The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-05
Biennial Session to Open at
Montpelier Tomorrow
at 10 A. M.
WEEKS IS CLAIMING $50
VOTES FOR SPEAKER
Every Seat Is Likely to Be
Filled, Barring Illness
or Personal Cause

Vermont's 23d biennial session of the
legislature opens tomorrow morning at
10 o'clock. when members elect TO the
House of Representatives and the Senate
will convene at the State House for the
purpose Of organizing and electing their
Officials for the two branches Of the leg
isIatiye body.
Upon Secretary of State Guy W. Bail
ley falls the duty of calling the House to
order. and in the Senate Lieutenant
Governor Frank +. Howe will be the pre-
siding officer until the president of the
Senate is elected to Office. Devotional
exercises will be conducted by Rev. Ho-
mer A. Flint, rector OF Christ church, in
the House, and in the Senate, Rev. star
ley +. Bloomfield. pastor of the Congrega-
tional church. win officiate, as in 1912.
The change in the constitution made
| by the 1912 session has brought about
many changes, and not the least impor-
tant OF these is the one which elects
representative from a town or city on
| plurality after the third ballot, so that
when the rollcall is taken in the House
| tomorrow morning, unless sickness or
similar causes prevent, every one OF the
GAG towns and cities in the state will
have representative present TO answer
TO the call. In years past when bitter
fights ensued for the election of rep
resentative, l5 or 90 ballots were oft
times taken without avail, at the concur
sion Of which a town or city was left
without representation in the general as
sembly
The election Of speaker of the House
will be the first duty Of the members
elect and as the House has an over
whelming Republican majority. man
OF that party will be chosen, the fight
lying between Judge Weeks Of Middle
bury and S. c. Wilson OF Chelsea. The
former asserts that he has at least $50
members-elect pledged 10 vote for him
and should accordingly win easily on
the first ballot The fact that there has /
been contest for the Office means a
slight handicap in getting the legislature |
working in smooth style at the very /
opening. az whoever is elected speaker 1
will need time TO appoint his standing 4
committees. task which calls for con.
siderable time and consideration and gen
orally started before the Legislature
opens. II is not anticipated that the
will be made known until
the latter part OF this week or the first
OF next.
Notwithstanding the fact that there
are but few members elect who have en-.
joyed legislative experience. there seems
10 be prevalent a desire to make the sy-.
sion AZ short and efficient a. possible. and
ls there are probably a greater number OF
young members than ever before. the
work Of making and unmaking laws win /
b. pushed as rapidly as possible, IL Is ex-
pected
The election of clerk aud chaplain and
The appointment of three members from
zach county 20 act with a committee
rom the Senate to act AZ canyassing !
committee practically completes the per. J
'ecting Of the House organization.
The work Of canvassing the vote i ;
mere formalitv this year and the state !
icket As elected last November will b. ,
worn in "Wednesday afternoon. II Gus. q
ON i followed. The state officials who {
axe the oath of efliee tomorrow are a. G
ollows; Governor. Charles W. Gates uf ;
'Ianklini lieutenant governor Hale X :
larliug Of Chelsea. secretary 81 state. 4
my ". Bailey of Essex Junction: state a
reasurer. Walter p Scott 81 Brandon b
uditor Of accounts. Horace y. Graham y
{ Caftsbury attorney general. Herbert q
!. Barber ~ Rrattleboro. The oath of il
flee is usually administered hy the chief d
sstice Of the supreme court. =
The appointment 81 assistant clerks q
1mmittees on rules and Joint rulps fn. \
hes practically all TIE husiness Tor a. s
rst week the introduction II bills for :
l.artment bring impossible until the ar n
ointment by ,ae speaker 81 the commit 4
ses O. Whieh % refer them. y
ln the senate tlle election of tha fresi.
.ut secretary and chaplain ard tl,e ~.
ointment ~ committees 20 work with
iose FROM the House on rules and tir A
.ntsssiHg of elections are the frat mat
~ o. D. considered and as Is the case
the Hausr y contest over the irader
.tn and presiding ofes neoess .tntes to
.mrnitfee appointments being he'H ur
q feu dave 81 hast
Governor Aiiru ~ Fietriiff Ell prob
~ deliver Dc rftiriug messars a. the
omse ana ~enHte convened Together f0r
= tmFPpse "Wednesday aftsFnnau ~
.ursdaF mrrrine. Hsd iuluiediatfIr fai
uinF a5l romf flle fnaurural address
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rarh wiH perrfV ths lstfsr rarf Ell 81 -
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