The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-10-14
Legislative Notes.

ONLY four members OF the House were
ah-eui ~ The opening session.
WILLIAM A. LORD of Montpelier for
speaker. We thought so, long ago
THE opening prayer in the House was
by Rev. j. Edward Wright of this city.
GEORGE DEAvITT has been appointed
messenger in Adjutant- G eneral T. s. Peck's
office.
THE "double taxation " of mortgaged
values will be again thoroughly gone over
with this session.
SENATOR JOHN II. MERRIFIELD is at his
old boarding-pace of two years ago, the
home of the Misses Camp, on School street.
MIR. Rowland has a good voice for clerk.
1t is not so remarkably voluminous, but IL
is clear and penetrating and will be easily
heard.
Morrisville Wednesday morning of last
week, to be with her husband during the
session.
THE governors staff is larger than usual
this year. When assembled in uniform its
members ought to make an imposing APP
pearance
GovERNoR CIRCUIT has appointed George
T.. Stratton of Burlington as executive clerk
and James III Macomber of the same city AZ
engrossing clerk.
EDWARD G.. MCINTYRE OF Rutland is en-
ployed in State Treasurer Fields office.
Mr.. Mcintyre has been employed as Treas
urer Fields assistant since last November
ONE member rem arked that the only
change he noticed in John Merriheld, SEN
ator from Windham, was that his title had
been shortened from " Honest " to =" Hon"
AT least one coptested-electon case looms
up for the Ommittee on elections TO settle
L. T. Williams and b. A. Bowker are con-
testants from the town of Bloomfield for
seat in the house
Hon. FRANK DILLINGHAM Of San Fran
cisco was a visitor at the State House on
Thursday. He is son of the late Paul Dill
lingham and brother of Ex-Governor Will
liam P. Dillingham;,
THERE is much subdued talk over the
United States senatorship election, to be
made a sp acial order for Tuesday afternoon,
October 20 If Justin s. Morrill, retires,
where will the lightning striker
CHESTER PIERCE, a prominent and wealthy
citizen of Rochester, and former senator
from Windsor county, died last week Mon
day at his home in Rochester at the age Of
seventy-five years. His funeral services
we're held on Wednesday.
THE Senate doorkeepers are G. w. Briggs
of Brandon and Martin Shattuck of Eden.
The gentlemen who will guard the en-
frances to the House are Dennis e. May of
st. Johnsbury and Orville G. Wheeler OF
Burlington.
JosEPa w. SAULT of St. Johnsbury has
been app inted secretary OF civil and mill
tary affairs by Governor Grout Mr.. Sault
is a genial and accomplished gentleman,
and all who know him will be pleased at
the appointment
WILLIAM II. BUTTON OF Middlebury, al
though the youngest member, will III AXE a
most useful one. He proved himself an
able talker when he seconded Mr., Lord
for speaker, and he has his eye out for
points and progress.
f. A. Rowland, clerk OF the House, and
Max l.. Powell, secretary of the Senate,
had to begin work before they received
their appointments. 1t may have been a
trhe embarr assing, but they appeared to
bear up under it fairly well.
THE State House has been newly cleaned
and shows up in good shape. 1t did not
cost 500 600 900, like the one in New York,
hut Vermonters are free people and cor
ruption and unwarranted expenditure are
not as common here as in New York.
THE Vermont Historical Society will hold
a meeting in Montpelier during the session,
at which it is probable that there will be
present a speaker of national reputation.
Judge Hiram Carleton of Montpelier is
president, and Prof. j. A. DeBoer of Mont
pelier secretary, of the society.
AMONG the many members located at the
Montpelier House are j. II. Beattie OF
Brunswick, E. f. Palmer of Waterbury
George NJ. Powers Of Morrisville, A. l.
Hall of Bakersfield Henry G. Bates of St
! Johnsbury, X. w. Hulburd of Hyde Park
A. A. Dean of Berkshire and Ii, o. Ward
of Moretown.
SENATOR FOSTER of Putney takes the pc.
stion vacated by Ex-senator Bailey Of New
! bury as the largest man in that body. He
also appears to be a fit successor of Mr.
Bailey in point of humor and good fellow
ship. When his back is turned he strongly
] GanrOp Hnnkar
tleboro, except in size.
The governor states that he appointed
Colonies Hubbard and Haskell who are
democrats, to positions on his staff in order
to show his appreciation of those of thai
party " no refused to be led astray by the
free silver sheen, but followed the lead Of
ex-Minster e. j. Phelps and supported the
republican state ticket as the best means OF
rebuking the forces of reputation
SPEAKER LORDS double caused number
of amusing blunders while he was in town
The gentleman, whose name is Chase, was
approached several times by members, will
request for committee positions. One
well-known Montpelier lady, who ha,
known Mr.. Lord since he wore long dresses
seized Mr. Chase cordially by the hand anC
congratulated him on his election to the
speakership.
SAMUEL S. AMEs the unfortunate insane
patient from SALISBURY, who thinks he was
! elected 10 Int Onlltu oudttS obndIe III u ACT
of Justin S Morrill,, has again put in an APP
pearance at the State House and is bus,
making appeals to members to see that h,
has his rights. He has been here ever,
session year since 1886, always on the SANE
errand. As he is harmless, he is allowed
full freedom to go and come as he pleases
THE Vermont legislature comes togethe
right in the midst Of a hot political cam
piigu when nobody is thinking or talking
of much else than the issues involved in thu
national contest. Nevertheless it is ex
pected that the legislators will settle dowi
to the consideration of the business of thu
state, and dispose OF it in far shorter TIM
than Legislators do in some other states tina
we might mention, and which are located
nearer home.-Boston Herald.
If Brattleboro, Bennington and st. Johns
bury all apply for city charters this fall, i
will prove no small addition to the work o
this legislature. II they should all b.
granted, it would give Vermont eigh
cites-more than she dreamed Of few
years ago. In all three of the towns, how
ever, there is a strong opposition to the city
charter sentiment, and the movements ar
liahla IN Gonna tn naupht before they reacl