The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-27
Mr.. RowLEs' LETTER
Woodford Representative Doesn
Know When He is Comlnu Home

Woodford Representative Doesn't
Know When He is Coming Home
Montpelier, Jan. 25.-When I wrote
last week / thought it would be my
finale for this session But the fact
is you cannot know when you are
through until you are through, even
in so high a tribunal as the lsgisIat-
ure of the state. At this wrftinK
however it seems positive that nnal
adjournment will come on Wednesday
afternoon or Thursday mSrning Of
this week.
We're here because we're here"
was the substance OF one of the 50
bills l read at the famous mock sesS
sion of which was clerk, last Thurs
day evening.
/ don't like TO speak of myself, but
you will pardon me for saying that
when l dropped" the gavel to call
that mighty, immense, intelligent.
august assemblage TO order. and took
charge of the proceedings for the cleo
ton of Hon. Harry Daniels as speaker
and then appoint a committee consist
ing of one senator and two representa-
tives to escort him to the chair, | was
not in the least abashed, neither did
| have any feeling OF vainglory be-
cause chosen for such an exalted DO
sition. "B natural" Is the bost key
ever knew. In fact felt as natural
as | ever did presiding over a town
meeting in my good old town of Wood
ford
Well, when Speaker Daniels finally
reached the chair | grasped his hand
made a low bow, and took Charlie
Plumley's chair at the clerks table
| was kept going some" for an hour
and a half reading the so bills sent
up by the page boys. Several prom
inent members OF the packed Joint as
sembly including His Excellency, the
governor were roasted with harm
less verbiage, which was received
with intense delight and rapturous ap
plause by themselves and the mighty
throng packed from pit to dome. and
hundreds could not gain admittance.
Well, in closing my Say" on this
theme ! will repeat the old axiom
"A little nonsense now and then is
relished by the wisest men. yes,
and by the hundreds of Montpelier's
and adjoining towns ladies' present on
this momentous occasion. or any other
occasion.
Quite an amusing incident occurred
in debate on an important bill when
one of the leading members, last Fri
day. was vehemently arguing in its
favor. When he sat down, another
member unostentatiously but forca-
fully arose and said that it was a pud-
zle to him why the gentleman from
-- should now favor this bill
when yesterday he opposed it.
Il have changed my mind" quickly
retorted the first speaker
After adjournment that afternoon
comment was overheard that wise
men sometimes change their minds,
but that in certain cases there's "a
power behind the throne" that causes
them to do so. AS | was a personal
witness to the debate, and understand
the points involved, | am inclined to
believe that the "mutable" gentleman
was pursuing no course but an honor
able one. ! know. however, and am
sorry for II, that human nature in
some individuals is too prone TO pic.
ture in black the words and doings OF
others. especially when there is per,
sonal pique under consideration or,
in some instances, il there is not. II
has been so since Adam and Ewes
time and probably always will be.
Sunday morning. as usual, when at
the state house for my mail, over.
heard these words:
If every member OF the Legislature
| would vote In accordance with his hon.
est convictions, Vermont would have
different and better laws"
did not butt in" but joined the
| group for a moment
You are quite right" enjoined an
| other member for | am intimately &C
| quainted with members of this legis
lative body who vote exactly opposite
from what they talk in the hotels
streets. and lobby, (the best of them
too especially when the yeas and
nays or rising vote are demanded
When asked later on why this was SC
their reply was, that their conscience
would not allow them, or that they did
not want to go on record as support
ing such a measure.
"Oh, consistency, where art thy jew
| els?" Pardon me again, but | dc
know that If the Hermit thought a
measure right and just he would vote
for it If he stood alone in doing so
As quickly would he vote no II he
thought the measure wrong The
proper study OF mankind is mani
This is as true today as It was away
back in Pope's time.
The governor has signed the public
utility bill, II. 6l7, an act changin.
the name of the Board of Railroad
commissioners to Public Service com
mission, and providing for the super
vision of gas plants, electric lgh
plcnts, telegraph and telephone line:
and express companies. This is The
bill which Representative H. G. Bar
Der of Brattleboro is father Of, and nj
doubt, Herbert later on will know
something about the administration o
Justice concerning it,
Must say q word about the noel
session wit. When one of the pag,
boys bills came up for third reading
on something pertaining to ish ant
game Harry Daniels, the speaker, ask
ed Frank Il. Howe Of Bennington If h
knew anything about the subject,
NO" replied Mr.. Howe, laughing.
"Then you may take your usua
course" rejoined the speaker.
Designed. but none the less apt ant
telling, was the bill entitled, AN &C
to protect Frank l.. Fish during thu
spawning season" Mr.. Fish is thu
member from Vergennes and is
prominent lawyer but does not easil.
fall in with all the fish and game pro
positions, Of which there has been
superabundance at this session of tn
legislature. the longest on record.