The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-09-23
LAKE CHAMPLAI AIN
TERCENTENARY
COMMISSION
Reports on Progress Made and
Makes Recommendations
CELEBRATION TO BEGIN JULY4
Legislature Should Make Appropra
ton Sufficient to Maintain Dignity
OF State on Great Occasion.
To the General Assembly of the State


Of Vermont:
The Lake Champlain Tercentenary
Commission of Vermont, created by
your honorable body by legislative en-
actment in 1906, respectfully submits
herewith a report of the steps al.
ready taken. together with certain
recommendations
This commission was authorized by
the following joint resolution:
Joint resolution for the Appointment
of a commission for the Booth An
niyersary of the discovery Of Lake
Champlain.
Resolved by the Senate and House Of
Representatives:
Whereas, The discovery Of Lake
Champlain was an event I'm history
fully as important as many others
that have been recognized by various
states. as well as by the national gov
eminent, and
Whereas, The three hundredth an.
niyersary of such discovery will oc-
cur on July fourth, 1909, 1t is hereby
Resolved by the Senate and House Of
Representatives:
That this event should be observed
In a fitting manner and bring about
an observance commensurate with its
Importance, there is hereby provided
a commission consisting of the gov
ernor who shall be chairman, exotic
10. and six other members TO be ap.
pointed by the governor before Janu-
airy first, 1907, one Of whom shall act
as secretary. Said commission is
hereby empowered to adopt such meas
ures as in its judgment may be rea-
sonable or necessary to bring about
the fitting observance of such event
And as the interests of the state of
New York and the Dominion OF Can
ada are allied with those of Vermont
in such observance, IL is hereby rec
commended that said commission con.
fer with the proper authorities Of
New York and Canada to ascertain
what action they or either Of them
will take with Vermont in making the
observance of this event successful
and a credit TO all: and that the com
mission report the result of such eff
forts together with its recommends
tons to the General Assembly of
1908.
The members of said commission
shall receive no pay for services rem
dered except their necessary eXpen-
ses.
The secretary of said commission
shall be allowed such sum for SER
vices rendered as may be fixed by
said commission.
The auditor of accounts is hereby
authorized to draw an order for such
expenses and allowances when ap-
proved by the governor.
Thomas c. Cheney,
Speaker of the House of Representa-.
lives.
George II. Prouty
President of the Senate.
Approved November Is, 1906.
Fletcher ID. Proctor, Governor.
In accordance with this resolution
Governor Proctor appointed as mem
bers of this commission: Walter T.
Howard, Middlebury; Horace w. Bail
ey, Newbury; II. w. McCuen, Yer
gennes; Lynn NJ. Hays, Essex juno.
ton; Walter III. Crockett, St Adams;
NJ. ID. Mcmahon, Burlington.
The first meeting of the commission
was held at Burlington February S,
1907, at which time Governor Proctor
was made chairman, Walter h. How
ard, chairman pro TEN, and l.. NJ.
Hays, secretary. Since that date
seven meetings have been held either
of the commission as a whole or a
subcommittee appointed by the chair
man.
On March q, 1907 a committee com
posed of Messrs Howard and Crockett
visited Albany and discussed with
members of the New York legislature
the suggestion that New York join
with Vermont in the proposed cele-
bration.
On March 20 Messrs. Bailey and
Hays visited Ottawa to present the
invitation to Canada. Sir Wilfrid
Laurier, the premier, expressed him
self as being in hearty accord with
the plan and stated that IL it should
become an event in which our nation
nj government would take part Can
ada could be depended upon for CO
operation.
On September 6 the first joint meet
ing of the Vermont and New York
Commissions was held at Bluff Point,
N. Y, Governor Hughes having ap-
pointed u commission in accordance
with a resolution adopted by the New
York legislature.
On December H. Senator Henry w.
Hill and Hon. Il. s. Witherbee of the
New York Commission and Messrs
Crockett and Hays, of the Vermont
Commission, visited Washington and
accompanied by Senators Proctor and
Dillingham; and Representative Foster
presented the project to Hon Elihu
Root, secretary of state. The secre-
tary expressed his approval of the
proposed celebration and said the nat
ional government ought to fulfill its
part and he suggested that a joint
memorial by the two state commits
sions be sent to congress. Mr.. Eos
ter presented the Vermont members
to President Roosevelt, who showed
marked interest In the project and
promised to lend his aid.
On April 30 the president transmit
ted to the House of Representatives
the joint memorial with u view to
appropriate action" This message
was referred to the committee on
Foreign Relations
II was so late In pe session, how
ever that decisive action was not Ia