Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-10-20
Message.

ASoSSoS'
Felioio Chisens of the Senate
and House of Representatives.
The circumstances under which we are as
semhled to perform the labors and duties OF
State legislation, am happy in believing, are
not of an unpleasant character. During the
past year the earth has yielded its accustomed
store of agricultural productions, our people
have been blessed with common measure OF
health, and their business transactions ana
prospects have undergone marked and DECIDED
Improvement. The general business interests
of the State, indeed, appear to be In healthy
and prosperous condition.
We meet also for the first time in the new
State edifce, and can hardly fail to be tayorably
and agreeably impressed with its fine proper
tions and the beautiful style of its finish, and
also with the convenience of its arrangements,
and the appropriate fitness of its furniture and
appendages. The building is indeed II nobls
and imposing structure, and we may justly be
proud of 1t as our State Capitol. congratu-
late you on its completion, and doubt not you
will concur with me that much credit is due to
those who have been concerned in its erection,
as well for the rapidity with which the work
has been pushed forward, as for the neat and
substantial manner in which it appears to have
been executed.
trust we shall enter upon our legislative
labors in u just and commendable spirit, and
with determination to bring them to as speedy
a close us the interests and welfare of the State
will permit.
| STATE FINANCES.
The condition of our Stat finances will re-
quire. and will no doubt receive, your careful
consideration
think it my duty to call your attention to
the fact, appearing by the Auditors Report,
that the State expenditures during the past
political year have considerably exceeded the
accruing revenue Such has also been the case
for severed years past, requiring the adoption Of
a more rigid system Of economy, or Il resort to
additional taxation, or BOTH in order to avoid
the necessity of creating new State debt.
am not disposed to recommend a parsimonious
course OF legislation in regard to proper objects
Of appropriation, but | deem it worthy Of
consideration whether some of our State cx-
penses may not be reduced without violating the
principles of q judicous economy.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS.
Among the expenditures which, | think
deserve legislative consideration, are those con-
nected with prosecutions for crime in the several
counties. An examination of the Auditors Re
ports for the present and former years will show
that the expenses in this branch of tho public
service are large, and that they have been
constantly increasing for several years past with
out an apparent corresponding increase in legiti-
mate crimintl business. The accounts of state g
attorneys, sherffs, clerks and others, connected
with these expenditures are adjusted by county
auditors appointed by the supreme court, and
they are far from following uniform system of
allowances. Charges which would be- discard
ed in some counties as illegal would be allowed
IN Others and for the like service different rates
OF compensation are permitted by different
auditors, some of them apparently of an i'm
provident character. 1t seems indispensable
that these accounts should be adjusted in the
several counties, and perhaps the present system
Is liable to as few objections as any that could
be adopted But it is respectfully submitted
for your consideration whether it may not be
improved by further legislative regulation. AS
one means of accomplishing this object, would
suggest that the State Auditor be required to
report to the General Assembly, during the
first week in each session. Il statement of the
allowances which have been made by the sever
al county auditors during the preceding politl
cal year, which in his opinion are either illegal
or excessive in amount, together with such sug-
gestions as he shall deem proper for producing
more just and uniform allowances. Such a
requirement of the State Auditor, it is believed
would operate as a check upon improper allow
ances, and by bringing the subject annually tic
the attention of the legislature, would enable
them to apply the proper remedy for any evils
that should, from time to time, be found t.
exist.
In connexion with provision OF this kind,
would also recommend that all fees whatever tt
state attorneys, for their services, be abolished
and, in lieu thereof, fixed salaries allowed them
from the state treasury. The rates of compcnsa
ton to the several states attorneys might be
graduated either by the number of senators tC
which the counties are respectively entitled, OIL
according to some other rule corresponding as
nearly as practicable to the amount of business
to be performed by each. | am persuaded thai
salaries sufficiently liberal to ensure ust and
proper attention to the duties of the Office might
be thus paid, and at the same time the expendi.
lures in this branch of the public service be
very much leSsened.
BANKS, INSANE ASYLUM AND STATE PRISON.
deem it unnecessary to call to your special
notice the various important matters embraced
in the State Auditor report. The Banks, now
in operation in the State, appear from the Com
missoner's Report, to be in a safe AMI sound
condition. The Asylum for the Insane, and
also the State Prison, seem to have been conduct
ed during the year in satisfactory and success
full manner. / commend the statements anC
suggestions of those connected with the examln
alton and administration of these institutions
respectively, and those of the Bank Commission
er, to your careful consideration.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
have received from the Rev. DR.. EDwARI
uITCHCocK, the State Geologist, the Introductory
part of the final report of the Geological survey
of the State, and am happy in being able to say
that the whole may be expected to be ready fol
publication at no very distant day. | trust thu
report will be creditabe to those concerned il
preparation, and to the State Such part of il
before you early IN the session, with any sug
gestions in regard to the work that shall occu
to me as important.
CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY.
In obedience to the provisions Of an act o
the last session of the legislature, | appointed
ALBERT d. HAGER, to take charge Of, and ar
range, the cabinet of minerals and specimens o
natural history, purchased of the widow of tn
late ZADocK THOMPSON, who has removed then
to Montpelier, preparatory to placing them il
the capitol These, and also the specimen
belonging to the geological survey, will be ar
ranged for exhibition in the room designed fo
that purpose. as soon as the cases can be pre-
pared for their reception.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The subject of education deserves the earnes
attention of all who have in view the hes
interests of the State; for upon the prope
educational training of our youth depends in