Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-11-16


county, who claimed that so far as that
county was concerned, at least, but very
little benefit had been derived. DR.. Wes-
ton favored striking off the three ciphers
from the $1,000 and leaving the fish COM
missioners the 81 to close up the establish
ment and get out of town with. Several
others opposed the bill. The arguments
advanced in favor of the bill were mainly
to the effect that the state had already in
vested a considerable sum in the enterprise,
and that to cripple it with a small appro-
priation was equivalent to its abandonment
To stock the waters with fish, even to a
limited extent, would attract summer Wis
itors to the state and thus be the means of
a revenue to our people far in excess of the
cost. As business venture, it was argued
it would return many fold. The reason
why our sister state of New Hampshire so
far eXcels us in drawing summer visitors is
that she is lavish in her efforts to promote
this and other kindred enterprises.
The bill to extend the limits of the viii
lage of Brattleboro was reported adversely
to the house today and refused a third
reading. 1t is understood that it was op-
posed before the committee by parties who
were to be taken into the village under the
bill. Mr.. Hiness bill, enabling incorpor-
aries, which passed the house last week,
is thought to have now clear sailing in the
senate. This bill would seem to be per-
fectly fair one to all interests, as it pro-
vides that not only shall the incorporated
school district vote for any proposed
change, but the outside town school dis
tricts must also vote for it before it can be
made; but notwithstanding this there was
quite an element of opposition to the
measure ia the house. There is apparent
ly an unusual senstiveness this year in all
matters that have any connection with
supposed encrOachments of the larger vii
lagos on outside interests.
The two factions in the Rutland fight
are marshaling their hosts, and the contest
promises to be the one of the session.
Two large maps, one in the interest of
each faction, adorn the walls directly in
front of the entrance to the hall of the
house, and a representative of each side
of the question is on hand to explain his
own map and the whole question, from his
standpoint, to all who will listen. 1t is
safe to say that each faction has made a
thorough canvass of the legislature, and
from Information cleaned in this way and
that already knows the sentiment of all the
members who are not hermetically sealed.
The house killed a string of three school
district bills Tuesday: To equaize school
property by towns paying the old districts
for their schoOlhouses and land; to equalize
school property by the towns paying the
| old districts on the ratio of their property
to the ratio of the entire property of the
town, and to dispose OF the surplus funds
of the old school districts by giving them
TO the taxpayers in proportion to their lists.
The Red Glover the State Flower.
Last Friday morning the house took
from the table the state flower bill, and
after a brief discussion as to whether the
word'red" should be placed before the
word Glover, the bill was passed with
| this amendment. In the afternoon it passed
the senate under suspension of the rules,
and was signed by the governor II minutes
later.
Judge Reads Bill to Secure UnifOrm-
ity of Legislation.
A considerable portion of the time of
the house yesterday and to-day was taken
up in considering the bill relating to the
promotion of uniformity of legislation in
the United states. As amended by the
house the bill provided that the governor
should appoint by and with the advice of
the senate, a commissioner to meet like
| commissioners of other states, examine
the subjects of marriage and divorce, the
| execution and probate of wills, descent
and distribution of personal estate, in
! solvency, commercial papers, execution
and acknowledgement of deeds, etc, and
ascertain the best means to effect uni
formity in the laws of the several states.
The results of such meetings, and in
vestigatons with suggestions as to the
course of action which should best ac-
complish the purpose of the act, should be
embodied in q report by the commissioner
to the governor on or before Sept. l, 1896,
and bennially thereafter. The bill pro
vided that the appointment should carry
no compensation. The Vermont Bar
association recommended the measure,
and the judiciary committee all favored
it, with the exception of Mr.. Ladd of AL
burgh, who precipitated the fight in the
house. He was very confident that the
bill was drawn in the interest of the wick
ed lawyers and could read it between the
lines that some of them would secure
this appointment, travel all over the
United States, perhaps, during the next
two years, and then bring in large bill
to the next legislature, notwithstanding
the provision that the appointment
should carry no compensation. Mr. Ladt
favored the object sought to be attained
but wanted it to be brought about in hi'
own way, stating that when the bill
should be killed he would introduce 6
joint resolution relating to the subject
, Mr.. Mann of Wilmington opposed tn
bill on the ground that it would establish
permanent commission and might sad
die something on to us that would not b.
desirable to us hereafter. He preferret
J to meet the exigency when it arose. l
l was claimed for the bill by judge Reat
! and others that the object sought wa
t very desirable to be carried out, that
5 majority of the states had already takel
t similar action, and that there was n
r possible chance for a cat in the meal, a
r the appointment would naturally go to
man of ability and character in his pro
fession, who would be glad to accept tn
g trust as an honorary one.
e The bill was refused third reading b
4 a majority of about 40, on an aye and ma,
D vote, but today it was brought forwar
l again on motion to reconsider, with tn
- idea that a change of sentiment had OF
cured, but the result of the second ay
and nay vote showed to the contrary
! This afternoon Mr.. Ladd introduced hi
e Joint resolution relating to the matter
r which provides for the appointment of
: commissioner by the governor, in his di:
e cretion, who Shall receive his actual eH