable
that the main features of the law will be
retained, and that the amendments
recommended by the State Superintend-
ent of Education-the principal one pro-
viding for State school tax-will be in
corpOrated in the revised act. The
School law of 1888 has not been opera
tive sufficient length of time to give it
a fair trial, but the results already effect
ed under it are very satisfactory and in
the line of improvement in the common
school system of the State. The ques-
ton of taxation is one that is likely to
occupy considerable time. The decision
of the State Supreme Court that that
portion of the Corporation Tax law tax
ing the earnings of railroads on inter
state business is unconstitutional neces-
states a radical change in this law. The
matter of double taxation of mortgaged
real estate and Of the taxation of deposits
in savings institutions and of other
property is also to come up for consider
alton.
"There is likely to be considerable dis
cussion in the Legislature over the High
License bill and the proposed re-enact-
ment of the prohibitory law. Then there
are number of proposed measures for
which appropriations are asked, the con-
sideration of which will provoke debate,
involving the question of State expenses,
which has been so prolific theme for
discussion since the Legislature con-
vened. In addition to the usual appro-
priatiOns for State institutions and ex-
penses for State officers, the sum Of
$50, 900 will be required to heat, light
and furnish the new State Asylum. An
appropriation of at least S20, 900 is wanted
for the exhibit of the resources of the
DlttC ~ bllC Nbllu It dlhO q
sufficient sum for the proper celebration
of the centennial of Vermont admission
into the Union and for the dedication of
the Bennington Battle Monument in 1891.
The Weekly Payment bill, the Australian
Ballot System bill, the bill the reduce the
number of Supreme Court Judges and a
number of equally important measures
are also to be considered Several con-
stitutional amendments have been pro-
posed, which are yet to be discussed and
voted upon. One amendment proposes
to change the time for holding the State
election from September to November,
and provides for the assembling of the
Legislature in January biennially. The
Legislature will elect Judges of the Su-
preme Court some time before adjourn
ment, and the election will take place as
soon as the bills relating to the Supreme
Court are disposed of. The general
opinion here seems to be that the bills
providing for reduction in the number
OF Judges will be killed, and also the
bill to reduce their salaries.
1.-THE following bills have been signed
by Gov. Page and become laws: Senate
AN act to repeal section 1915 of the Re-
vlsed Laws, relating to insurance agents;
an Act IN amendment of section 1916, re-
lating, relating to the discharge of poor
debtors; an Act relating to the charter
Of the Vermont Investment and Guaran-
ty Company; an Act relating to the com
mitment of inmates of the Soldiers
Home to the Insane Asylum; and Acts
to legaliZe the grand lists of the towns
Of Jay, West Rutland and Sudbury. Also
House bills extending the Jurisdiction
Of the Sheriff of the city of Vergennes;
giving Justices of the Peace concurrent
Jurisdiction with County Courts of
offences for intoxication; enlarging the
powers of the Montpelier Public Library
Association; relating TO the oath to be
administered to an officer taking charge
of jury in criminal causes; an Act to
incorporate the Deerfield Valley Railroad
Company, and an act extending the time
for the protection of deer to 1900"
oG N