Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-19
OUR MONTPELIER LETTERS.

| COmn1lTCo9S at WOIh- AStOuuu-
ing" School Laws Introduced
IlAno Their HighwaHBlII-The Ladies'
Receptlon-A Week That Will Be
Remembered BY Old Sololiers-A
Sudden Death, etc.
MONTPELIER, Oct. 18th, 1894.
1t can now be said that the business of
the session is under good Roadway, and
bills are being introduced that by the
! time of another moon will cause a change
of affairs in the way of speeches for and
against, which will be interesting, and
the legislator whose mind is bent on the
interests of his town and State, will not
'lag,n but be at his post every time so
as to grasp the situation, and know how
to vote intelligently. Still the "heavi-
est bills have not yet been introduced.
The various committees have got
| to work and hearings on bills are in pro-
| greSs in the committees rooms. The
| Committee on Education has an unusual
amount of important work, and occa
siOnally holds night session. Several
prominent educators from the Northern
part of the State have been before the
committee, it being deemed best that
this be so on account of one or two of
| the "astounding'' bills that have been
| introduced, and earnest work is needed
to make an adverse report, especially on
the bill introduced by Mr.. Weston of
| Newfane-of which you spoke editorial
| ly in Tuesdays BANNER-which is an
act abOlishing Incorporated school dis
tricts in the State. 1t certainly does not
meet with favor by the Hermit" l
see no compensating advantages to the
outlying districts by such course, and
it is an unjust blow at the educational
system of the larger places. At this
moment my mind reverts to the Bennin-
ton Graded school. l know from per-
| sonal experience of those who have, and
are attending it, and of the superior ad-
vantages given therein. To take away
these charters is in most cases to put
the high class municipal schools under
the management of those who now con-
troll the rural schools, condition, 1
think, that would work great harm to
the former, with no compromising adj
vantage to the latter. Neither does it
seem to me that the rural districts
would welcome the change, good people
as they are. l cannot imagine what sort
of "mark' Mr.. Weston was trying to
make when he introduced such a bill;
and surprising it is too, to know that
there are quite large number of the
lawmakers who favor the scheme, but |
do not for a moment think the commit
tee will report favorably on the bill, or
that it will stand any chance of passing
the House.
Also, in House Bill, "A, introduced by
Mr.. Wilder of Nottingham, are these
words: But no schools now estab-
lished shall be discontinued without the
consent of the seectmen." This is an
other wild idea from Windham coun
ty! Why mix up the business of school
management with the powers of the Sc
lectmen, so long as the school directors
are competent to manage the business
for which they have been elected? 1t is
evidently the wiser way to give the
school board the sole control OF the
schools and to hold the members exclu-
sively responsible for the administration
of their trust. This attempt to put a
curb upon them looks like an effort to
emasculate the law. Mr.. Wilders case,
l think, is purely local, and he should
bear in mind that the whole State is not
likely to pass so homogeneous law to
please portion of the town of Whiting
ham, which "miffy' difficulty may wear
itself off in little while.
The passage of House bill, 10, to en-
commissioner, was refused. The COM
mittee reported adversely.
Mr., Peck of Brookfield, introduced
House bill, 70, to increase the efficiency
of the highway service. II provides for
the swearing in of the road commission
er, and for the appointment by him of
one man for every $50 or less inhabitants
of q tOwp. not living in an incorporated
village or city, to keep the highways in
tirst-class condition during the wheeling
season. 1t is not known yet what the
report on this bill will be-
House bill, So, introduced by Mr..
Nathaniel of POultney: "To prevent a
horse or team running away on the pub
lie highway, street or sidewalk" The
animal shall be hitched securely, unless
in charge of some person, if not, pay
fine of So.
The ladies' reception, Tuesday even
ing was brilliant affair, and Mrs. Gov.
Woodbury. is to be congratulated on it's
great success. At o'clock, the process
sion of over 1000 commenced to wend
its way toward the Governors room, and
it was nearly 10 o'clock when the last
couples were presented. The route was
by the clerks room, through the ante
room to the executive chamber. At the
door of the main room each couple was
met by young lady, who escorted the
visitors to the presence of Mrs. Wood
bury, who most graciously received
them. Among the distinguished guests
present noticed Major A. B. Valentine
and wife, Gen. and Mrs. Mccullough.
and Col. Coffey of Bennington. There
were also leading society people from
Burlington, st. Adams, Rutland, Brattle-
boro and elsewhere. Many brilliant
toilettes we're seen, and this pleasant in
auguation of the festivities of Ladies'
Week at the Capitol has again passed in
to history as a brilliant success.
While all this was going on at the
State House, the annual campfire and
banquet of the Eighth Vermont Regi.
meut Association was being held at the
Montpelier House, and also the twenty
second annual reunion of the survivors
of the First Vermont Cavalry Regiment,
at the Exchange hotel.
If there is one thing more than an
other that appeals to the patriotism and
love of every American citizen, it is to
watch the animated countenances, the
whitening locks, the bending forms, the
furrowed cheeks and the silent tears of