The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-02-04
BENNINGTON COUNTY'S
REPRESENTATIVES BUSY
The Journals Special Representative
at Montpelier Writes of Affairs m
He Sees Them.

He Sees Them.
\ Montpelier, Feb. 3--The Genera
4 Assembly of the State Of Vermont car
look back upon last weeks session
with pardonable pride and if the goot
work continues it seems reasonable Il
predict that another week will see Q
settlement of some OF the more i'm.
lportant matters now under considera-
ton. 1t is true that so far great
deal of the work to be accomplished
is purely in an initial or transitory
stage.
A comparatively small number OF
bills have received the Governors sig
nature. A somewhat larger number
have passed the House, still greater
number have been killed, but as yet
none Of the more important matters
have been acted upon with the excep-
tion of the election Of the Supreme
Justices and Superior Judges. What
was in the nature of forecast of the
great and glorious fight which is go
ing to take place when the Attorney
General question comes up for action
occurred when the so-called omnibus
bill which has for its purpose the re-
vision of the Public Statutes to con-
form to the constitutional amend
ments. When this bill was being put
upon its passage, which required con-
siderable maneuvering on the part OF
Mr.. Wilson of Chelsea, and the bill
was being read section by section to
allow amendments to be made to each
section as it came up, Mr.. Jones of
Shrewsbury, who had previously in
troduced bill abolishing the office
of Attorney General, tried to amend
the section Of the bill relating to the
Attorney General by substituting his
bill. He explained that he did so in
conformity with House rule 81 which
provides that "The House having once
decided on any question it shall not
again be brought before the House"
and that he feared the adoption of
section Al of the omnibus bill relating
to the Attorney General would under
this rule prevent a later consideration
of his bill abolishing that Office. His
amendment was not adopted, but the
omnibus bill was finally passed with
saction Al struck out. IL WAS q mere
incident but presaged what may be eA-
pected when the Attorney Generalship
question comes up for action.
What is unquestionably the most
important matter which has consider
alton during the session and known as
the educational bill was presented to
the House on Thursday. The bill is
voluminous one containing lis printed
pages and 225 sections, and was pre-
pared by the educational commission
as result of their investigation of the
educational needs of the State made
during the past two years. The bill is
so long and important that an abstract
cannot do it justice and nothing of the
kind will be attempted here. 1t can
be briefly stated, howere, that the
bill provides an annual appropriation
of 100000 as part of the ccnsoli-
dated school fund, making the income
from permanent school and other
funds grand total of about $750,0OO,
which the State will expend on educa-
ton. The purpose of the act is pri-
marily to take care of elementary and
secondary schools of the State, to Of
fer equal educational opportunities to
all children whether residing in cities,
villages, or rural districts, and to
equalize taxation for the support of
schools. Although the measure is the
result of much study and research by
men who stand very high in education
al circles and has great deal to
recommend it, nevertheless, if one
might be allowed a prediction, it is
that it will not, in its present shape,
become a law, although that we shall
have some law Of a similar character
is without question. This is, of course,
merely guesswork and is not ventured
by a consideration of the merits or
demerits of the bill, but merely be-
cause some Of its provisions, particu-
larly in regard to the location of SEN
ior high school, gives scope for the
exercise of local jealousies, and be-
cause it centralizes the public educa-
tional system in board Of five mem
oers appointed by the Governor, thus
taking away from the towns and cities
certain rights of school supervision
enjoyed. These very points
may constitute some Of the chief
merits of the act but the question is
ian these towns be brought TO consider
the matter from the standpoint Of a
desire to establish an efficient State
wide educational system and not from
hat petty jealousy or local pride.
The following bills were introduced