Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-11-09

fame was opposed to the bill. He felt that
the main objections urged were not ground
ed on the present law, but could be traced
to the manner of its enforcement. He
cited the town of Wardsboro as a case in
point. When that town first went into the
town system, it was with struggle, and
that struggle continued for several years
with the final result constantly in doubt.
But now everybody and everything in
Wardsboro had become adjusted to the
town system, and nowhere does the sys-
tenn receive a more hearty and loyal sup
port. Like results, he thought, would
follow elsewhere and when the law had
been perfected and tried it would bring to
us general satisfaction. The Windham
county expression voices very well the gen.
eral scope of the discussion. The point
given most prominence by the supporters
of the bill was that the present law took
from the people long-established rights in
refusing them the powers of local self
government.
On Mr.. Mann's motion to dismiss the
vote stood yea 103, nay 125. Windham
county voted: Yes-Adams, Hines, Ev-
ans, Hubbard, ingalls,, Mann, Read, Walk
er, Ware, Weston, Whitcomb, Wyman,
Jones; ino-Grout of Somerset, Hough-
ton, Lynde, Pier, Wilder, Yearley, Yeaw
On motion of Mr.. Ladd of AlbuIgh the
vote passing the bill to third reading was
reconsdered, and the bill was referred to a
special committee consisting of seven MEM
bers to be appointed by the chair to con-
slider the bill further and remedy, if posi-
BILE, its defects. Mr.. Ladd was appointed
chairman of the committee and the other
members are mostly in sympathy with the
mo hn trrl,n -, 81
doubtless pass the house.
The question now most prominent is,
What will the senate do? 1t has been CON
sidered, and still is, think, that the latter
body will allow no encroachment on the
town system on the ground that it should
have a fair trial. Surprises are now in the
air, however, in matters legislative as well
as political, and no one is making predic-
tions to be sworn by. No important action
in other educational matters has been taken
as yet, although the past week has brought
out very many bills in that direction. The
latest plan for the selection of free text
books is to have it done by a county board
consisting of the county examiner and one
member of the school board from each
town.
In highway matters no action has been
taken as yet. The latest move is to have
the matter of returning to the old highway
system left optional with each town. In
view of the action just taken by the house
in placing the school system on an option
al basis, on the ground that any other is
oppressive, it is difficult to see how any
different action can be consistently taken
on the highway system.
Shall We Have an Attorney General!
The bill establishing the Office of attor-
ney general is receiving attention, although
no action has been taken upon it as yet in
committee. The senate bill provides that
the salary of the office shall be $1,000, and
that the appointment shall be made by the
supreme court judges. This feature, it is
claimed, will remove the office from the
domain of politics and insure high grade
man. 1t is urged that nearly every other
state has a similar officer, and that Yer
mont could serve the interest of economy
by having one also. 1t is made the duty
of the incumbent to look after the states
interests in all the more prominent crimi-
nal trials, assisting the states attorneys,
and take the place of the latter officers
when they are incapacitated in any way.
He is also to be the counsel of the state of
ficers in official matters. 1t is said that the
state now pays for extra services to attor-
neys annually more than the proposed sal
airy. A similar bill was defeated a few
years ago on the ground that it was not
wise to create any more salaried offices.