Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-16
posed change would doubtless be acceptable
to the larger cities of the state, but it is
not claimed that they are asking for il.


WIZ hOus0 IOuay, one ruling out all voters
who are unable to read and write the Eng
fish language, and the other providing that
the ballots for justices of the peace town
representatives and state officers be printed
on different colored paper for each kind.
The usual bill cutting down the amount of
Indebtedness subject to the trustee process
from ten dollars, the present limit, to five
dollars, appeared in the house this morn
ing
The court records show that divorces
have considerably increased in the state
during the past two years as the result of
making the divorce laws more liberal at
the session of 1894. A house bill has
been introduced substantially restoring the
old law on this subject. A bill is also in
preparation prohibiting the marriage of
divorced persons except to the persons
from whom separated.
The bill authorizing the town of Vernon
to build bridge across the Connecticut
river, introduced by Mr.. Allen of Vernon,
authorizes that town to unite with Hins-
dale in building bridge at some conven-
lent point between the two towns. The
selectmen of Vernon, on the application
of ten or more freeholders of the town,
are to call a meeting of the voters, who, if
they decide to build bridge, are TO choose
three commissioners who shall be author
lied to contract with the town of Hinsdale
in the matter. The town of Vernon is au-
thorized to raise money by tax or bonding
to pay the necessary expense.
Several bills have been introduced grant
ing charters to local telephone companies.
Some OF these cover the territory of the
New England Telegraph and Telephone
II 10 oloO nrnnOoaA IN nntnnol
the latter to make connections with the
local companies, and it is not improbable
that some of the proposed measures in this
direction will meet with opposition.
Mr.. Follett of Townshend offered joint
resolution today providing for a special
joint committee to investigate the matter
of state expenditures. The resolution was
adopted by the house without opposition,
but adoption on the part of the senate was
refused on the ground that the joint stand
ing committee on state and court expenses
was created for this special work and it
should not be taken out of their hands.
This committee, of whom Senator Foster
of Windham is senate chairman, purpose
to make a very thorough investigation of
| the matter of state expenses and try TO find
the holes, If there are any, that need filling.
The most important senate bill as yet is
entitled IAN act to create state board of
medical examiners" 1t provides for the
appointment by the governor of board
consisting of three allopathic, two homp-
pathic and two eclectic practitioners who
shall be authorized to examine and grant
| licenses to practice medicine in this state
to any person 81 years of age who is a
graduate of a legally chartered medical col
lege having power to confer degrees. The
| license fee is ten dollars, which goes into
the state treasury. The state pays the
members of the board five dollars per day
for time actually spent and three cents per
mile for travelling fees. Any persons VIC
lating the provisions of the act are to be
fined from one hundred to five hundred
dollars, or imprisoned in Jail for three
months, or both. The act does not apply
to persons legally licensed under existing
laws, or prohibit gratuitous services by
persons unlicensed.
The probate judges of the state held a
meeting here yesterday and agreed on some
changes in the probate laws that seemed
to them desirable, delegating Judge Reat
of Bellows Falls to draw up the necessary
bills to carry them into effect. The frs
| change relates to the matter of fees. I'm
der existing law all estates of $3.50 and un
der are entirely exempt from the payment
of fees, but an estate of 1851 would bC
subject to the same charges as an estate o.
S5000 This is plainly unjust, and it il
proposed to give relief by extending the
limit of no fees to $500, and making a slid
ing scale of fees for larger estates, increas
ing in size as the estates increase il
amount. 1t is expected that the proposed
change will add considerably to the revenu,
| off hn tot Tho oaaOnd ola
by the judges relates to the distribution o
estates in the matter of real estate. VIVA
is known as the widows dover, being tn,
use during her lifetime of one-third of tn,
real estate left by her deceased husband, il
to be done away with entirely and she is t
receive this property as her own. When {
wife dies leaving real estate in her owl
name, ard having descendants, tn
husband instead of having the use of i
during his lifetime, as the present law pro
vides, is to have one-third of this real es
tate in his own name. These changes pre-
vent the tying up of estates during the life
time of husband or wife, and are deemet
very desirable. The receipts for fees il
the Marlboro probate district for the yea
ending May 81, 1896, were $743.50, beinI
an excess of $43. so over the salary of Judg
Tyler. The receipts for the whole state
above the salaries of the judges, wer
$701.50.
The senate and house committees OIL
military affairs left this evening for Ben
nington on the usual tour of inspection o
the Soldiers Home. They go in the pri
vate car of Mr.. Webb of Shelburne, he be
ing a member of the committee.
The election of United States senate
will be begun next Tuesday afternoon b
each branch of the legislature voting sep
arately. On Wednesday the two branche
meet in joint assembly and complete thu
election. 1t is announced that Senate
Morrill, wi res to be his own successor an
there will probably be no opposition to him
The election of state officers occurs o
Thursday afternoon of next week. TIL
greatest contest is likely to be over the o.
fee of state superintendent of schools
: Until lately it was not supposed that ther
would be any organized opposition to Nj
Stone, but the Burlington Free Press al
, nounces today that S. w. London, prime
pal of the Burlington High school, will b
a candidate. This will make the contest
: lively one.
The opening of the supreme court, Sc
sion of the United States district court, til
meeting of theVermont Bar association, an
the annual meetings of the three local insu
ance companies, have altogether brought
good many people to Montpelier this weel
From Windham county we notice K.
Waterman, j. l.. Martin and G. G. Fits
Brattleboro, L. M. Read of Bellows Fal
and Million Davidson of Newfane.
IN Il l. N kna hAa