Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-03-05
Two Customs District, for Vermont.

Two Customs Districts for Vermont.
Vermont politicians and office seekers
were surprised Monday by the news con
tanned in Washington dispatches that an
amendment to the sundry civil appropria-
tion bill had been proposed, the enactment
of which would create two customs colec-
tion districts in the state Of Vermont. This
amendment was offered by Senator Allison,
who stated that ii was very much desired
10y the senior senator from Vermont (Mr
MorrilD, who was unable to attend the
night sessions. The amendment was en-
dorsed by Senator Proctor, who explained
to the Senate the situation on The Yer
mont frontier and the reasons why two
collection districts would be better than
one. These are the provisions OF the
amendment:
on and after October !. lSg- there shall be in
the state Of Vermont two collection districts as
follows.
First-The district Of Vermont. to compris, th.
counties now constituting the first congressional
district Of Vermont in which district Burlington
shall be the port OF entry, and 81. Albans. Al.
burg, East Alhurg SwRnton, Highgate, Franklin,
West Berkshire Windmill Point and Richford.
sub ports Of entry.
Second-The district Of Memphremagog. to
comprise the counties now constituting the sec
ond congressional district of Vermont. in which
Newport shall be the port Of entry, and North
Troy, Derby Line, Island Pond, Canaan and
Beecher Falls suh.ports OF entry.
1t is further provided that there shall be
in the district of Vermont a collector who
shall live at Burlington and "whose salary
shall be s. per annum,' and also in
the district Of Memphremagog a collector
who shall live at Newport and whose sala-
ry shall be s. per annum.' 1t is taken
for granted that this scheme grows out of
the colectorship fight now in progress, and
that one of its purposes is to prevent such
contests in the future. The present con-
test, with Benedict and Merrill living on
the west side of the mountain line, and
Mansur on the east side, and claiming the
office because the east side has had it only
twice during its existence, brings the
mountain line into the fight. The division
proposed would do away with it. The
Free Press Mr.. Benedicts organ, sees no
good reason for the change. The Burling-
ton News, on the contrary, thinks "Sena-
tor Proctor's solution of the difficulty is a
wise one and will be accepted on all sides. -
The News adds:
by this division Vermont recurs To a condition
that existed for II years in the early history OF
the state. BY an act OF Congress, March >, 1911.
the part Of Vermont lying east OF Lake Mem.
phremagog was constituted "A collection district
under the name of Memphremagog the name
adopted for the new district in the act now uu.
der consideration. This arrangement ceased by
act of Congress in lS22. There is a precedent,
therefore, for two Vermont districts, and We have
no doubt that the arrangement ill prove so sat
isfactory as to be permanent
To countryman at this distance from
Washington it looks as if this division
plan was a shrewd scheme to let the Yer
mont delegation out from the unpleasant
necessity of taking sides in the three
cornered contest for the Burlington collect
orship.