Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-10-31
THE LEGISLATURE

count of Columbus day the weeks
record of work completed is a short
one. The committees have had sew
eral hearings, and sentiment on some
of the more important question is as
Stunning shape. The special committee
on the worlds fair held a meeting last
evening and plans were unfolded
which will involve a further appro-
priation of $4,000. 1t seems that the
act appropriating 700 at the spec
ial session was so worked that the
commissioners doubted their authori-
ty to use any portion of that amount
for state building. When the time
came that required immediate action
In erecting building, 100 of the promi-
nent men of the state were asked to
guarantee 800 each, or SO, 200 in all,
SO that the work might. proceed at
once. This faction was taken, it is
said, with the expectation that the
legislature would come to the rescue
of the guarantors. In addition to the
cost of the building the commissioners
ask for $4,000 to cover furnishing, and
the expense of running the establish
ment through the fair.
The addition asked for makes up
just the $50, 900 which was the estimate
made by the commissioners two years
ago as the amount needed to make a
creditable display. Gov. Fuller, just
back from Chicago, with the whole
subject fresh in mind, made some in
teresting remarks before.the commit
tees as to the magnitude of the fair
and Vermont's part in it. 1t was plain
to see that it is his opinion that suit
able appropriation should be made to
even if we have to make it up by
economizing somewhere else.
The woman's suffrage question, as
usual, is referred to the judiciary
committee this year. A comparison
of these petitions with those of for
mer years reveals the fact that con-
siderably less number have signed
them. Many of them only show from
II to 20 names from quite stable
towns. Evidence is not wanting that
some one person who understands the
business is directing the movement.
The petitions are all backed in the
same hand,sand tiedxwith yellow rib
bon and folded with precision that
makes each one, in outward appear
ance, almost a fac smile of the whole
Mr.. Stafford, the citizens represent
ative from the conservative town Of
st. Johnsbury, presented the suffrage
bill in the house and, it is understood,
will champion the cause. He is
ready and pleasant speaker and one
of the brightest men in the house.
Though elected: largely by democratic
votes, he is pretty good republican,
apparently. In casting his vote for
Senator Proctor he made the state
ment that he had given no pledges
that would interfere with what he re-
garded alike pleasure and duty.
Like Mr.. stafford, the bulk of the
democratic representatives are young
men; % of 1.-THE 43 were elected from
towns giving a majority to the repub-
ican state ticket, in some cases quite
a large one. The party policy of put
ting forward their most popular young
men has doubtless given them at least
one-half of their present strength.
The committee on education are
nearly ready Ito report a bill which
will embrace most of the features of
the town system of schools. Every
member of the committee, it is un-
derstood, favors the town system of
support, but few of them are desir-
Gus of having the districts retain the
ownership and care of the school
property. The objection urged to
this feature is that it,would oe difficult
to keep the property in uniform and
proper condition unless under the con-
troll of one board The main features
of the bill, as it now seems.most like
ly to be reported are about as follows:
The school property in each county is
to be appraised by a board of three
men appointed by the judges of the
county court. The total appraisal for
each town is to be the basis for a tax
to be assessed to pay for the property,
each district being credited with the
value of its own The
schools are to be managed by school
board of three or six members, who |
are to choose superintendent from
their number or elsewhere. Several
towns may unite in support of a su-
perintendent if desired. All certif-
Gates are to be granted by county |
examiner, as at present. The schools /
and school property are to be sup
ported by tax on the grand list of the I