Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-06
"From our Special Correspond
ent,"
MoNTPELIER, NOv. 6th, lS94.

BANNER LnaJ Tile udy OF puDllCd lOu 10
postponed one day so as to get the cleo
ton news, gives your Special ore day
more in which to pick up" a few mat.
tiers of interest from this place. When l
read the notice to my nearest neighbor,
one in fact who rooms with me, he re-
marked that if the BANNER had as good
success in getting the election returns as
it had in getting news from here. it could
clearly take the cake' from all other
papers.
The past week might well be called
one of surprises to the legislators of
Vermont. The first was when Governor
Woodbury. announced Ghe appointment
of Col. Fred E. Smith as Inspector of FL
nance. 1t was generally supposed that
the appointment would go to Rutland,
which, by the way, appears ito want the
EARTH" and it is very doubtful if but few
if any knew that Mr. Smith was to he
the man. The appointment gives gen
eral satisfaction, and especially to your
correspondent. The first time L ever
saw Mr.. Smith was in the fall of 1861,
and since then have always been inter
ested in his career, and have watched
him as he has risen to be one of the
leading men in the State. His record is
so we'll known that it does not need re-
peating here, only to say that if he
makes as good an Inspector of Finance
as he did Quartermaster of the Sth Yer
mont, he will make a good one. 1t was
my fortune to go out with that regiment,
and on the same ship with the then
Quartermaster Smith, and | think no
one that was there but what will say
that he always looked out for the boys.
To my mind Stephen Thomas and Fred
E. Smith have always been men of which
Vermont could well be proud.
The second was when it was announced
that Fish Commissioners Titcomb and
Warren had resigned. and for awhile it
was doubted. Mr.. TitcOmb, who went
to st. Johnsbury from Rutland, has de-
voted his time and energies in building
up the fish and game interests of the
State. He has been ably assisted by Mr..
Warren of Waterbury, who is known all
oyer Vermont. While people look on
such things through different eyes, it
hardly seems that so much should be
made through an excess of hospitality, If
it may be SO called. At the time that
the fish and game committee went to
ROxbury last week, the commissioners,
naturally desiring to do honor to their
distinguished guests, set out for their
by bottle or so of liquor; the SUPPOSE
ton was quite human that among the
visitors there would be some not averse
to little gllss by way of washing down
the feast, and for such as were inclined
this extra hospitality was provided.
The idea that the General Assembly of
Vermont can be bribed with bottle of
rum, which is, of course, an idea too alb
surd for expression. 1t was only that
two genial, we'll disposed gentlemen, in
providing entertainment for various peo-
pie sought to suit each to his own liking
and followed custom that obtains as
much in the State as elsewhere, despite
the pTohibltory law; in fact, custom
which is by statute expressly exempted
from the penalties of that law.
However good the intentions of
the commissioners there were among the
party few ProhibitiOnists that took ex-
ceptions to the display of the ardent, and
they looked upon it rs matter that was
a reprOach to the State, an insult to
their opinions, scandal and a shame.
They were fully convinced that it had
been done to influence the committee in
deciding what amount should be apprO-
priated, and on their return made such a
howl that for time threatened to de-
stroy the chances for an appropriation,
and to prevent any further prospect of
its not being granted, both commission
ers resigned.
The cutlery against the action of the
fish commissioners comes from no source
of special consequence, nor does it voice
the sentiment of the general public, and
if Gov. Woodbury. were to reappOint Tit
comb and Warren after the storm blows
over, his action would be approved by
the great majority of citizens, who are
well satisfied with their work, and who
desire their continuance in office.
Representative Burbank of Pittsford
has made his name famous by introduce
ing bill which, if it should pass, would
put to test the seriousness with which
the desire for woman's suffrage is called
for.
1t gives women the same privileges and
duties as men, but eXempts them from
bearing arms. 1t provides that census
of women shall be taken and each one
be required to state whether she can
read and write English and wants wom-
an suffrage. If the majority vote yes,
the law is to take effect March l, 1896.
This bill further provides that on and
after that date mo person now voter
III UulS DJdJG Sudll NC dllOW6u W NOGC I'LL
less able to read and write English and
make note that they are not in favor of
Anarchy, Nihilism or Socialism. This
shall not apply to persons over go years
of age, or persons that are blind or other
wise incapacitated by disease"
Persons not voters must comply with
the same conditions in order to be en-
franchised.
Following the reelection of NJ. S.
Stone to the position of State Superin-
tendent of Education, Representative
Pier of Jamaica, introduced a bill re-
ducing the salary of the Office from 81, 900
to 81, 800. This is taken as an evidence
to show the feeling which his unwiSe
recommendations on the school law
have aroused.
The bill appropriating $1,000 for a
monument to the memory of Thomas
Chittenden, the first governor of Yer
mont, could not, of course, escape the
pruning knife, and now reads So, 000.
The first sum asked for was considered
even too modest, if anything, but 5000
will not be sufficient to do justice to the
olfASSp, if, indeed, it could be done in
The blIfS hiding for city charter
for NMontpeiistk now in the legislative
hopper; -SShSpQd S! ,wilsandoubtedly be ground
out without opposition. The charter
makes the limit of the city the same as
are those of the town of Montpelier, so
that any disputes over divisions and
boundary lines will he avoided