Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-12-27
THE RECORD OF THE SESSION



In accordance with the joint resolu.
ton adopted with reference to final
adjournment, the legislature at Mont.
pelier will close its sessions this morn.
ing, and glance at the work of our
state lawmakers will be both timely
and profitable. The session has been
unusually long, but il should be borne
in mind that the present legislature
has had an unusually large number OF
bills to consider, over seven hundred
as compared with a little over four
hundred introduced two years ago.
The present legislature is also note.
worthy itr the number of strong men
whose strenstl and abilities have been
made n"r;feSt 6rrirg the session.
Our single term rule. which is unfor-
tunate la view ui Tue extent 10 which
1t deprlves the state of the benefits of
experienced Legislators, necessarily
brings a large number of new men TO
the 'front.' every two years, and nobody
knows what they can do in the way OF
lawmaking until they have gone
through the session.
Tbs present session has also been re-
markable tor the harmonious relations
that have existed between The govern
or and the lawmakers OF both branches
OF the legislature. The condition of
affairs has conduced to expedition in
the transaction OF the business OF the
state as well as to the Inauguration of
number of reforms that otherwise
would have been impossible. A num-
Der OF pledges were made in the dec
iaratlon OF principles adopted by the
state Republican convention last June
and Governor Proctor and the lepisla-
ture have co-operated to gratifying
extent In carrying out those oulioa-
tions. As result, no legislature in
the history of Vermont has ever car
ried out so many measures known as
administration measures as during the
session about to close, and it follows
That no governor OF this state has been
able to shape legislation as has Gov
ernor Proctor. At the same time
Governor Proctor is more ready than
anybody else to give the lions share of
the credit for the excellent record
made to the able and active men who
nave co-operated with him so thor
oughly in the respective branches of
the legislature.
Inc session of the legislature has
oeen noteworthy for the number of
bills passed dealing with railroad
Acts have been spread on
the ermont statutes providing for the
gradual elimination OF grade CROSSINGS.
dividing the expense between he
railroads. OF the state and the towns
concerned. The rate of taxation paid
by railroad corporations to the state
mas been materially increased so that
me state will receive from this one
source alone about $4,000 more in.
,othe than formerly. An act has
1een passed to regulate rates and pre-
vent discrimination in rates of trans
)oftatlon. A law has been passed
irving the railroad commission a iudi.
,lal standing and largely increasing
is powers
ne cause and interests of Yer
hohts public schools and educational
y stein nave been materially promoted
y various acts. The most Important
measures in this direction have been
nose providing for the Capitalization
i school direction ard more efficient
upefVlslon and the adoption of meas
res TO establish permanent school
una IN keeping with the importance
vermont's school system.
Inc good roads movement, which is
loseiy allied with Vermont's PROGRESS
various other directions, has been
romoted by the legislature thronoh
ne adoption of measures ESTABLISHING
state highway commission. piyin9
ur road system the benefit of enoi,
eering ability and experience. and
rowling TOR more thorough superyis-
ID OF permanent road construction
Our tax laws have been modified in
arlous ways in addition to the in
rease OF the tax on railroad CORPORA
ons already mentioned. The limit
n tne amount of deposits which NAV
= kept IN savings bank free of taya.
Oh mas oeen removed, and this is ex-
ec.eu 10 bring large amount of
loney into the state and increase the
venue received from the Corporation
" on savings banks. Money loaned
towns at specified rate is exemnted
ON taxation. The governor is an
lorlzeu 10 appoint a bipartisan tav