The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-08-30
Dewey's Reception.

The committee appointed by Mayor SEN
ter to act with the State committee in ar.
ranging for the reception to Admiral Dewey
held an important meeting Thursday even
lug in the Office OF the Exchange hotel G.
+. PitkiD, A. j. Sibley and j. @. Brown
were appointed on the fireworks aad deco
ration committee. This committee will have
full charge OF decoration of public buildings
and will urge upon the owners Of private
houses, especially along the route of the
procession, the desirablity Of proper deco
rations.
committee on entertainment was also
appointed whose duty 1t shall be to zee that
adequate provision is made for feeding the
multitudes. This committee, which is com
posed OF H. A. Huse, B. #. Fified, II. w.
Kemp, Rev. W. j. O'Sulivan, r. 9. Bow
ers, George Atkins and W. A. Stowell, has
full power to appoint sub committees, or to
increase It's own membership Among It's
duties will be to see that strangers are not
imposed upon by exhorbitant rates, and
also to ascertain how many can be fed and
lodged in private houses This will prob
ably be done by advertising in some public
way. AT its next meeting this committee
Will elect a chairman.
The Legislature of 1898 passed o law au-
thorizing Sergeant at Arms Phinney to re
move the State House fence, provided that
enough can be realized from the sale OF the
iron and granite to pay for it's removal and
for grading the grounds The desirabilty
OF having this fence out of the way before
Dewey day IL apparent to every member of
the city committee. A special committee
composed Of II. W. Kemp, L. Bart Cross.
George Atkins, Fred Blanchard and A. j.
Sibley was appointed to confer with Mr.
Phinney in regard to the matter. l.. Bart
CrOHS offered to be one of twenty Fl va to
guarantee to make good any deficiency If
the fence is at once removed. Alderman
j. g. Brown stated that the city is in need
OF granite for curbing, and in his iopinon
market for most Of the granite In the fence
can be found here in Moptpelier The
committee appointed on this matter went
to work this morning, and have met several
times during the day. The great crush on
Dewey day will be in and around the State
House grounds, and with the fence out OF
the way, no distractions will be offered.
The question of railroad transportation
was discussed at length and in a decidedly
spirited manner. A fare and one-third for
the round trip IL the best rate that has yet
been offered by the Central Vermont. This
would'make Il round-trip ticket from Rul-
land "a 40, from bennington So, with pro-
portionately high rates from all distant
points in the State. The matter of trans
portation is in the hands of the State COM
mittee and the city committee considered it
discourteous to take any action, but several
members Of the city C mmit;ee expressed
themselves in favor of abandoning the
State celebration, il no lower railroad rates
can be secured, and make Admiral Dewey's
reception local affair." with banquet, re-
ception, etc. In comparison with excur ion
rates from all points in Vermont that have
been in force during this mouth, and which
are still advertised, n round-trip rate of
fare and a third to Montpelier for Dewey
day seems to both State and city committee
to be outrageously high.
The committee appointed to consider the
removal of the State House fence was in
consultation this morning with Mr. Phin-
new. He Will at consult with the
State treasurer and State auditor, the Off
Gals empowered with him to remove the
fence, and report to the committee the re-
suit.