St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-03-20
Current Press Comment.

Senator Proctor has started off or
another quiet visit to Cuba to examine
first, hand the present political situation
The contradictory reports from Havana
have disturbed him not little. His pre-.
vious visit to the island became his
toric.-[ Springfield Republican.
The congressional services of Congress
men H. Henry Powers OF the first district
and Gen. William W. Grout of the second
district have now come to close. The
former has served 10 years and the lat
ter IS years. Both men have been faith
full and able officials who have had the
interests of their state always at heart.
While it is probable that neither one will
ever see further service in congress, it is
more than possible that both men will
be called into public life again. Messrs.
Powers and Grout have hosts of friends
who will wish them, whether in public
or private life, long years of continued
health and enjoyment Mortified News.
H. Henry Powers, formerly Represen-
tative of the first district in Congress,
was an applicant for appointment on
the Spanish claims commission, salary
So, 1000, which, however, he did not re-
ceive. Now he seeks, it is said, the post
OF assistant attorney general, an office
created to present the government side
in cases before the commission. The
future looks dull in Vermont, and will
seem all the duller after the "far flung
battle line" of last years political war.
fare. So it is hoped that Mr.. Powers
will not seek or accept any office whose
duties might prevent him from cross |
examining Hon. Carroll S. Page in the
suit pending in Bennington county. a |
privilege for which the exjudge and rep.
resentative is reported to have expressed
a willingness to pay $500 Montpelier
Journal.
The adjournment of the Delaware leg
stature, a body of ffty.two members,
and the smallest state legislature with
he exception of Nevada, which has forty
light members, after having withstood
he pressure of Addcks, shows that
mall legislative bodies may be proof
against pecuniary corruption as well as
anger ones. Heretofore the claim has
been made that small legisla-
ures are easy to handle" Nevada, with
legislature of 48, has population of
'ut $4,000, while Delaware, with SO
members, has $4,000. The Georgia leg.
stature has membership Of 233, Maine
80, that of Connecticut 279, Mississ-
ppi 17S, New Hampshire 321, Massa-
husetts $50, and Vermont 275. In !
most of these states, more particularly
hose OF New England. the retention of 7
arge legislative membership is due to l
constitutional restriction that each !
ownship, deserted or decadent, is emit
led to at least one representative 7
New York Sun.
Mr.. Grout and Mr.. Powers have been [
4 congress much longer than the usual
eriod OF service. Striking the general |
verage here and now, it is fair, it is only
lght and just, to say that they have
cen a credit to the state that sent them
here. Both of the gentlemen have in
heir time served on some of the most
nportant committees of the house, and, [
'hlle neither apparently aspired to or
ttalned any unusual prominence as a /
ader or orator on the floor, both of
1em soon became known as congress {
ona workers who say little and still
Iercise a great influence upon legisla. '
on. They soon became reputed as wise
bothin the direction of party s
olitlcs as concerned in the proceedings .
the congress, and in the superior cues. s
ons of legislation itself, and from time
time were entrusted with responsible Il
es often involving serious consequences =
party measures and to party fortunes. s
LSt. Adams Messenger.