Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-11-13
InstantaneOus Death.
THURSDAY EVENING.
The Rate of Savings Bank Interest.

The Kate OF Savings Bank Interest.
The house bill plac ng the maximum
rate OF interest TO be paid by savings banks
at two per cent semi-annually passed the
senate this afternoon. This reduction was
suggested by the inspector of finance, who
states that while some of the banks by aid
of their large surplus might continue TO
pay the two and one-fourth per cel rate,
other banks which have a smaller surplus
and are thus less able TO pay the higher
rate might be tempted to go beyond the
proper point in trying TO keep pace. This
reduction in savings bank interest is re-
garded by some as a step toward a slight
reduction from six per cent in the real es-
tate loan market when the prospective good
times shall come in substance. The senate
promptly killed the bill, few days ago,
taxing locally all savings bank deposits
over $500. The sentiment in that body is
favorable to raising the limit to $1,000 that
shall go untaXed locally, on the ground
that it is good business policy to foster an
| interest that nets TO the state treasury
more than one-half enough TO pay the or
binary state expenses, the amount last year
being S2O7,515. There are not the usual
number of bills granting charters for new
banks this session. 1t seems to be the
feeling that the state is well covered with
these institutions and that it is unwise to
encourage the establishment of new ones
which cannot expect for a long time TO be
able to compete with the old banks
A feature of the session almost as well
established as ladies' week is the visit to
the capital of nearly all the High schools
in the state who can make the trip and re-
turn in day. They come in special cars,
the railroads making them very low rate
OF fare, and this week they are filling every
nook and corner in lobby and gallery of
Representatives hall. They are accom-
panied by their teachers, use their
note books freely, and apparently make
the occasion very profitable and enjoyable.
They show much greater wisdom than the
ladies by making their visits at time in
the session when there is something going
on.
Mr.. Clark of Westminster has succeeded
in getting through two bills, one of which
allows towns holding money in trust for
cemeteries and lots TO have one or more
trustees to look after the matter instead of
only one as now provided by law. Mr..
Clark's other bill requires that when
changes in village boundaries or charters
for villages are TO be asked for from the
legislature notice shall be given of such
intended action by publication in a county
newspaper for three weeks.
Col. Haskins Puts the House on Rec
ord.
A hill perhaps more far reaching in its
effects on the state treasury than any that
has been before the legislature for years
was refused its passage in the house this
forenoon. 1t provided that all witnesses
except those in attendance upon a justice
&c sail 4 haf
officer TO give deposition, should receive
two dollars per day for their services, an
amount Just double the present fees. A
good many members thought one dollar
per day not enough for such service and
the bill on its face, without much thought
as TO what it carried with it, had rather a
taking effect, so that 1t had been ordered
to third reading by good majority. Mr.
Haskins, who had opposed the bill in its
previous stages, sat up a good portion of
last night and prepared a statement show
ing the expenditures of the state for wit
ness fees during the years 1895 and 1885,
Armed with this information he made per-
haps the most effective and convincing
speech that has been heard in the house
this session. 1t had been urged in favor
of the bill that If enacted 1t would discour-
age litigation on account of the extra cost,
and a member had expressed his belief that
the lawyers wished to hold the matter in
the present condition because it would be
better for them financially to do so. Mr..
Haskins resent d the inference that the
| judiciary committee were governed in their
action by motives of personal gain and
said that they had reported against bills
which If allowed to pass would put thous-
ands of dollars into the hands of the law
yers of the state. 1t was matter of will,
not length of purse, he said, that drew
man into litigation, and so far as the law
yers were concerned 1t was simply mat
ter of contract between them and their
clients. Double the fees of witnesses and
you double the number of witnesses that