The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-10-12

air, and are coming this way with electric
rspidity.
In speaking of the new State officials-bar- |
ring the chief executive, who stands as |
Webster said of Massachusetts and needs |
no encomium-I must again allude to the |
good looking occupants Of the offices. The |
vice-executive Is most distinguished |
looking gentleman and three finer looking |
men than Messrs. Rowland, Bacon and |
Barber wonld be difficult to unearth. By
the way Senator Bartlett, is said by the la |
dies to be the best looking man in the senate.
Gov. Smith was waited on Tuesday by
delegation of prominent Democratic men, |
bers OF the House, and asked that he favor
ably consider the request that Vermont's
minority party be fairly represented on the
various State commissions, Such proper
act OF courtesy Is observed in many other
States, and the governor might well give
the several thousand Democratic voters and
taxpayers of Vermont an occasional voice
among the many on the various commits
sions.
Gov. CIRCUITS idea of an Encouragement
is one that has been gaining in public favor
for some time, and the few members OF
this legislature who have expressed opin-
ions on the subject are favorably inclined
toward the creation of the Office at this
session. 1t Is urged that such an official
would save money for the State, and that
1t can be 80 demonstrated in the discussion
of the question. II that can be made to APP
pear, as seems to be the fact, the result will
not be in doubt.
Senator Hits knockout by pugilistic
wardrobe in his room reminds me of the
distinguished statesman who at not very
remote session was badly done up by u fold
ing bed. Senator Hit quickly rallied,
however, and came up smiling before time
was called with no other Disagreement
than beauty spot each on his retrousse
nose and bullying forehead. These might
be taken for strawberry marks, and rather
adds to his style of beauty.
There is excellent ground for the rapid
growth Of the suspicion that Gov. Smith
has it in for bores and chronic Office. seekers.
Visitors to Secretary Hogan's room for the
past day or two have noticed numerous
wasps about the room, and closer investi-
CATION has disclosed stream of these Wig
orous insects oozing from the gas chanda-
lier now in disuse. 1t is supposed that the
secretary turns on the wasp battery when
ever visitor becomes monotonous.
The venerable State Historical Society
will hold its annual business meeting the
afternoon Of Tuesday the 18th. The public
meeting Of the society will be held in Rep
resentatiyes' hall the following Tuesday,
the 25th at 7 P. M. The speaker will be
Edward Isham of Chicago. de will read a
paper on Ethan Allen "a study in civil
authority" giving some new facts in Aliens
life. Mr.. Isham is one of the leading law
yeTb Oh C0lCdRO anu n son OF inc lHl6 Judge
Isham of our state Supreme Court.
"Notics has been given that application
will be made TO the Legislature for charter
for an electric railroad to connect the city Of
Barre with South Royalton, running through
the towns of Barre, Orange, Washington,
Chelsea, and Tunbridge. The towns of
Chelsea and Tunbridge have been striving
for several years to secure some better
mode of travel than the stage coach. Chel-
sea is thriving village, the shire town of
Orange county, and should have railroad
communication with the outside towns"
The member from Chelsea, Mr.. Emery,
will place his name high up on the pillar of
fame by the introduction of bill allowing
listers to swear to the legality OF their Off
cial work before any official duly authorized
to administer an oath. The statute now re-
quires that the oath must be taken before
justice Of the peace, ana as town clerks fire.
quently endorse the work as notary pub
lie, this Is the cause OF much OF the nui-
sance legislation with which the General
Assembly is pestered. The amendment
contemplated will likely do away with two.
thirds of this sort of thing
1t is quite proper at this time to remark
that the people at large-and even those
who are not allowed at large-do not take
to the suggestion or proposition or attempt
to fill State offices with members of the
legislature. II the general assembly con-
tains obviously the best man for any
given position of course they can be reason
for not selecting him, but it is too often the
case that member uses his position to oh.
tain office and it Is accorded him by his
brethren as a mark of their esteem and good
will. The people have been victimized in
this way in the past and they are plainly
suspicious OF it.
Ladies' week is established for the week
beginning Monday, the oath, and that
period will be crowded with social and
| Af al do Id
interest. The meeting of the Vermont So
ciety Of Colonial Danes will inaugurate the
events of the week Tuesday, the 2jth ard
will be the occasion Of a large gathering
here Of the most socially prominent ladies
OF the State Following that the meetings
of the Vermont Officers Reunion Society
will be held the following day, Wednesday.
The business meeting will be held at two P.
M. and the annual address, will be delivered
by General Mccullough, in Representatives.
hall in the evening. Immediately follow
| ing this will be the banquet at the Pavilion,
and the toastmeJt er on that occa3ion will
| be Colonel Hooker OF Brattleboro.
Somebody with yearniDg for statistics
| claims to have discovered that forty-eight
Republicans are willing to vote for Ii.
cense substitute for the prohibitory law,
and possibly there are voters who are will
ing to be convinced. These with the Demo-
Gratis would make total vote in opposition
of between eighty-fve and ninety. Some
uncertainty exists here from the fact that
three Democratic members from Washing.
ton county are understood to favor straight
prohibition. The more conservative men,
bers who favor change, however, are in
clined to ask simply for referendum and
not attempt to get vote on license bill
| The referendum is OF course the logical first
step, and it would seem es IL the advocates
of license should content themselves with
| it at this session. Better not attempt to
force license until the people call for it I'M
| der the referendum.
1--WE are unable to approve Governor
Smiths plan of inducing people to locate in
Vermont by making contract with them
to restrict their taxes. 1t seems to US that
the plan is highly Objectionable on consti-
tutional, practical ana moral grounds. But
his argument in favor of better highway
system deserves the heartiest approval
Every bad road exaots tax on the wagon
or, in time, in labor, or injury to the team.
This imposition may be slight, but it ia
constant, day in and day out and II proper
ly reckoned on will be found to amount to
far more annually, as a roadway tax, than
the interest on the money needed for build
ing proper road and keeping it in repair
The $4,000 now realized from the State
highway tax is spread out 80 thin, in divid-
| ing it among 216 towns that ID ia practically