St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-10-10
VERMONT LEGISLATURE.
The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Proctor's
Address-The Two Messages-Pro-
spective Legislation.
editorial Correspondence.


ludicrous mistakes the General Assembl,
started on Wednesday morning and i,
now well under way. Secretary How
and swore in the Speaker as "clerk ,
Speaker Proctor presented the chief ex
ecutiVe to the Joint assembly as eth
Governor-elect, and the charm an of Z
committee to escort a newly elected
official to the bar of the House to receiv,
the oath said: "Mr Speaker. We hav,
assigned the duty to which we were per
formed !"
But Lieut,-Gov. Bates performed his
part with dignity and grace and without
any clerical or typographical" errors. He
called the Senate to order and after
prayer by Rev. S. G. Lewis of Danvile
Max l.. Powell was unanimously nomin.
ated clerk and Senator Baldwin was
chosen president pro TEN. For chaplain
Senator Walker nominated Rev. A. 7.
Hough Of White River Junction, Senator
Marvin of Grand Isle county nominated
Rev. ]. Q. Angel of North Hero, Senator
Leavenworth of Rutland county nomin-
ated Rev. J. Hall Long ofTinmouth. Mr..
Long was elected on the third ballot.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE,
While this was being transacted in the
Senate similar proceedings were being en-
acted in the House. Secretary Rowland
called the assembly to order and prayer
was offered by Rev. J. E. Wright of
Montpelier. Col. Fletcher D. Proctor
received the party vote for speaker and
40 democrats cast their ballot for Tohn
W. Currier of Troy.
SPEAKER PRoCToR'S SPEECH.
The chair appointed as a committee to
wait on the speaker-elect, Mr.. White of
and Mr.. Cnrrier of Troy. The
oath of office having been administered,
Mr.. Proctor spoke as follows:
For the honor you have conferred up
on me desire to express my sincere
To be elected Speaker OF the Yer
mont House Representatives. indeed.
an honor, but l realize that, coupled
with that honor, are duties and RESPONSE
bllities; and that shall fall far short of
neriting the confidence you have placed
n me unless bring to the discharge of
those duties and responsibilities the best
nave, and meet them at all times in a
spirit OF the utmost fairness and impair
.lallty. This shall be my purpose, know.
ng full well that shall at all times need.
and believing that l shall receive, your
support and forbearance.
THE record of the Vermont Legisla.
ture is as clean and spotless as that of
any legislative bod in the country. 1t
is more so than many. This is not be-
cause OF any special safeguard thrown
around it by the Constitution or by
legislative enactments, but because the
people who stand back of our Legisla-
-ure and from among whom the Leg
stature is chosen, believe in and demand
official honesty. These are facts in
which we all take honorable pride. 1t is
right that we should.
but we are also well aware that in
one respect at least the business of Yer
mont Legislatures is not transacted up-
On strictly business principles. In the !
carly part OF the session too much time |
IS practically wasted, or at least not spent
as it should be in actively advancing the
work Of the session, and, as result, too
much important business is crowded in
% the closing days and hours. 1t is not
hat our sessions are too short, but that |
he work is not evenly distributed
throughout the session. We're It not for
his fact | believe they might be even
shortened without working injury to the
commonwealth.
These are facts that are very general
recognized throughout the state. In
ny opinion the remedy lies in our first
ecognizing it as positive wrong, and
hen IN determined purpose on the
'art of each member of this Legislature
o take up and carry forward the work
" this session, as we would take up and
AIRY forward any important personal
business. 1t is our personal business.
I'VE cannot in any better way serve
'ur state and merit the confidence our
have placed in us than by
breaking up as tar as possible this I'M
ortunate custom, and thus avoiding the
dangerous rush at the close of the ses-
'ion, which necessarily results in ill con-
'idered legislation. May this be our
united purpose"
OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE.
Thomas {. Cheney, of Morrisvile, was
The republican candidate for clerk and
the democrats voted for Harry c. Shurt-
eft of Montpelier. Mr.. Cheney was
elected on the first ballot. The speaker
announced the appointment of Luther B.
ohnson of Randolph and Edward c.
Mcintyre of Rutland as official reporters
II the House.
The first contest in the House came
'ver the election of chaplain for which
he following nominations were made:
dr. Lawrence of Bristol nominated for
haplain Rev. J, J. Mcdonald of Sudbury,
ur. Chase of Bethel; Mr.. Bundy of St.
ohnsbury, nominated Rev. G. w. Pat
erson, seconded by Mr.. Hale of Lunen-
'urgh Mr.. Emery of Chelsea nominated
Rev. X. Fuller of Windsor, seconded by
Mr.. Buck OF READING and Mr. Marion of