Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-22
FIVE SUPREME COURT JUDGES
Would Prevent Tie Note--Bili 10 Re-
licvc Railroads Of Taxes md FARM
ers from Cutting brush In
Observation-Disclosures ming
Deer Season.

troCuced in the House and six in the
Tenate. many of them of large import |
| ance and of state interest. With the
many social distractions of the present |
week it will be hard to get much com
mttee work done. but the members
evince commendable disposition to get
| tho work of the committees advanced
| as rapidly possible.
bill introduced in the Senate this
afternoon by Senator Gibson of Wind
/ ham provides that the number of SUI
! preme court Judges shall be Ave instead
| of four, as at present. The bill reor-
ganizing the judiciary passed by the
Legislature of 1906. provides that the su-
prerne court should consist Of four mem
be1s This has not always worked we'll
| In practice because of the liability Of a
| tie vote. in which case the Judgment
of the lower court IS afrairmcd.
AGRICULTURE AT SEMINARY.
| Senator Gibson also introduced gill
| establishing n modem course Of a2rcul-
} ture at Leland and Gray Seminary. This
BIZ! carries an appropria ton of 10000
for tie establishment and maintenance
OF this course. and $500 annually for
five years for an Instructor.
| ne agitation TWO years ago over the
statement of those in authority that the
| constitution of Vermont is little known
or read in the public echools Of the
state led TO the Introduction to-day In
the senate by Senator Finn of Windsor
of hill which provides FOR the printing
and free distribution Of this constitution
among the pupils in the public schools
of the state.
Ia INT rod Et Of
Springfield provides penalty Of imprs-
onment at hard labor for one year or
fine OF 5000, or both, for docking the tail
of horse Mr. Stetson Of EnosblKgh
| introduced mea sure amending certain
sections Of the present railroad law so
that the rarof Dis OF the State may
transport at reduced rates exhibits at
agricultural fairs and students making
exhibits, and may also carry free fire
companies and their equipment.
sTINGs ROAD COMMISSIONER.
Mr.. Ripley of Poultncy gets after some
of the road commissioners Of the state
by introducing a bill that no road com
missioner shall be eligible for reelection
| II he shall contract debts in excess of
the highway fund of the town in which
he resides for the purposes Of road
| building. or IL he shall fan to complete
work on permanent roads so that it shall
be approved by the State highway COM
missioner and thus allow the towns to
draw their proportion Of the state nigh
way fund.
a bill introduced by Mr.. Davis of
Springfield relieves the railroads of the
State from taxation as corporate prop
erty of all tenement houses blocks.
water powers farms or timber lands
owned by the railroad but not used In
their operation. This bill also provides
that taxes on such property shall not be
included IN computing gross earnings.
II the bin introduced by Mr.. Sherman
OF Newfaue becomes a law. the present
statute which compcls owners OF land
ahuttinR on highways to cut the trees,
brush and weeds in the highways adjoin-
Ing their land will be repealed
WOULD RAISE SECRETARY'S PAY.
For nearly half century the sal
airy of the secretary OF tho civil and
military affairs has been $3.50 for the
biennial term. The work Of this Of
fee has increased greatly in recent
years and the present salary seems to
be entirely Inadequate. Mr.. Fish Of
Nergcnnes introduced bill to-day
making the salary OF that official 81
200 annually, with necessary expenses,
and also provides FOR the employment
OF stenographcr by the Governor at
an annual salary not to exceed $500.
Towns that lie contiguous to other
towns whore railway grade crossings
have been abolished or may be abolish
cd in future will he Interested in the
bill introduced to-day by Mr.. Norris
OF Cabot which provides that an as
scssmcnt not 10 exceed ten per cent.
OF the cost ~ the adjustment of grade
crossing may be assessed upon such
contiguous towns that are benefited
thereby.
Mr.. Barber of Brattleboro introduced
two bills relating to the open season
for deer. one making the open season
the last six days in October and the
first six days in November. and the
other providing that land owners may
Kill wild deer of either sex on their
own land three days before the open
season. although they are limited to
one deer each and must report the
killing of the same TO the nearest
game warden.
FIRST BILL FOR TOWN AID.
Ait blll ltl LOW II hll i''i' WV
state came in to-day from Mr.. Wheel
er of Jamaica This bill appropriates
!, 1900 for the town of Jamaica to assist
in tho payment of it's Indebtedness,
but has the string attached to II that
the state appropriation shall not be
available until that town has voted
ana raised tax sufficient. with tae
state aid to wipe out all its indebted
, ness and allow It to start in with a
clean slate.
a The Joint resolution providing for a
JOINT assembly to ratify Wednesday
. 'he election Of Carroll 5, Page to the
a 'hited states Senate, provided That
0 'h" term of senator Page should eN-
pire in 1910. and It became necessary
1 to-day to reconsider the vote on this
JOINT resolution and make the eXpira-
Q ton OF his term March 3, 1911.
Many OF the members on their re-
TURN TO Montpelier to-day were ac-
. co"panied by their wives or lady
? i'iehos VINO are gathering at Mont
, Pe'ier IN large numbers to enjoy the