News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-10-18
THE VERMONT LEGISLATURE.

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the state existing under a special
charter. No measure will awaken
more oppOsitiOn-it will be the most
stubbOrnly contested bill of the SEES
sion. 1t has strong endorsement
and backing by its friends, who say
if the town system is to be in force at
all it should be made to apply to all
the towns in the state. Those who
favor keeping up the incorporated
schools say their abolition will lower
the standard of education. But the
law may be made to contain a clause
that the present standard shall not
be impaired The state superintend-
ent of education, the revision com
mittee and others recommend the re-
voking of all special charters.
In this same line-education-a bill
was introduced by Mr.. Nathaniel of
Poultney, providing for free text
books-which is we'll enough; it also
calls for a state board of education
of seven members-which is perhaps
not so we'll The fact is, we are get
ting too many of these Estate
boards" A glance at the report of
the state auditor will show that the
expenses of state boards for the past
two years was 100000. Suppose a
bill was introduced calling for an
appropriation of $4,000 to defray
the expenses of state boards for the
ensuing two years. What q stir it
would make, and yet that is what is
being expended.
THE REVISED LAWS.
The matter of how the new revision
shall be dealt with is decided. 1t is
to be undertaken by the judiciary
committees of both houses, acting
jointly, with the assistance of clerks
hired and paid by the state. SO it
looks now as if this work might be
done in time to adjourn at the usual
season-Thanksgiving. AS many of
the proposed enactments are amend
ments of existing laws, it has been
suggested that bills of this nature
should refer to the section of the YER
mont Statutes, so called, then if the
bill becomes a law the amendment
can easily be made when the new
work is edited.
SCARCITY OF MATERIAL.
The legislature can hardly be said
to have settled down to work yet;
bills come in slowly, and up to date
about fifty is the sum total
A bill introduced by Mr.. Winslow
of Brandon, the able and affable
chairman of the committee on agr-
culture, in regard to the law of libel
was one looking to the protection of
newspaper editors. 1t provided, in
brief, that if the newspaper publish
ing what turned out to be libel re-
canted and apologized in three days,
or in the next issue of a weekly"
the party libelled should only be en-
titled to such damages as he could
show he actually suffered. In case
the "libelled" was a candidate for
public Office the retraction was to be
in the form of an editorial. The bill
was not to apply to females. What
ever of merit or demerit there might
be in the b Il it was speedily reported
adversely and died young. 1t went
to the judiciary committee and the
lawyers could see no reason for "ac-
tual damages" only. Where would
their fees come from in such a case?
THE TRIP TO BURLINGTON.
Over 800 senators, members and
state officers took in the trip to the
Fort and the Queen City. The steady
downpour of rain sadly interfered
with the pleasure of the Journey and
the sightseeing. The visitors saw the
buildings at Ethan Allen and saw the
battalion go through a few evOlu-
tions. Then a visit was made to the
college and experiment station, and
after wait of about two hours the
master of ceremonies announced,
"Vittles is ready-pitch in" A fine
cold collation. was spread on the ia
bles and Burlington's hospitality
was done ample justice to. Speeches
were make by Gov. Woodbury., who
always acquits himself admirably in
an after-dinner speech, Senator Proc
tor, who was in supremely felicitous
mood, Capt. Leach for the u. s.
Army, Lieut.-Gov. Mansur for the
senate, j. D. Denison for the house,
and President Buckham. About Il
p. m. the wet and weary lawmakers
reached Montpelier, most of them
with the recollection of a pleasant
occasion despite the rain.
ELECTION OF STATE OFFICERS.
On Thursday a jOintresolution was
offered in the house for a joint ses-
sion the next day to elect state Off.
GERS. The senate thought this was a
little too previous and proposed to
amend by inserting Thursday, Octo-
Der IS, in place of Friday, October
II. AS was proper, of course, the
lower branch agreed to the change OF
date. The officers to be elected are
judges of supreme court, superinten.
dent OF education, brigadier general,
adjutant general, judge advocate
general and sergeant-at-arms. For
the last named place the efficient
Phinney is booked, of course. All
the Others will be reflections, except
that Col. E. L. Bates of Bennington
is to be Judge advocate. Handsome
popular and capable he will make 6
beau ideal military judge. 1t was in