Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-12-19
Our County Delegation.

The Windham county members of
the House performed their full share
in the important work of the session.
Mr.. Dunklee of Vernon has the dis
tinction of having successfully intro
duced and carried through five differ
ent bills These were to prevent the
adulteration of milk, to control the
sale of commercial fertilizers, in re-
gard to the shipment of cattle and to
protect the shippers, relating to exemp-
tions from taxation and relating to
teachers certificates. Mr.. Dunklee was
member of the committee on agricul-
ture, and made a strong fight against
weakening the cattle commission bill,
as was done, by cutting out the COM
pulsory test and quarantine features.
Mr.. Adams of Marlboro proved him
self anew a man of sterling sense.
and his services were especially valu-
able in the hne of proper retrench-
ment, and of holding back needless
appropriations. Mr.. GOodhue of West
minister was recognized as one of the
strong men of the House. He was a
diligent worker and performed with
ability the duties of acting chairman
of the committee on education. in the
absence of Mr.. Hubbard of Lyndon,
who was kept at home by Illness
The Democratic members came in
for their full share of recognition.
There was no man who did more
competent, diligent and painstaking
work than did Mr.. Gale of Guilford.
He took a broad, intelligent view of
the various subjects of legislation
as they came up, and was especially
a champion of the farmers interests
on modern and progressive lines of
thought. Mr. Gales most important
work was probably done as chairman
of the House branch of the committee
on revision of bills, although this
work was less in public evidence than
that on the floor of the House.
DR.. Conland was recognized as a
leading factor in the formulation and
enactment of the high-license BILL
and no member of the House did
both in committee and on the floor
1t was said of him that he carried
more influence than any other repre-
sentative when he rose to speak on
any measure in his brief, terse way.
Mr.. Porter of Wilmington, the chair
man of the general committee, easily
held place as one of the strongest and
most active members. Of him it
was said that he made and carried
home with him more friendships than
any other man in the House.
The other Windham county mem
bers, while not often in evidence on
the floor of the House, performed their
full share in committee work, and
were actively and intelligently inter-
ested in all the business of the ses-
sion. The Windham county senators
commanded the confidence and res
pect of their fellows in the upper
chamber. When occasion demanded
Mr.. Spencer proved himself a man of
convictions who could hold his own
in debate. Our delegation as a whole
easily ranked in strength and infiu-
ence with that from any other county.
Speaker John H. Merrifeld amply
fulfilled the expectation of his friends
when he was elected to that honorable
and responsible position. Through
out the session he kept all the legis-
lative work steadily in hand He
presided with strength and dignity,
he proved his familiarity with parlia-
mentary practice, and he showed a
spirit of fairness, impartiality and
good will towards every member
which won for him, not only the con-
fidence and respect, but the affec-
tion of the whole House. In this
respect he holds a place which not
many men in Vermont have ever
reached in equal degree.