St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-10-25

Hazen of Caledonia county gets
through successfully, nobody in
Vermont need lack for good reading
matter. This measure is designed
to promote the establishment of free
public libraries. 1t provides, in
brief, that if any town in the state
will elect a board of library trustees
and make annual appropria ton for
library purposes, it shall be en-
titled to one hundred dollars from
the state treasury to be expended in
the purchase OF books. The appro-
priatio which the town is expected to
make is not less than fifty dollars if
its grand list is $4,000 or upward ::
or a sum not less than twenty-five
dollars; il its grand list is less than
ten thousand dollars and not less
than twenty-five hundred dollars, or
sum not less than fifteen dollars, if
its grand list is less than twenty-five
hundred dollars. Five commission
ers, appointed by the governor and
serving without salary, are to have
charge of these library interests of
the state, and to these commission
ers the librarians or trustees of any
public library may apply for as
sistance in selection or cataloguing
of books, etc.
The value of such a measure as
this is apparent to all, and we are
glad to note that the bill has excel
lent prospects Of passage. The town
is to decide, first of all, if 1t will ac-
cept this opportunity; the burden
upon the state treasury will be a
light one; and the benefit involved in
an acceptance of this educa tional
privilege can scarcely be measured.
Such an arrangement prevails in
Massachusetts, where, it is said, but
three per of the population are with
out free public library privileges.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
There was a little surprise party
in connection with the recent cleo
ton of state officers-namely, a post
ponement of the election of state
uperintendent of education This
was the outcome of the antagonism
aroused by the bill to abolish in
corporated graded school districts
a departure which Supt Stone re-
commends. He is known to be in
favor of a complete town system;
but the passage of the bill in ques-
ton is regarded by several influential
members as portending certain
disaster to many excellent schools
now maintained in village districts,
and they will fight hard for an ad-
verse report by the committee on
educa ton, who now have the bill in
hand.
Supt. Stones recommendation is
honestly made. but he would of
course be powerless in the premises if
the legislature sees fit to kill the bill.
The opposition to him on account of
his attitude on this question may
not defeat his reelection; but it has
started quite breeze. Franklin
county, it is limited, has a candidate
for the uperintendency and de-
velOpments are awaited with in
terest.
The fact that the revision COM
have made substantially
the same recommendation in regard
to incorporated districts will doubt
less operate in Mr.. Stones favor.
At this writing, the election seems
likely to be put off till Nov. is, as
the senate is unwilling to Join the
house in naming a date therefor this
week.
RUTLAND TEMPEST.
Considerable lobby is being done
over the bill introduced in the senate
to set off a portion of the present
city of Rutland into the town of
Rutland. 1t is claimed that when
the new city was made two years
ago she took on more territory than
was intended for her, and the legis-
ature is asked to take off a slice and
restore it TO the town government.
A strong fight will be made in oppo-
sltion to the bill by those who want
the city kept intact. The fact that
the territory desired to be cut off be-
longs mainly to Senator Proctor
adds no little interest to the struggle. |
Messrs. Denison of Randolph, Young
Of Newport, Clark of st. Johnsbury,
Peck OF Brookheld, Stevens of Col |
chester and Goodell of Readsboro,
with Senators Bell, Leaveus and |
are the joint special com
mittee on this bill, and will visit Rut-
and next week and investigate.
NOTES.
That venerable topic-thc con-
of the three normal schools |
into one-has come up again this
year, but there is no indica ton of |
any radical departure in this
direction.
The committee on game and fish
cries, of which 1.-The gentleman from
St. Johnsbury" is chairman. goes to
the State Hatchery at Roxbury to-
lay to look the institution over and |
report its needs.