Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-10-11
AT THE CAPITAL.
The Legislature Makes a Begin
ning-Some Notes of the First
Features.
Written for THE TIMEs.l

Written for THE TMEs,l
The Vermont legislature for 1894 is a
week old and quite as much has been
accomplished as is usually expected of
the first weeks session. In fact,
Speaker Stickney has beaten his own
record in the announcement of the COM
mittees and had them ready by Friday
morning. Two years ago they were an
nounced on Friday afternoon. If the
house takes the cue from the speakers s
business-like hustle, and to quote from
not "put off till November what ought
to be done in October" the present ses-
sion will amount to something.
THE ORGANIZATION.
This was accomplished quickly and
smoothly. The Democratic eleven put
up candidate for the speakership-Mr.
Stevens of Walden-but Mr.. Stickney
secured 221 out of the 230 votes cast
Judge Reads remaks in nominating
the Ludlow gentleman were brief but
to the point, and the entire house
agreed with him that qualifications
were not lacking in the nominee. The
gentleman from Woodiord,n who
spoke for the Democratic portion of the
house, turned over the nine votes to
Mr.. Stickney making the election
unanimous.
IL. Merrifield of Newfane had no
competitor for the clerkship and was
elected by acclamation. His assistants
this year are Fred A. Rowland of Mont
pelier and Thomas G. Cheney of Nor
risville. The official reporters in the
house are John H. Mimms of St.
Albans and J. w. Sault of ST. Johns
bury Three candidates appeared for
the chaplaincy and Rev. A. q. Spoor of
Winooski was elected.
In the senate Mr.. Plumley of North
field secured the place of acclamation
and George NJ. Powers was made secre-
tary again. his assistant is Charles
Plumley of Northfield. Carl G. Flet-
cher of st. Adams reports proceedings
in the senate and Rev. Mr.. Haynes of
Rutland was an easy winner as chap
lain.
INAUGURATION- THE MESSAGES.
Thursday was a genuine Governors
Day. in the legislature and the joint
assemblies in the forenoon and after
noon were largely attended, the galleries
and the extra seats in the house being
fully occupied. Especially was this
true at the afternoon session when
| Gov Woodbury. took the oath of office
and delivered his message.
BY the way, the messages were botf
excellent documents. Gov. Fuller'S
was the longer of the tWo-a compre
hensiye outline of what had been at
tempted and accomplished during his
administration, with suggestions as tt
future legislation. Gov. WoOdbury's
message was also a practical affair
calling direct attention to the states
immediate needs and suggesting some
lines of work which are especially i'm
portant to the best interests of the
state.
| THE WORK IN HAND.
Several of the house committees had
meetings on Monday to plan for the
work in hand. 1t is likely that the leg
islature will find plenty to do. Aside
from the ordinary work of the session
the entire statutes are to be revised
which will take considerable time; anC
there are hints that this extra amount
of business can not be attended to with
in the usual term of the session. The
speaker and some of the most active
members, however, think differently
and will push things as rapidly as is
consistent with effective work.
/ The Australian ballot lew has been
taken up thus early in the session. The
gentleman from Jamaica, Mr.. Pier, OF
Monday got in bill eXempting al
towns ofless than 1000 population from
the operations of the complicated ballo
act. This may be taken as ''straW'
indicating that considerable wind vii
be blown against the present system o
conducting elections.
The matter Of free text books will alsC
claim attention, and DR.. Weston o
/ Newfane made the first move in tha
direction last Friday with bill provid
ing for their use in the public schools 0
the state.
The school law will be tinkered t,
some extent, but there are no signs o.
any radical changes therein.
NOTES.
Seven bills in the house and one il
| the senate, is the record up to thi
morning.
The entire legislature goes to Bur
! lington tomorrow "wednesday to visi
I that city and Fort Ethan Allen, by in
vitation of Mayor Van Patten an(
Capt. Guy Howard.
1 Windham county Jared well whei
the committees were passed around
Judge Read of Rockingham was mad,
chairman of the Judiciary committee
DR.. Weston is chairman of the commit
tee on military affairs, and Mr.. Mann
of the committee on banks. Othe
members of the Windham county dele
CATION are well located.
The gubernatorial reception Wednes
day evening of last week was a socia
success, aud 2000 people participated.
Next week there will be bevy of re
unions. Ladies' night will occur OF
Tuesday, when Il reception will be hello
ard closely following come the reunion
of the Vermont Offers society auC
that of the Cavalry reunion.
The crowds at the capitol were aug
mented not little Monday night 10y
the arrival of lawyers from the foG
quarters of the state to attend the gen,
eral term of the supreme court whiq(
opened today, as well as the meeti
and banquet of the Vermont Bar az
citation tonight. The examinatio.
candidates for admission to the b3(
CURED today and there were IS