Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-02-05
REVIEW OF WORK OF LEGIS-
LATURE.

The following brief resume of the
bills passed at the recent session of the
General Assembly, compiled by the
Rutland Herald shows the character aud |
scope of the business transacted 10y the
session of 1908, the total number Of acts |
being sos with ij7 two years ago with |
session % days longer this year:
The public utilities act gives to the
board of railroad commissioners super
sisory powers over the railroads, tele.
phone and telegraph companies, electric
aud gas companies and express COM
panies and changes the name from the
board Of railroad commissioners to the
public service commission.
The>till abohshing the board of agri-
cnlture and creating the Office of COM
missioner of agriculture and state for
ester was signed before the Christmas
adjournment, as was the bovine tuber-
culosis law which is estimated to save
the state about $4,000 annually. Since
July to date about $4,000 has been
paid by the state for diseased cattle.
The new automobile law is now in
effect. The old registrations expire to-
day aud must be renewed before
the cars are taken out again AMI they
expire December 81 annually thereafter
The operators fee is 81 and the ,egistra-
tion fee 81 horse power the first year
on new cars, IS per cent the second year
aud 30 per cent the third year and there
after, it being necessary to register an
nually. A transfer OF a car NAV be
made without the payment Of addition
al registration fee outside an operator
fee. The law, it is believed, will return
a revenue to the state of $4,000 year
which will be expended under the di.
rection Of the state highway commits.
sioner in the counties where raised
Non-residents will be required by another
act to take out license to operate their
machines within the state and for which
they will be charged s. for machines
with less than 20 horse power, IS up tc
40 horse power and $40 for 40 horse
power and over. The license will give
them the right to run :heir machines
within the state for period of 80 days
and if they remain longer must pay the
same rate us resident owners Of auto.
mobiles.
Several important changes are mad.
in school laws. First came the elimina
ton of the county examiners on Janu
airy !, their work of examining teacher,
devolving on the local superintendent.
with all teachers certificates isslipe
from the office of the state superintehd
ent OF education. Next was the crea
ton of state board of education with
the governor rs chairman ex-officio auc
the state superintendent and three citi
Sens AZ members, this board performing
the work of the normal school commits
siouers and apportoning the scboo
money. A reduction is made of tn,
number of schools required in the 30
called school unions from 80 to 9:
minimum and 70 to 80 maximum, th,
state TO pay one. half of the superintend
ent's salary in addition to $1,000 " hel
the pay is between $1,000 and $500
Tn, truancy law is made more drastic
and operative, State aid to the amour
$4,000 leach school to receive $25O) il
N be- given such towns as shall ESTABLISH
approved industrial training schools 4
commission il authorized to examin,
mo psys and means to improve tn,