The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-30

I
Of, or deprives hem Of their rights because |
some other Legislature somewhere has de- |
prived some other men OF their rights, 1t |
gets without the pale OF civilized govern |
ment. Even though its purpose be to bring |
the first offender to terms, 1t Is without JUS |
tifcation, because of the old simple princi-
pie that two wrongs do not make right"
The Reforner agrees that there Is ground
for the Burlington Free Press'S plant of the
unfair way General Peck is being made the
scapegoat for State INSTRUMENTATION.
What he did had the authority or approval
of higher officials, who escape with only
mild censure, and was in fact only small
part OF what is going on In many avenues OF
State government, as might easily be found
IL there were any thorough investigation.
Moreover, Col. E. III. Powell, for fourteen
years State auditor, makes a strong point in
arguing under the Supreme Court decision
in the Norwich cadet case, that these ex-
travagant expenditures had legislative APP
prevail from the fact that they were know
ingly permitted to continue from year to
year.
The Windsor Journal presents the savings
bank situation in this light:
1.-THE General Assembly has taken q
strange course towards savings banks in all
its legislation relative to their interests,
which are also those Of the people. No at
tention has been paid to the suggestlons
and recommendations of the inspector OF
finance. The statements and suggestions
of prominent banking men have been lg-
nored. Measures of reducing the rate of
interest to three and one-halt per cent and
to reduce the taxation to one-half OF one
per cent have been killed without reason
able consideration OF the facts presented by
those competent to judge OF the SITUATION
With the constantly increasing tenuenSy TO
| lower rates of interest for investments by
| the banks, there can be but one logical Sc
| quence, viz: Smaller returns to the deposit
tors. Since the Legislature has refused TO
reduce the rate of taxation on deposits, the
| public need not be surprised to learn OF &C
ton by the banks themselves in reducing
the rate of interest to depositors, with the
result of much loss in taxes by the State by
the withdrawal Of deposits by NONRESIDENT
persons. 1t would seem that the action OF
| the Legislature cannot be- construed other
| wise than a penny wise and. pound foolst
policy"
The remarkable increase in electric roaC
legislation at this session is forerunner Of
what is going to happen to Vermont righ'
along now. 1t is only question OF a few
years when nearly all the steam roads viii
be paralleed by electric lines, which vii
also run "across lots" in any direction
With the available water power in nearl.
every town, lines can be run at Will, ant
lines for the accommodation OF both fregh
and passengers in every hamlet through
which line can be prottably run are onl!
y
parison with the future, the wonderful
uses of electricity are as yet undiscovered
The world is moving very rapidly in thes
later days.
One of the new laws that all sheriff:
deputy sheriffs, coDstables, police officer
and other prosecuting officers shall prose
cute all violations of the laws relating L
cruelty to animals, and that all fines so CO
lected shall be paid to the State humane 80
ciety when the complaint is entered by on
of its officers. This should prove an incer
! tive to the agents of the society every
I where to insist on strict observance OF til
law, and every violation should be in nj
diately reported for prosecution.
, The new law authorizing listers to max
oath to lists before any magistrate emp)v
cred to administer oaths should ooviat
the necessity of several weeks legislatio
, at each future session in legalizing gran
, lists.
The Brattleboro Reformer thus solil'
= quizes: "There is political deal undt
way to GUST Hosea Mann from the post {
8 finance inspector and substitute Senate
Platt of Rutland The best information
A that it has succeeded and Platt's appoin
= ment been decided upon, though the Wine
ham county men appear to be standing 0
3 Mr. Mann in better shape than they hav
been accustomed to do in their factions
a fights in the past. Twenty-three senator
signed petition for Platt's appointment
: but those from Windham county were ne
among them. No one can dispute that M
t Mann has been faithful and diligent. an
: that he has experience and knowledge {
| the particular duties of the office, Will
, Platt, though very bright man has no pa
3 ticular aptitude or training for it. But b
= has the advantage which any member of II
t Legislature has when candidate for an
! position.
1 Under the law just enacted any town ca
y frAr faN inn rriA
. the machinery used III and about then
trainways, appliances and buildings such
are used and are necessary in the prosec'
ton OF the business, machinery put into u
4, occupied buildings aud are capital and pc
D sonal property used in such buildings,
4 the amount invested exceeds 81 800. Th
should aud will undoubtedly give man
A undeveloped towns lively impetus HI
9 start business booms in many decaying /
/ calties. Legitimate business can have a
L the room and encouragement 1t requires
Vermont.
- Some good lawyers are said TO be of IL
4 opinion that the nonresident taxation bill
=. in the form iu which il passed the House,
!, | unconstitutional This may be the primo
- pal reason for its decapitation by the SCI
n ate. Senator Young is said TO be undecide
: on the question. An effort will be made
q frame bill which will meet this objection
4 The preliminary work on the extensio
|
k from Burlington north is going on rapid
b and by spring it is expected that the exa
8 route will be decided on and all rights
: way settled.
t Perfection never has been, and l doubt
it ever will be, reached in man-no refe
Il ence to women-and as a Vermont Legisl
a ture will continue to be made up Of men
$ never can or will be consistently econom
o cal. A deafening howl is always raised tn
I. the waste at the piggot must be stoppt
8 and dollar is saved here and there viii
l. the flow at the bung goes on unmolested.
The Senate bill TO prohibit gambling IN
3 chimes and devices went through the Houl
i in concurrence Monday afternoon, and hi
/ gone to the Governor.
, The bill defining the position of Norwit
University and for other purposes hi
D passed both houses. The bill provides TIL
!, "Norwich University is hereby recognize
! as the Military College of the State of We
! mont. and its faculty are given local rank
y follows: Professors for the first five years
y service as such, the rank of first lieutenan
q for the second five years. the rank of ca
tain; after ten years, the rank OF malo
= after twenty years, the rank OF lieutenan
4 colonel The president shall have the ran
J | n ....el FrN Fl fA