Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-09

the Senators and the Representatives
Look --- the Messages --- Gov. Wood
bury's Farewell Reception.
loNTPELIER, Oct. 8, 1896.
The legis .ture of 1896 opened on sched-
ule time with the usual accompaniment of
a rainy day. The chief interest centred in
the election of speaker of the house, and
the outcome of the lively campaign for
that pos ION was the selection of William
A. Lord oi Montpelier. The vote stood as
follows:
First ballot: Whole number of votes 23S;
w. A. Lord. 1l6; Geo. M. Powers, 5S;
Kittredge Haskins 46; II. l.. Clark, 1S.
Second ballot: Whole number of votes 237;
w. A. Lord, 1877; Geo. NJ. Powers, So;
Kittredge Haskins, 81; II. l.. Clark, IL.
The result had been claimed by Mr..
Lords friends for some time, but began to
seem probable to all Tuesday evening when
several counties held caucuses and decided
to support him almost in a body. The
other candidates received a considerably
smaller vote than they had substantial rea-
sons to expect, and it is probable that Mr..
Lord owed some part of his support to the
fact that he was the leading candidate and
that his success was sin the air." He also
protited somewhat by the fact that each
of the other counties presenting a candi-
date had been honored with the speaker
ship since Washington county had. 1t is
understood that the Montpelier people,
taking pride in Mr.. Lords legislative rec
ord of two years ago, had given him early
assurance of reelection, with the hope
that he might obtain the speakership.
This made him the first candidate in the
field and he received many pledges of inhu-
ence from sources that were valuable.
Col. Haskins's name was well presented
by Mr.. Ward of Putney and was seconded
by Mr.. Follett of Townshend and several
members from outside counties. The
house is very fortunate in having for work
ing members such men as the defeated can-
didates for the speakership. Mr.. Haskins's
experience and ability as a speaker will
give him great influence, and in all proba-
bilitT make him the leader of the house.
Mr.. Powers, with his twelve years exferi-
ence as assistant clerk OF the house and
secretary of the senate, supplemented by
his bright and winning ways as a speaker,
will be very valuable member.
Fred A. Rowland of Montpelier, who
has been the very efficient assistant clerk
of the house for the past three terms, was
unanimously elected clerk. He has ap-
=, o;rto1 n O b;s assistants Thomas n Cbapay
of Morristown and Fred L. Hamilton of Sal
isbury. z Rev. S. C. Currier was elected
chaplain of the house by good majority.
He was chaplain of that body in 1880, and
then, as this year, owed his election to the
fact that he was broken in health through
wounds received in the army.
The house of 1896 has the distinction of
being larger body in membership than
any of its predecessors, all of the towns and
cities in the state being this year repre-
sented. Two hundred and forty-one of the
245 members responded to the roll call
Wednesday morning. 1t is commonly re-
marked that they look like very substan-
tial body of men, perhaps little younger
in years than the average Vermont house.
They are more representative body than
the house of 1894 in that more of them are
natives of the state and a considerably
larger number of them are engaged in the
state'sl leading industry. Twenty-four of
them have previously been members of the
house and five have been members of the
senate.
The organization of the senate was quick
ly effected. The only contest was for the
office of secretary, which was settled by
one ballot, Max L. Powell of Burlington
receiving 10 votes and A. G. Coolidge of
Rutland IA. Mr.. Powell performed grace
full act in appointing his competitor as as
81 slant secretary. Senator A. A. Dean of
Addison county was elected president pro
tempore by acclamation. There were sew
eral candidates for the senate chaplaincy,
but Rev. Wilfred Warner of Pawlet had so
large lead that none of the others were
placed in nomination.
The fact that the senate contains but one
lawyer has been commented on in some
quarters as an indication that it is below
the average in promise of efficiency. 1t
contains, however, quite number of sue
cessful business men, and an unusually
large number of physicians, two classes
that past experience has shown to make
good legislators. Twenty-three of the &c
members have been members of the house.