The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-10-20
AERMIr OF woopEoRp
His Weekly Letter From the State
Capital.
Montpeller. Oct. 17. 19lO.

tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock the
house will come to order and listen
to devotional exercises conducted by
the chaplain. Thus far Chaplain
Ford is the peer Of any of his prede-
cessors. He quotes scripture with
out opening the book. His prayers
are short, and every word has weight.
| believe that most Of the members
are influenced by his earnest words
of invocation. The time taken each
morning for the devotional duties
does not exceed 10 minutes, for
which the Reverend gentleman re-
ceives stipend of 40 cents per
minute. will not assume that he
thinks of his worldly reward in COM
parison with the good his words may
do for the men of wisdom" in max
ing laws for this commonwealth!
In conversation with Montpelier
business man l got impressions which
| call valuable, although they only
confirm the ideas have had on more
than one occasion. We were talking
on matters pertaining to the legisla-
ture when he said that the member
who knows nothing about measure
to be discussed ought not to be allow
ed to express an opinion
Il suppose you mean," said /, that
he ought not to vote on IT." That's
1t, in substance" he replied. Il dare
say" he continued, that in all our
past legislatures, thirty per cent. at
least OF the representatives were not
sufficiently well informed to know
how to vote on matters pertaining to
the making of laws for our state, and
the worst of ii all was, not one in 10
of the 80 per cent. would make any
| effort to study and inform himself af-
ter he gets here, but will. when the
house is not in session, go out on a
lark, as some of them say, and pass
the time in frivolous ways"
"lf this is as you allege," said /,
what would be your remedy for hav-
ing 1t otherwise?" And he answered
bluntly: LET the towns send diff
ferent men here than they do"
At this juncture l thought he was
striking pretty near home" and
listened without asking any more
questions. My readers can make fur
Their inquiries If they like, then rea-
son the matter among themselves
In defense for the present general
assembly, however. will say that
have not as yet made the acquaint-
anee of one of the 30, such as refer
red to by the Montpelier business
man in the present house OF repre-
sentatives.
II Is very pleasant for me to grasp
the hand of members of former ses-
sions, who are occasionally here.
among them being Charley Grout of
Stratton, who was one of the young
members with me in session of 1874,
and was here last week, and also II.
B. Lewis, member from Troy, in '0S.
Eugene Bishop Of Stamford, member
In 1908, is member again this session.
and still has the smile that don't
wear offi' Mr. Bishop has work to
do on several important committees.
while the Hermit" is punished" by
being put on committee of education,
and Joint standing committees on H.
braries. and on immigration and in.
dustrial interests, and was also one
Iof the committee to canvass votes
for Bennington county officers. Well.
your servant prefers being at work
on committees, than away on '1arks
or junkeis."
George Myers of Pownal, Albert
lOrvis Of Manchester. and Edward
Hawkins OF SALISBURY, although
democrats after the manner born. '
are apparently ardent and Jealous
workers for the good old common.
wealth, and we viii all know each
lother better when the mists have
rolled awayl' In features ED" is
said to be the prototype of VIM. Jen
nings Bryan II was my good for
tune to dine, the other evening. with
Mr.. and Mrs. Hawkins. who are vel
In the midst of their honeymoon.
| Judge Mattison OF Glastonbury 4.
on the move all the time. doing good
except between the midnight houi
and 6 In the morning. Even durinl
those six hours II is conjectured b,
some that the ledge" sleepeth witt
his eyes openl
| II is apparent that there has bee
an awakening TO the opportunity 70
making the examination OF weight
and measures more valuable prote,
ton to the public than the routin
working Of recent years has prove
S itself. Every trade or line of bus
ness that we have investigated col
!, tributes instances OF short weight {
:. measure, either through design {
/, Icustom. There will be importar
legislation on this matter this SO
n sion That old saying, there's
= trick In all trades but ours" shoul
/. not be In vogue II the public is d
feived thereby. There is no doul
II but many a sca'e is right. howeye
(. when the fault dishonesty is in n
e weigherl Still, such a man goes
IT church on Sunday Although co
weather. is coming soon, don't all ID
on the coat at oncel
Il The deer law is agitated oui
I warmly Quite likely this will be n
last year that does can be killed \
some time. The Hermit" bellev
that after this year II would be b,
ter that the does should live. and
believe that bill will be PASSED /,
pealing that section OF the law.
Az the Forum meeting IN Betha,
church Sunday noon Gov Mead ma,
nm interesting address on the IN,
sage OF Palestine TO Vermont" I
described Palestine as n country al
lded by the Jordan river and sever
lakes, much as Vermont is divld
by the green mountains. The GOV,
nor gave many interesting inciden
OF his trip several years ago 10 4
Holy Land, decribing Jerusale
beth'ehem. Canaan, Capernaum n
other places. famous for their co
nectlon with Biblical history. Nc
/ SUNDAY inufannpt n.........- 90,