Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-10-11
LETTER FROM MONTPELIER

WtUu lbWO anu III ioioOiOht IL |
Montpelier on Tuesday preparatory
for the work of the biennial session.
A large number of officials, former
legislators and interested parties,
swelled the numbers until the hotels
were well filled, and many private
houses had guests who were to re-
main IN their homes during the ses-
sion. The Pavilion and Montpelier
House are full of session boarders,
while other hotels and the more noted
boarding houses have full compile
ment of patrons.
On Wednesday morning the legls-
lature assembled at 10 o'clock. Mem
bers met at an early hour and made
choice of seats. The senate was Or
ganized, Gov. Ormsbee in the char,
by the eletclon of secretary, assist
ant secretary and president pro tenn,
and the appointment of chaplain.
Mr.. Brownell, who has been secretary
for some years past, was chosen Sec
rotary; Allan G.. Fay, assistant Sec
rotary; Henry e. Bates of St. Johns
bury was chosen president pro tenn,
Rev. T. P. Frost of Montpelier was
made chaplain.
The House organized by choosing
Major Josiah Grout of Derby
speaker, Mr.. Stickney clerk, and
Rev. Mr.. Booth of Mortified, chap
lain. The work of both houses is
mostly routine and preparatory for
the first day or two. The selection
of standing committees in the senate,
the reception of messages from the
retiring and the incoming governors,
etc., is about all that can be done
until the speaker of the House COM
pletes his list of committees.
Major Grout received very large
majority, and enters upon his duties
with much legislative and parliament
airy experience. Mr.. Bates has not
been in the Legislature, but is bright
scholar and will perform his duty IN
the chair of the senate, when called
to, we'll. Mr.. Frost, chaplain of the
senate, is the Methodist clergyman at
Montpelier, well-known in the de
nomination and the state. Chaplain
Booth is Universalist clergyman of
ability and note. The senate is made
up of younger class of men than
usual, we think, a majority of whom
are farmers and manufacturers.
There are only few lawyers in this
body. Among the best known mem.
bers of this house are Mr.. Bates oil
St. Johnsbury, Mr.. Baker of Rut
land, Gen. Wells of Burlington, Mr.
Swain of Brattleboro, and Mr.. Chap
in of Washington county. In thu
House the best known are Judge Pc
1 land, Major Circuit, Judge Haseltine
Major Stearns, Mr.. Mansur and Mr.
; Abel. A very large number are il
the House for the first time, and tn
4 body, while it is intelligent, will b.
somewhat green from inexperience
Judge Poland presented bill No. l o.
Wednesday, which proposes to d.
: away with that portion of the paupe
: law by which paupers gain settlement
. and makes all paupers transient, an
+ all towns liable for the support G
6 those paupers who drop down wit
" them.
p The messages from the retirin
If governors, Samuel E. Pingree, an
q governor elect Ormsbee were lengthy
s but they were excellent papers an
g contained much useful information
n and many valuable suggestions. Fro
the Treasurer's report it appears tn;
the state is not only out of debt, bl
that the surplus funds are nearly {
t. quite sufficient. with the corporate
De funds, to pay the expenses of Il
~ state the ensuing year.
t. The biennial report of Hon. WI
as II. Dubois, state treasurer, SHOW
E. that Vermont is out of debt and hi
id cash in hand and in banks to tt
n amount of $160.97497. The amou
ad received from corporations during t
e, last year was 5000, $3.50. TIL
be was some $4,000 less than the We
to before. The report states the co
he dition of the several funds held
he the treasury in trust for security
to other benefit of the people, such
l." the agricultural college fund, whi
lty amounts to $135, 500; the BENIN
ht. ton battle monument fund, viii
ice amounts to 500, 165; the Natiol
ses life insurance company's deposit,
Vermont life insurance compan
l., deposit, the United States depC
ich fund held for certain towns, and
to Huntington bequest, held for
,ro- benefit of all the towns for tt
rior schools. 1t is 1895, 728.76, and
,ro- present market value of the securi
on in which it is invested is $210, 72S.
l, The interest has to be divided an
be ally among the towns according
unit their population, based on the
did census. The first dividend was
the February.
hat All the state benefciaries, Sta
Prison, Reform School, House
for Correction, asylums. etc., are rep
hen ed to be in satisfactory condit
sub Both governors call attention to 81
de- needed changes in the highway
iced of 1884, but do not recommend
hose repeal. The work of the Boar
e TO Agriculture is commended.