The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-01-14
-.,4,aAaf0N ,OINTf'S
REPRESENTATIVES BUSY
he Journals Special Representative
at Montpelier Writes of Affairs rs
lie Sees Them.

( he Journals Special Representa-,
E at Montpelier Writes of Affairs a
y lie Sees Them.
\ Montpelier, Jan. 1.-THE Legislative
, esiion of 1915 is now well along il
/ IS SECOND week and II il keeps up il
, present working pace short session
would seem probability. Contrar,
to all expectations, no contest over tn,
speakership developed. S. c. Wilson
} of Chelsea, who was expected TO op
pose Judge John +. Weeks Of Middle
bury, changed his mind and withdrew
from the contest. The Republicans
nominated Judge Weeks and the Dem.
ocrats presented the name Of Rev. J
Wesley Miller of Bethel. The ballot
ing which resulted in majority OF
1913 votes for Judge Weeks shows the
overwhelming majority which the Re
publicans have in the house. The vote
for speaker in detail is as follows:
Total cast, 237.
Necessary for choice, 1l9.
Weeks, 215.
Miller, %.
Speaker Weeks was conducted to
the bar of the house by special COM
\ mittee and the oath was administered
In brief address he expressed his
sense of appreciation for the honor
conferred, urged on all the necessity
of doing the work in as short time
as was consistent with thoroughness.
"We should be economical but not mis-
erly," he said, and expressed a hope
and desire TO work in close harmony
with the house.
Harry A. Black of Newport, was
elected clerk of the house without OPP
position. julius A. Wilcox Of Ludlow,
and Roswell M. Austin of st. Adams,
will be first and second assistant
clerks respectively. Guy M. Page of
Burlington, was elected secretary OF
the senate; w. c. Taft of Waltham,
assistant. Senator Max L. Powell Of
Burlington, was elected president pro
tenn of the senate. An attempt was
made to dispense with the services of
hired chaplain. A resolution to that
effect being introduced by Rev. j. Wes-
lev Miller of Bethel, who wished to
give the chair power to designate dlf-
ferent members TO act in that capa-
city without pay. This resolution met
with decided opposition, however, and
the Rev. John H. Wills of Waterville,
was elected chaplain over the Rev. A.
w. Ford of Windsor, former chaplain
by a vote of 1872 to 81. This result
came in the nature of a surprise.
At joint assembly held on Thurs
day morning Gov. Fletcher delivered
his farewell talk with the members OF
the legislature. His excellency's rec
briefly stated are as fol-
lows: The addition of two justices to
the supreme court the abolition OF the
superior judges and the office attorney
general, the consolidation of the penal
board commissions having state insti-
buttons in charge and the office OF
into a board of
which the governor and state purchas-
NO agent shall be members ex-oiliclo. ,
lie also made some other recommenda- I
ions of minor importance. This sug-
restion involved the saving to the
tate of the sum Of 100000 as he
stimated it. He was listened to at :
entively by large body of members !,
nd visitors, but little enthusiasm was I
manifested. In the afternoon Cover b
or-elect Gates delivered his inauguar-
/ address to the joint assembly His !,
ddress was short and he urged the =
ollowing matters: The utmost econ .
my in state expenditures consistent !.
nth true progress, as short session !,
S possible without neglect Of any nee
ssary legislations, and also spoke OF :,
,atters concerning education, agrlcul- :
are, workmans compensation and IL
bility laws, and the necessary r
hanges in the statutes to conform TO
ne revised constitution Of Vermont.
The house is now fully organized !
nd ready for work. All of the stand :,
~ committees of the house have been
ppointed and quite large number OF :
lis introduced. The following Ben 8
ngton County men have committee :,
,pointments: Elections, Clyde A. q
eckham of Pownal; federal relations, =
L. Bolster of Winhall; military af-
irs, Nathaniel McWayne Of Dor
I. and C. d. Stone of Woodford; edu-
ton. A. +. Hollister Of Bennington;
preparations, John II. Dimond OF
anchester; street railways, NJ. }.
apgood of Peru; corporations, Fred Of
Horton Of Readsboro; agriculture, tn
Imuel A. Hay Of Rupert, who is also clc
the land tax committee; grand list, no
n. Bagley Of Searsburg; highways of