The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-01-05
REV. f. w. LEWIS
is CHAPLAIN
OF THE HOUSE
All Except Four of the
: lected Members of the
dOuse w ere Present
When Roll Was Called
One of Them, Sprague
of Randolph, Died Re-
Gently.

The 26th biennial session of the Yer
mont legislature organized at Mont
pelier this morning by unanimously
electing Franklin s. Billings of Wood
stock as speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives and Senator Harvey r.
Kingsley Of Rutland as president pro
tempore of the Senate, the latter's
election also being unanimous.
Without opposition, Millard G..
Taft of Chelsea Was elected secretary
of the Senate and Roswell w. Aus.
tin of st. Albans was chosen clerk Of
| the House. Paul A. Chase of Brat
tleboro was Immediately appointed as.
sistant secretary of the Senate. Rev.
Joseph Hamilton of White River June
tion received unanimous approval as
chaplain of the Senate.
In the House, the election of chap.
lain called forth much of first day ora
tors who championed the cause of Ell
ther Rev. James w, Wills of Fletcher,
chaplain of the House two years ago,
or Rev. Frank w. Lewis of st. Al
bans. The first opportunity of the
members of the House to vote indi-
viduslly came in this connection, and
Rev. Frank w Lewis was elected by
vote of lis to 55.
Everything turned in the direction
of Franklin S. Billings when it came
time to elect the speaker of the House
After Secretary of State Harry A.
Black had called the House to order
and Rev. George II. Redding, pastor
of Trinity Methodist church, Montpel-
ier, had read scripture and offered
prayer, Mr.. Black called the roll. All
answered to their names with the ex-
ception of Charles F. Smith of Stan
nard. Foster G. Sprague of Randolph
tlately deceasedl, G.. G. Hall of Wood
bury and Henry Weeden of Rocking
ham. who is known TO be i'll.
Upon the call of the presiding off
GER for nominations for speaker, NJ.
G. Luce of Pomfret placed before the
assembly the name of Franklin s. Bill
lings of Woodstock The nomination
was seconded by Mr.. Darling of Chel
sea, in behalf of the Orange county
delegation, Mr.. Chase Of Bennington
ltl AtuAltAAEANA ~his 2AfdA IL VI
johnson for Lamoillc county, Mr.. Dyer
of Salisbury for Addison county, Mr.
Bailey of Colchester for Chittenden
county, Mr. Barber Of Brattleboro for
Windham county, Mr.. Woods of st.
Johnsbury for Caledonia county, Mr..
OBrien Of South Burlington for the
Democratic members of the House, Mr..
Field of Montpelier for Washington
county, Mr.. Gardner of Newport for
Orleans county, Mr.. Bush of Benson
for Rutland county, Mr.. Austin of
Riehford for Franklin county.
On motion of Hale X. Darling Of
Chelsea. Mr.. Luce of POmfret, who made
the nomination, was empowered to
cast one ballot for Colonel Billings.
The chair appointed as committee 10
escort Mra Billings to the bar of the
House TO take the oath of office, Mr..
IAlee of Pomfret. Mr.. 0'Brien of South
and Mr.. Dyer Of Salisbury. /
In taking the speakers chair. Mr..
Billings said in part: "You have given
me the greatest public honor that
have ever received. and ! appreciate
it. know that / cannot carry out
nv duties without your assistance and
I ask YOU for it. We are here to pass
The best legislation for our state and
10 pass il in as short a time as con
sistently possible"
In the Senate. Senator Kingsley was
nominated by Senator Nichols Of Rut
and county. and seconded hy Sens
tors Sherburne, Villas, Dunham. Me-
<illup. Farnham and Others. Rev. lo-
.eph Hamilton Of White River June
ion was unanimously elected chaplain
" the Senate.
At the conclusion OF the organizs
ion in both branches, the usual rou-
ine of preliminary routine was car
led out In the House. on motion
4 Mr.. Potter Of Pownal. il was voted
hat the rules nf the last session be
he rules of the present session until
,thers were adopted. A similar res
sutton was adopted in the Senate.
Then the two branches proceeded 20
lotifv each other that they were ready
or business. also 70 notify the 90,
rnor that things had got started.
The House adopted Joint resolution
alling for joint session Friday. Jan.
at 2sl5 TO receive the message II
be incoming governor.
Courtesy to only Woman Member
The privilege of being the frsi 20
raw q seat in the House was sccord-
3 O. Miss Edna J. Beard of Orangr
he FIRST woman to sft q. member nf