Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-26
CAPITOL NOW IS
SP|CK AND span
Improved Accommodation for
Vermont Legislators Who Will
Assemble Next Week.

Montpelier. Sept. g2.-From the lofty
crown OF Ceres's head to the granite slabs
that support the Anticipated fence, every
thing about the State House and grounds
has been scrubbed, polished or painted
In readiness for the session of the Leglsla-
ture next week. Even the outer walls of
granite have been washed free from their
accumulation Of SCOT and dust; ETHAN
Aliens statue is a dazzling white and his
sword has received a new coat of paint.
The interior has been painted, decorated,
carpeted and to some extent newly fur
nished. and all the preparations in the
despatch Of business have been made that
the limited quarters will permit.
Facing the front entrance. just back OF
the corner Of the corridor, is the heroic
bust Of Lincoln. made and presented to
the State by Larkin G. Mead. the YER
mont sculptor. The ceremony of presen-
tation will take place some time early in
the session. Another presentation will be
that of a memorial of the private soldiers,
authorized by the Legislature OF 1910,
which bears a medallion portrait of Gov
ernor John A. Mead. hat Legislature
also selected a commission to procure
some suitable memorial Of Daniel p.
Thompson, the Vermont historian and
novelist, but so far as known that body
has taken no steps toward securing such
Il memorial.
The old cloak room. the general COM
mittee room. has been reduced in size
by partitioning OFF a room in the rear
for the use Of the commissioner of Weights
and measures. 1t Is now further cur
tailed by the installation of a cloak room
at the other end. Instead Of the old
haphazard way. In which each member
was responsible for his own belongings,
coats, hats. etc. will be turned over to
the page In charge Of the cloal; room
and he will be responsible for them. The
room opens directly off the corridor. so
that members can he served rapidly. and
Is guarded by a half door. so that only
those in charge will have admission to
the room. 1t will also be a great con-
venience to visitors, who have hitherto
had to depend on the hospitality of some
office In the building.
The executive chamber. which has not
been refurnished for 90 years, is to have
new chairs and a new table for the use
of the governor.
The steel filing cases in the vault of
the secretary Of states office have been
removed to the basement. to make room
for desks, as he Is to have eight clerks
at the state House this fall. The accu-
mutation of material is rapidly %crowding
the basement room and the dome is al
ready crowded with documents and an
cient files. The dome has been completely
closed to visitors and entrance to It. ex-
oept by employees Of the State House. has
been absolutely forbidden for years. One
room at the base has now been opened
for the use of the newspaper workers.
They have been utterly without accom-
modations. except those furnished at the
press table Of the House. and II they
desired to install a typewriter or to do five
minutes writing they a " had to i'm
pose on the kindness of some other busy
man about the building. The room which
carpeted. electric lights and gas connec-
lions installed, tables and chairs furnished
and telephone connection made. so tina,
newspaper reports OF legislative proceed.
ings may be furnished more easily and
more promptly. The fact that Frank T
Parsons. the new sergeant-at-arms, Is a
newspaper man himself makes him realize
that 1t is important and desirable tina,
the newspaper men have some attention
as well as State officers and member OF
the General Assembly.
Al each biennial session it becomes in
creasingly apparent that more room is
seriously needed for the proper conduct
OF state business, though each Legisla-
ture hesitates to al the responsibility
OF mourning the expense. BY making q
new cloak room there has been provided
one room that may he used exclusively
as a room. though previously
there had been none. or the rooms or
the lower floor of the State House. al
are occupied. with this one exception, az
follows: State auditor, public service com.
mission. bird room and geological room
commissioner of weights and measures
cloak room. library commission. attorney,
general. superintendent of education
secretary of state. State treasurer
sergeant-at-arms. commissioner OF State
taxes AMI adjutant and inspector-general
There are other State officers and com.
missions calling for rooms at the State
House, but there are none to be assigned
them. All the rooms above the first hooI
are occupied. and there are not enough
adequately to meet the necessities.
In the busy part of the session Their,
are frequently thirty committee meeting.
In a day. and It is a puzzle for tn,
sergeant-at-arms to find q place for them
This lack OF committee room is a seriou.
hindrance to business.
Most OF the Offices in the building ar,
crowded to the point of Inconvenience
II not OF ineficiency. and the telephon,
booths and postofice nave been placed 4,
the lobby, taking up desirable space, be
cause there is no room for them else
where.