Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-16


State offlcers-BiII to Allow Select
men to Serve as Road Commits
sloners.
MONTPELIER, Oct. 18th, 1894.
When the Legislature is not in session
l frequently hear the remark, Thine
hangs heavily" Thus far in the session
am pleased to say that this ''disease"
has not attacked the hermit" how
ever, will not boast, for it may later on,
yet there are no symptoms at present.
In nv last letter wanted to say more
of the troops at Fort Ethan Allen, but
time would not permit. Just before the
parade, and while the review was taking
place, had opportunity to talk with one
or two of the boys in one of the large
buildings which was our rendezvous.
learned enough from them and other
sources to know that the squadron of
the Third United States Cavalry, which
is now at Fort Ethan Allen, has probably
seen as much hard service as any in the
army. The regiment was first organ
lied during the Mexican war, after the
conclusion of which it performed splen-
did service along the Texan frontier I'M
til 1861, when it was summoned to Mem.
phis to join the Army of the Potomac.
At the close of the war the regiment was
ordered West, to protect the line of the
Union Pacific railroad, then building. 1t
has seen hard service and lost many of
It's best officers and men in the Indian
wars of the seventies. The regiment
accompanied Gen. Cook on his famous
campain against Sitting Bull during the
summer of 1876. In 1912 they were sent
to Arizona to quell an uprising of the
Apaches. They were successful in this
after hard service, and remained in Ari-
IONA until 1886, when they were removed
to Texas, where they served the next
eight years. Capt. Bourke with a
troop, was in the thick of the CANA in
surrection. A year ago they were re-
moved from Texas to Kansas, and when
the riots in Chicago took place were
about the first of the regular army to be
sent. One of the soldiers told me par
ticularly about the Chicago uprising
The Secretary of War wisely decided
that Fort Ethan Allen should be given to
the regiment that had seen the hardest
service, and the militia of Vermont are
not likely to be called into pitched battle
for some time, perhaps not for years:
the Third U. S. Cavalry will have good
rest, which they are justly entitled to-.
In the Government stables are many
sleek mules ready for business, and the
animals looked as if they would kick
sooner than not if one got too near their
heels. The Government buildings are
of brick, and there are several of them,
large and imposing, on the great level
tract of hundreds of acres. Truly, if
would hardly realize that there is such a
onr ba1nua1 Varnnont Fort
Ethan Allen.
A bill has been introduced in the
House repeating that portion of the stat
ute that forbids the catching of certain
fish under certain lengths. Whether the
bill will pass is question, but after care
full consideration "the hermit" is of the
opinion that it should. The law is not
enforced in all cases as it now stands,
(unless in case of 'spite" now and then,
in certain sections of the State), and NOR
al, law abiding people do not feel just
right if they think they have, after an
hour or days sport, in their possession,
trout even a fraction less than six in
ches long. Another very strong point in
favor of the repeal of the law is, that
many towns in our State are Ravens of
rest for a summers sojourn among the
mountains, and so advertised; TROUT
fishing abounds," being a conspicuous
pointer in the advertisement. Well,
when the tourists and guests arrive they
are confronted with the Vermont trout
law that it is a misdemeanor to catch
trout less than six inches long, then do
they not naturally enquire, "hOw's thisP
trout fishing was one of the enjoyments
that induced us to come here, and"
Before he can say more the landlord, or
host, turns the subject on to good milk
and butter, fresh vegetables, etc.
The election of State officers occurs on
Thursday at 2 p. m. There will be no
''strife" unless it is for the office of the
State Superintendent of Education. The
claim for Gen. Peck is based on his six
teen years experience in the Office, while
no one denies but that Col. Kinsman is in
every way competent for it. Probably
Peck will be reelected, but 1--WE shall
see." The house concurring in senate
proposals of amendment in regard to the
election of State officers, is the reason
why the date was changed to the 18th,
inst Change of dates, you know, es-
pecially in large bodies, sometimes
means something!
House bill /, in amendment of Sec. l
of act No. 81, of laws of 1888, has passed
the House, aud provides that no person
al property shall be exempt from attach
ment and execution for the purchase
price thereof or to recover payment for
materials or labor expended on the same.
House bill 16, relating to the trans
fer of property of nonresident
words to their guardians residing out of
the State, has passed, with slight amend
ment.
Mr.. Thompson of Woodstock has in
troduced H. bill, 45, to allow selectmen
to be elected road commissioners. The
bill when it comes up will be quite lively
discussed. The hermit is willing, on
this question, to give his opinion in adj
vance, to the effect that every town in
the State has a good man for road com
missioner and he should not be one OF
the selectmen or the three. OF course
the selectmen have the management of,
and oversee the affairs of the town, and
if the road commissioner is direlect in
his duty, they should ''call him to time
the same as any other subordinate off
Ger if the case requires. 1t is true that il
is absolutely essential that man who
understands the business should be elect
ed road commissioner Good roads
never were receiving so much attention
as now, from the executive down, hence
the reason for the right man in the right
place, is obvious.
Resolutions out of respect to Hon. w