Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-10-21
MESSAGE.
EeL1on C,t,sens Of the Senate


FeL1o,o Citizens of the Senate
and House Of Representatives. d:
The circumstances under which we are
assembled 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 ac-
customed store of agricultural productions,
our people have been blessed with a common
measure of health, and their business trans
actions and prospects have undergone
marked and decided improvement. The
general business interests Of the State, in
deed, appear to be in healthy and prospe-
rous condition.
We meet also for the first time in the new
State edifce, and can hardly fail to be favor
ably and agreeably impressed with its fine
proportions 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 build
ing is indeed a noble and imposing structure,
and we may Justly be proud of it as our
State Capitol. | congratulate you on Its
ompletiOn, 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 Just and commendable spirit, and
with determination to bring them to as
speedy close as the interests and welfare of
the State will permit.
STATE FINANCES.
The condition Of our State finances viii
require. and will no doubt receive, your
careful consideration.
think it my duty to call your attention
to the fact. appearing by the Auditors Re-
port, that the State exp nditures during Ie
past political year have considerably exceed
ed the accruing revenue. Such has also
! been the case for several years past, requiring
| the adoption of a more rigid system Of ecOno-
nv, or a resort to additional taxation, or
both, in order to avoid the necessity of Great
ing new State debt. | am not disposed to
recommend parsimonious course of legis-
lation in regard to proper objects of appro-
priation, but deem it worthy Of consider
alton whether some of our State expenses
may not be reduced without violating the
principles OF a judicious economy.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS.
Among the expenditures which, | think,
deserve legislative consideration, are those
connected with prosecutions for crime IN the
several counties An examination of the
Auditors Reports for the present and former
years will show that the expenses in this
branch of the public service are large, and
that thev have been constantly increasing for
several years past without an apparent cores
pondence of increase in legitimate criminal
business The accounts of states attorneys,
sheriffs, clerks ami others, connected with
these expenditures, are adjusted by county
auditors appointed by the supreme court,
and they are far from following a uniform
system of fallowanceS. Charges which would
be discarded in some counties as Illegal,
would be allowed in others, and for the like
service different rates of compensation are
permitted by iifferent auditors, some OF them
apparently of an improvident 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 i'm
proved by further legislative regulation. As
one means of accomplishing this object, |
would suggest that the State Auditor be re-
| duired to report to the General Assembly,
during the first week in each session, state
ment of the allowances which have been
made by the several county auditors during
the preceding political year, which IN hls
opinion are either illegal or excessive IN
amount, together with such suggestions as he
shall deem proper for producing more just and
uniform allowances. Such requirement OF
IL. - y olf
operate as check upon improper allow
ances, and bringing the subject annually to
the attention OF the legislature, would enable
them to apply the proper remedy for any
evils that should, from time to time, be found
10 exist.
In connexion with provision of this kind,
| would also recommend that all fees what
ever to states attorneys. for their services,
be abolished, and, in lieu thereof, fixed sala-
ries allowed them from the state treasury.
The rates of compensation to the several
states attorneys might be graduated either
by the number of senators to which the
counties are respectively entitled, OF accord
ing to some other rule corresponding as
nearly as practicable to the amount of bust
ness to be performed by each. am per-
suaded that salaries sufficiently liberal to
]
duties of the Office might be thus paid, and
at the some time the expenditures in this
branch of the public service he very muct
| lessened.
BANKS. INSANE ASYLUM, AND STATE PRISON.
| deem it unnecessary TO call to your specIa
notice the various important matters EN-
braced in the State Auditors Report. n
Banks. now in operation in the State, appea
from the Commissioner Report, To be in
safe and sound condition The Asylum fc
the Insane, and also the State Prison, seen
to have been conducted during the year in
satisfactory and successful manner. | com
mend the statements and sugg lstons of thos
connected with the examination OF these IN
situations respectively, aud those of the BAN
Commissioner. 10 your careful consideration
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
have received from the Rev. DIR. Edwai
Hitchcock, the State Geologlst the introduc
tory part of the final report Of the Geological
survey of the State, and am happ
in being able to say that the whoi
NAV be expected to be ready Tor publication
at no very distant day. ! trust the repor
will be creditable to those concerned IN II
preparation, and 10 the State Such part Q
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