Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-09

out in the House yesterday quite fully
When the customary resolution to furnish
the members with daily papers containing
the official proceedings of the legislature
escaped defeat by very narrow margin.
1t is understood that Governor Grout ex-
pected me position of secretary of civil and
military affairs to be filled by an Orleans
county man who was obliged to relinquish
it on account of sickness in his family.
Friday Joseph w. Sault, editor of the st.
Johnsbury Republican, was given the APP
pointment. John II. Mimms of st. Albans
will be the official reporter of the senate.
L. B. johnson of the West Randolph Her
aid and News, and E. A. Mutt of the Yer
mont Watchman will report for the house.
A joint resolution passed both houses
this afternoon, providing for adjournment
over till next Monday afternoon. This
action vs. taken because it was found that
Speak Lord would not be able to an
nounc his committee appointments till
next week and until then there was abso-
lutely nothing for the house to do.
The fact that our laws are all now under
one cover and in such good shape that
everyone can understand Them is evidently
not going to prevent attempts to change
them this session in a good many direc-
tions.
We hear it talked that another trial will
be made so to change the school laws that
any town so voting, can return to the dis
trict system. 1t seems almost certainty
that some legislation will be had concern
ing the normal schools, although it is not
probable tbs they will be abolished en-
tirely. Such step would seem one that
the state could not afford to take unless
willing to accept reputation for progress
ing backward.
The question of double taxation as ap-
piled to mortgaged real estate is destined,
think, to be a prominent one. Gov.
GrOut gives special attention to this matter
in his message, but the remedy which he
proposes has been considered BY -overal of
our past legislatures and found lacking, es-
pecially as relating to the very large
amount of mortgage Indebtedness held by
savings banks.
1t is not thought that the usual attempts
to legislate adversely to savings bank in
terests will be made this year. A COM
parison of Vermont savings banks with
those of New Hampshire, under pI .sent
conditions, ought to be good plea for let
ting well enough alone. 1t is more proba-
BILE that some of the suggestions of the in
spector of finance may be carried out in
the line of limiting the rate to be paid to
depositors to 4 per cent, and possibly by
decreasing the rate of taxation on deposits
by small fraction.
The pre- her renel' law seems tolerably
nj. '' saw. .the.AIE2derfN the usual efforts
wir. Greene's >rT'vura art. No proiects
CALI trial, and it appropriations are yet in
sight, aiNd did, they turn up later they
will evident Inject with cold reception.
The creation of the offices of state fire
warden and attorney general may stand a
better chance than last year, provided the
legislature can be convinced that such ac-
tion will not entail burden on the state.
The valued policy bill, the weekly pay
ment bill, the high license bill and the
woman suffrage bill will probably each call
for its usual attention and each meet its
usual fate.
The standing committees of the senate
are as follows:
Rules-Deane, Petty, Gardner.
Finance-Chaffee, Deane, Merrifeld.
udiciary-Hulburd, Harrington, Beat
tie, Deal, Peck, Merrifeld, Gardner.
Claims-Holton, Allen, Ward, Slack,
Weeks.
Observation-Disclosures Sargent, Hub
bard, Foster, Curtis.
Agriculture-Stevens, Loveland, Tai
colt.
Manufactures-Slack, Lewis, Stone.
Elections-Merri6eld, Sargent, Blair.
Military-Peck, Sheldon, Allen.
Railroads-Peck of Chittenden, Chaffee,
Slack, Ward, Durkee, Sheldon, Weeks.
Highways Beattie, Stevens, Loveland.
Banks-Farrington Allen, Blair.
Land taxes-Talcott, Holton, Stone.
Printing-Lewis, Curtis, Loveland.
General ommittee-Deal, Hathorn,.
Manchester, Petty, Curtis.
Federal Relations-Sargent, Hulburd,
| Beattie.
| State Prison-Weeks, Hathorn, Blair.
Insane-Hubbard, Foster, Ward.
Grand List-Durkee, Sargent, Stevens.
Corporations-Allen,S Stone, Hathorn.
Mr.. Phinney, the sergeantat-arms, re-
ceived several Windham county applica-
tions for appointments, but was only able
to grant one, that Of Dan c. Webster of
Brattleboro, who has been assigned to duty
in the secretary of states Office. Forty
men wanted to be doorkeepers this year,