The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-09-04
From The VI. Waterman.
THE LAST CARD OF LOCO.
FOCOISM,

"a short expose ofthe management OF the
finances of the State of Vermont, address,
to the freemen and taxpayers, by men,
Der Of the late Legislature"
This is the title of a pamphlet, which we
call the ''last card of Locofocoism'-its au-
thor is anonymous. Somebody-we know
not who-sent us a copy of this precious
document, but at so late an hour as to pre-
clude detailed exposition of the rascaty of
this pretended exposure" We shall mere
ly touch upon the principle points so far as TO
show the character Of the document. There
is first a comparative statement Of the ex-
penses from 1896 to 1880, and to 1888 TO
1913: i: is a grossly deceptive statement
For instance: the "ordinary expenses of
1S43 aie set down at Sl30.179 56-when the
author knows. if he is not more ass than
knave, that during that year the debts of the
state prison, accruing for years past, were
paid, making for the prison alone an expense
of Sl4,991 II, and by the ado ption of the
new financial system, funds were advanced
to CLERKS of courts for court expenses" to
the amount of SI3,279 81. There is sure
test to show whether the expenses of the
government have been advanced beyond the
natural increase of population, governmental
Have the taxes been increased, or do the
ordinary means of the government fall below
lis ordinary expenses We hnswer-No.
The writer has selected sundry items for
special animadversion. As Illustrating the
Snavery OF the whole pamphlet, we will no
tice the principle ones.
DeJeHiHrcS Of the Legislature. From '26
to 80 this item was S9J, l73 4S-from 80 TO
% S3l, 40 G5-being an increase Of Sl6,-
306 II in five years, or S.435 % per year;
but he c0Rceais the facts that in the latte: pc
Rod we had Senate Of 30 instead of the
Old Council, and that period also occurred
the extraordinarily long session in which the
whole statute was revised In addition to
this it should also be remembered, that the
increased population aud business Of the
State would naturally produce an increase of
legislation.
An allowance Of 1854 IS to the treasurer
is the subject ola great flourish. The sim
pie fact is thai the treasurer was required 10
re-diyide and re-dis,ribute The surplus revenue
10 al the towns in the siate---a purely ertrn-
ordinary service, not coming within the du
ties he is usually required and expected TO
perform, aud for which it was perfectly just
that ne should be paid. This knave, howev-
err, does not condescend to give the reason of
the allowance, which was made with tue APP
proyal of the Committee Of Claims, ofwhch
nearly one half were locofocosi This very
Committee. locofocos inclusive, were in IA
yor OF paying the Treasurer still further
sum last year-though no, asked to do so by
the treasurer-and the proposition was pre-
vented BY vote OF the House-aye, and by
Wig House.
A similar allowance to the auditor is an
other bug-bear. The fact was that the Au-
ditcr was required to perform an extraordin-
ary labor. covering the whole financial sys-
TEN ofthe state, and embracing the Invcsti-
cation of accounts for years. Should he do
it for nothing? The Committee of Claims
thought not-and every reasonable man will
say that it was but right for the State to pay
for services which were required.
The Auditor was charged with making
liberal allowances to political friends. This
charge is an unmitigated ialschood-a libel
upon that oillcer.-W6 venture to say that
every man who has passed through his
hands will testify that he has been too rigid
rather than liberal. That is orr exper-
fence.
This anonymous slanderer then makes an
onslaught upon the Sergeant alarms, and
Absolutely represents him as receiving for
his own services--as ''costlng the state
SII0O. This officer receives the same pay
as a member during the session, and the ex-
penses actually incurred, which are for re-
pairs ofthe Slate House, furniture, statione ~,
oil pr lamps, &c. These items Advent in to
make the sum OF Sl100, and yet that sum IS
knavishly represented as the PAY of the Off
cersll!
The next item is the state printing. which
is set down at the enormous amount Of $500
to $1,000 per year, Qess, we have no doubt,
than any other state in the Union ofequal
population, pays,)-and the people are told
that this enormous patronage" IS paid to
our firm 'to ensure the predominance OF the |
Wing party" and 'ro distribute grdtultousiy,
Wing papers among the freemen of the
state.''-We know not the author OF these
charges; but be he whom he will, we pro-
nounce these charges UTTERLY FALSE.
We refer the reader TO page 81 of the Revis- !
ed Statutes for the law which regulated the !
principle part OF the State printing, and as !