St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-09-28
Before the Legislature Meets.


of the Legislature. The entire wood
work on the outside of the building, in
Guiding the Goddess of Agriculture which
surmouuts the dome, has been scraped
and painted, the granite walls and steps
painted and the storehonse painted.
In the basement of the building where
is located the lavatories the work of re-
noyation was begun. The walls there
have been newly sheathed and painted,
new oil cloths laid and spring water for
drinking purposes put in. The office of
the secretary of state has been painted,
and new carpets laid there, and in the
Office of the superintendent of education
additional file and book cases have been
put in. - Most of the committee rooms
have been newly painted and new furni-
ture added and in some of them the car
pets that were taken from the reception
room and representatives hall have been
laid. New metal door plates have also
been placed on the rooms of all the State
officers.
The office of the State auditor would
hardly be recognized. New carpets have
been laid and draperies hung, the chairs
vanished, and new desk added and
new cases put in the vaults. A new car
pet has also been laid in the Office of the
sergeant at arms.
The crowded condition of the office of
the railroad commissioners when a hear
ing was in progress necessitated several
changes there. An adjoining room has
been added to this Office by cutting
through partition, new carpets have
been laid, the furniture vanished and nine
pictures, presented the commission by
the Canadian Pacific railroad, have been
framed and hung.
The supreme court room and the
0f he 10 ole
ceived attention. The lawyers room
has been sheathed and hooks provided
for holding clothing. In the consul
tation room of the court, new curtains,
draperies, and seven large upholstered
chairs have been provided. New curtains
have also been hung in the supreme
court room, the ceiling retouched and
the walls cleaned and painted.
The main reception room adjoining the
executive chamber has been fitted with
new carpets, and the chairs and sofas
have been re-upholstered. The most no.
ticeable improvement in the executive
place those that have done service since
the State House was built, and a new
desk in the ante-room. The
old draperies in the upper vestibule have
also been replaced by handsome new
ones.
In the Hall of Representatives a new
carpet and new curtains are striking
features. The gallery has been painted
and scroll work with portiers hung be-
hind the speakers chair.
The Senate chamber is Respondent in
new draperies, freshly painted gallery
and sofas and chairs re-upholstered
Looks Very Favorable TO Merrifeld.
Ffofoh n A.
encouragement that he is not a candidate
for the speakership of the House of Rep
resentatives. He was speaker four years
ago and his name has been very favora-
bly, mentioned by the press generally for
the position this year. Mr.. Proctor feels
that Mr.. Merri6eld, who was speaker of
the last house, and has been returned
from Newfane again this year is fairly
entitled to the place as well as worthy
of the honor. He says therefore that he
shall not be a candidate, but will be glad
to personally support Mr.. Mortified, if
the latter will accept a reelection, and it
is now understood that he would. The
friends of Mr.. Proctor, who have knowl-
edge OF the assurances of support received
by him, in addition to public recognition
OF his qualifications for the place, are in
a position to appreciate the full signif-
canoe OF this gracious act on bis part,
| and the position he has taken cannot fail
| to commend itself to the admiration of
| Speaker Merriheld and his friends, par
| ticularly in view of the handsome man
| ner in which Mr.. Proctor speaks of Mr..
| Merriheld and the probable effect of this
| action in clearing the field for the lat
| teri Burlington Free Press.
Mr.. CIemena Making am Investigation.
| Judge George M. Powers of the YER
| mont supreme court Saturday issued an
| Percival w. Clement, the welEknown
local optionst OF Rutland, for a writ oil
mandamus against State Aus itor
| Horace F. Graham, commanding him to
| exhibit vouchers on file in his Office for
moneys paid out from time to time to
meet department expenses. The order
| cites Graham to appear before the
| supreme court on the fourth Tuesday in
| October at Montpelier.
| The petition OF MIR. Clement was pre-
/ sented by Sherman R. Moulton of the
law firm of Cowles & Moulton of Bur-
! lngtOn. Clement claimed that there had
| been '.gr aft in the management of Yer
| mont state institutions. but the state
| auditor refused to allow him to examine
| the vouchers.
The sergeant-as-Arms' Appointments.
Mr.. Brock hada decidedly difficult task
| to perform In making the appointments,
| as there are about a hundred applica-
| tions Tor each position. He has allotted
places to persons residing in every sec
| ton of the state, and the most chronic
kicker will be unable to find fault with
| the list. Mr.. Brock has conducted the
affairs OF the sergeant-at-arms Office the
same as he does all matters of business
which he takes hold of-with thorough
| ness, carefulness and the display of good
| judgment not often encountered.-[M Mont
PETER Argus.