The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-19
What Some of the Legisla-
tors from This Locality
Are Doing
HAVE PREVENTED
WASTEFUL WORK.
By Keeping Down the Introduction of
Bills without Chance-Something
About Durham, Cudworth, Belknap
and Dunhee-What They've Done.
Especial to The Reformer. }

MONTPELIER, Feb 49,
what are our boys doing up there?"
This query is frequently made by many
Windham county people when they have
an opportunity to talk with someone who
is familiar with the legislative proceed
ings. Having noted in the news reports
that SO and so introduced H or s.
An act," etc, they wonder if this is all
the members from that county are doing
What have they done that is not record
ed in the official reports of daily sittings
of the legislature?
1t Is no exaggeration to say that Wind
ham county has about as strong dele
CATION as any county in the state Guess
they have not introduced as many bills
as some other county representatives have
but perhaps they have stopped the intro
duetion of more fool bills than any other
county. Judge Cudworth of Londonderry
is the author of more bills than any other
member from Windham county. More
than that, he is clear and forcible ad-
vocate on the fioof of the house. When
he speaks everybody gives HIM close and
respectful hearing. They don't always
vote as he urges but they feel thorough
| respect for him. Many members like to
advise with him and he has counselled
them in several instances not to introduce
bills he knew there is no chance of en-.
acting into law. Tell them we are work.
ing diligently and trying to finish tile
work of the session in proper manner
and get back home" is his message to
| the folks back home.
The clear business judgment of Mr.. Dun.
ham of Brattleboro is widely recognized
in the house. He does not speak SO much
as some others but he can express his
IDEAS in a terse and convincing way that
has an effect upon the house. Having
llled himself with other business men
in the house, he is one of the most infiu.
entail managers of the routine work OF
the legislature. As the head of the "hur,
~ up committee, he is accomplishing a
great deal in the dispatch of the business
of the session When the committee OF
| ways and means submits its report the
| ability and Judgment of Mr. Durham viii
be recognized
Although he is serving his first term
| Editor Belknap of Bellows Falls has fitted
| right into the harness and IS keeping his
| ugs tight in the pull against the mas
Of legislative work He has piloted sew
'ral measures over stormy course to Z
safe passage. When the speaker says
| The Gentleman from Rockingham" th5
Eyes of the house are turned to an Abe
| Lincoln form who in every deliberat,
way expresses his thoughts with forcefu
conviction. Editor Belknap might yer,
profitably be returned to the state assem-
bly, for more safe and sound legislativ,
work
Once in a while the formal and some
what tedious debate of a weighty question
IS broken up and illuminated by witt.
shaft from Mr. Aiken of Putney Unfor
tunately he cannot always hear all tn
other members say but they always hea
what he says and laughingly follow hi
advice on many measures. Mr. Alike
Gays he thinks the legislature should tax
recess without pay to allow the men
hers to get home and vote in March mee
ing He is very strong for paying til
boys who have entered the military Sc
vice and says he would willingly give h
salary as a legislator, if necessary, to a
2 low them all $40 month from the stat
tie also thinks It might be wise TO sen
{ few of the people striking for more pa
at home over to Germany and let the
work for the government while at
a dollar a day Perhaps they would
: more considerate after such an experienc
The youngest member, of the house
$ Mr. Dunklee of Vernon. He is brigf
I has level head and does not overwol
/ his mouth just now Mr.. Dunklee
cilampioning the bill of Commissioner
Il Agriculture Brigham, known as the mu
1 I'll" This measure would go far towar
Ie cleaning up tuberculosis among Vermo
/ cattle There is opposition to the b
ri and it cannot be foretold at this tir
what its fate will be- But Mr.. Dunk
IS making friends in his intelligent a
Jealous support of this measure.
These are not all the Windham eoun
boys" doing good work in the legis
or ture and we hope to say something abe
others in a later ISSUE