The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-11-30
The Legislature OF 1892.

man would have returned hearty affirma-
tive. And yet, when the last adieus came
to be said, the last hand-shakes to be
shooken," the last bottle of Equinox to
be drank very few of the parting guests
were there who did not regret that the ses-
sion could not have lasted-well, say,
another week.
do not recall a session of the legislature
in recent years that has brought together so
large q coterie of congeuial spirits as that of
80. ] should dislike to grow sentimental
over such commonplace affair as session of
the Vermont legislature; but as sit tonight
musing and smoking in the spacious office
of the Pavilion, deserted except by the
sleepy clerk, cannot help contrasting it
with the bustling, jostling scene of only
few evenings ago, when the tobacco smoke
rivaled the pillows at Buena Vista, and
standing-rOom was at premium. And
now that my reminiscent mood has got
fairly under way, | am back again at the
press table in the house of representatives,
on an afternoon when an important special
order is to be considered. Every member,
except the gentleman from South Burlng.
ton, is in his seat; the fair visitors have filed
the gallery, the senate chairs and sofas;
and the occupants of the seats at the press
table are preparing to overwork themselves
to the verge of nervous prostration.
Speaker Stickney, his blue silk cravat
contrasting brilliantly with his auburn
beard, brings down his gavel: Will the
speaker more thoroughly du fat as to the
details Of his work than William Wallace
Stickney. Well, lac ought to be. He has
been as much part of the house as the
speakers desk for the past twenty years,
and has " broken in half dozen speak
ers. Long may he wave! Honest John "
Mortified, clerk of the house, has his bills
all ready, and is waiting for the fray.
John " occasionally was " thrown down"
by atrocious chirography, but he more than
dat. ,l. IL
fulness, courtesy, and hard work. Assist
ant Clerk Rowland sits beside him, gazing
pensively into the gallery. His gentle,
sober countenance masks a good deal of
cdn1drdderje and all-round good-fellowship.
Second Assistant Clerk Max Powell is too
much engrossed in his engros,ing to pay
much attention to anything else, except my
numerous inquiries as to the time o'day.
Back Of me, few seats up, is jolly
quartette-fat and jovial Jim Henderson of
Burlington; equally fat and jovial Mike
O'Day of Swanton; Hold Ellis of Castle
ton, with his unique laugh and penetrating
"See?"; and Try ?" Allen of Fair Haven,
with his banged hair, eyeglasses and sunny
smile. Beyond them, TO their left sit an
other companionable couple" Mase Col
burn Of Manchester, and =" win " Hunt of
st. Adams. Mr.. Colburn was picturesque
figure in the house after his unfortunate
rencontre with the folding-bed. He was
also power-always on the right side
III might be right, always!peasant, always
accessible, pleasant to talk with, pleasant
to walk with, and pleasant too, to think
on. His companion interested me on ac-
count of his lazy Indifference to the details
of legislative work. While the diligent
member from Wayback was scrambling
through his bill-book to ascertain the
| purport of III. 1919, the gentleman from
St. Adams was surveying the Oriental
grandeur of the chandelier. When any,
| thing important was up, however, Mr.. Hunt
was all attention, and his speech on the
weekly payment bill evidenced ready use
OF the English language.
Farther along were two more strong and
! earnest membership Martin of Brattle-
boro and Judge Read of Rockingham. Mr..
| Martin was trifte piqued at the press table
on account of the fippant manner in which
| they treated his "leg show bill; but we
| all gave him credit for his great abilities
his faithfulness and vigilance as legsa-
tor, and sympathized with him in his gal
| liant but almost forlorn stand against the
united cohorts of Windham in the matter of
the change of the shire of that county. Per-
| haps the best debater in the house was his
friend and coadjutor, Judge Read of Rock
| ingham. When his bald head popped up it
was the signal for some convincing argu-
| ment or trenchant statement. But there
was no member had rather hear talk than
Mr.. Barber of Arlington. He has delight
| full information, and was precision itself in his
delivery. do not think he emphasized a
single word, or omitted a solitary syllable.
| He was moreover clear in statement, strong
and convincing in argument.
A gentleman whom / could not help but
notice was Mr.. Enright of Windsor for he
| popped up in front of me a dozen times a
J day. Josephus always took pleasure in
standing in his seat, and did his full share
of the talking" which was all right" az his
remarks were generally sensible. Near by
him sat Mr.. Arnold of Bethel, very pleas
1hair g 10.
on education, an efficient member and an
oracle as to school matters. The familiar
rotund form of Mr. Clark of Halifax dwells
long in the memory. Mr.. Clark talked
| somewhat in the sessions of the previous
legislature, via his hat, and had consider.
popularity as the session waned, and was al.
ways on the side of economy. Mr.. Clement
of Rutland was an able member, and was
the cause of large amount of lively dis
cussion. Mr.. Adams of Marlboro proved a
bright man, and made clean record; ditto
Winchester of Londonderry, Ware OF
Townshend, Gage Of Westminster, Hewitt
of Putney, Cutting Of Guiford, Robinson Of
Jamaica and Weston of Newfane In fact
the delegation from Windham county was
an exceptionally strong one
Mr.. Dewey of Bennington made a very
favorable impression by his flow of Hail
Columbia eloqueDce and clean-cut diction
| see he is down on the books as a farmer
but he must be sort OF agrarlan dUettdnte
Some persons might suppose that the most
prominent characteristic of Mr.. Brown OF
Richford was his Japanese moustache, but
his good sense led all the rest" and he
did valuable work on the judiciary com
mittee. Mr.. Stafford of st. Johnsbury
shall long remember as the knightly cham
pion of the woman's suffrage bill--the Dor
Quixote of the house, if you will He wa.
certainly one of the most valuable men il
the house, and the only fault to be found il
him was certain ipSe dirt air that nettleC
his colleagues trihe. Ben Smith of Add
son was a social favorite, and | regretted
the death of his pet bill, for the projection
of eagles. His labors went for naught
however, and the ruthless slaughter of tn,
national bird will doubtless continue. Elk
Governor Dale of Brighton was the mos
independent member in the house, prob
ably. His services as chairman of the com
mittee on elections were of high order
and no other member was held in large
esteem than he. Mr.. Darling of Chelsei
spoke frequently, but what he had TO sa,
was always to the point, and he always ha,
1 | the ear OF the house. Now that Chelsea is L
have railroad, l look to see Mr., Darlin,
on the committee on railroads in '9i. Othe
members who attracted more than pass
H.. h. a