The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-12-03
Legislative Notes.

IT is reported that Dr. George Duttop
will soon go to Michigan, to see If he can
get charter from that state for his med-
cal college.
The new board of railroad commissioners
met here and organized on Monday. The
board consists of eX. Governor S. E. Pingree
of Hartford, Amory Davidson of Craftsbury
and Leon *. Bagley of Rutland. EX. Gov
ernor Pingree was elected chairman, and
Alfred e. Watson of Hartford, clerk.
AMONG the various presentations during
the closing hours Of the legislature was the
gift to the state of an elegant y-framed life
size portrait OF the late General Z. III.
Sheridan, executed in crayon from photo
graph furnished by Mrs. Sheridan The
picture is pronounced by competent jndges
to he meritorious work of art The pur-
chase was made of General s. M. Southland
of Brandon.
The gentleman from Cornwall seconded
the nomination of Mr.. Graves of Underhill
for trustee OF the University in character
istic manner. He said, "As Colonel Ingersoll
remarked at the funeral of his IA her-in- law
he liked his friends and the friends of his
friends. He did not know the gentleman
whose name had been presented, but he
would second the nomination of the friend
of his friend, Mr.. Bulard."
ALTHOUGH the committee did not feel
that il could report House bill No. l18 for
passage at this session it expressed its ap-
probation OF the Importance of topograph-
ical survey to the state of Vermont and the
opinion that the matter should receive the
careful consideration of the people before
another session. Typographical maps such
as the United States geographical survey
construct are of value in showing the
character of the land, whether hilly or level,
elevation, drainage, etc, and serve as a
basis for designating all the features Of the
country. More than that, a systematic in
vestigation of the states resources will be
conducted by the United States geological
survey without further expense to the state
Immediately upon the completion of the
typographical maps, by which the soils and
mineral wealth will be thoroughly investi-
gated. Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Rhode Island of the New England States
have already requested the cooperation of
the United States geographical survey, and
the work is nearing completion. Vermont,
with her vastly greater mineral resources
would receive far greater benefits from such
cooperation, but the committee did not
deem 1t wise to recommend the expendi-
ture at this time.
IN the case of a legislative session which,
in its general results, was very much of "A
mockery a mock session had in il little
to distinguish it from the customary busi-
ness meeting. However, the representatives
on Tuesday evening, or, more accurately,
Wednesday morning, while waiting for the
pOnuerOuB senate 10 crack the educational
nut it SHE'D to the upper house, INDUCED
in hilarious proceedings that were somewhat
exceptional. A use for the reports, just dis
tributed to members, of the railway com
mission, and other public documents, was
discovered. The readiness OF the members
to discern works of real literary merit,
and the avidity with which they seized
upon them, were strikingly illustrated in
the early morning hours. The air was
thick with public documents, and members
were kept ON the alert 10 dodge the missives
that were hurtling round. Lady spectators
raised their umbrellas TO shield themselves
from the storm of statistical literature. The
bindings yielded to the strain and the leaves
Of the documents, thick as those in Val
lambrosa strown," covered the floor of the
hall. The sergeant-at-arms swept up ton
or two of junk the following day. Taylor
OF Cornwall was first called on to- preside
over the revels, and was conveyed to the
chair on the back OF DIR. Dustin OF Crafts
bury and dumped head foremost into that
receptacle OF dignity and authority. In the
interest OF ECONOMY" q clerk was dis
pensed with and the "speaker" was kept
busy receiving and reading bills, referring