Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-05-25
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1865, -
State Treasurer.

Our readers will doubtless remember
that in his last Annual Report the pres
ent State Treasurer expressed a wish to
relinquish his Office at the close OF this
year. We understand that so far as he
is personally concerned, MIR. Pages wish
in this respect remains unchanged. But
as this is matter in which the people
of the State, individually and collect
lively have deep and direct interest, we
propose to take the responsibility "
ourselves, of suggesting one very impor-
tant reason why, in our view, they
should demand that no change be made
this year in the incumbent of the office
in question.
Mr.. Page has had the management of
the State finances since the commence
ment of the war-a period during which
the business of the office has assumed
magnitude never dreamed of in the for
mer financial history of the State, OF
the ability Integrity tact and care with
which he has performed the all-impor
tant duties of the position OF the sys-
TEN to which he has reduced the bust
ness whereby its transaction in all its de-
tails has been rendered most thorough,
prompt and accurate,-it is not neces-
sary to speak after the long experience
the people have had of them,
The war is now substantially ended,
but the business at the State Treasury
growing out of the war is not and can.
not be this summer. This business has
grown up entirely during Mr.. Pages
administration of the State finances,
and he alone is consequently experienced
in its details 1t has been managed by
a system necessarily to great extent
his own, and with which no one else,
however capable in general, can be sup
posed to be familiar.
If the proper management OF this
business has been of great Importance
to the State, its proper winding up is
equally so, and now and during the
coming yen must be made the final set
Element Of accounts pertaining to Yer
monts share in the war and Ofall claims
upon the State Treasury for the pay Of
her soldiers 1t is obvious that this can
best be done, and we think 1t can only be
done with entire safety to the State, by
the gentleman who knows from eXper-
fence the details of all that has been
done, the manner in which it mas been
done, the present condition of all claims
arising out of the war in favor of or
against the Treasury, and therefore just
what remains to be done and the best way
of doing it. Questions, for example, are
necessarily often arising as to the State
pay of soldiers, which are easily deter
mined by the State Treasurer and his
assistants who are familiar with the
facts in each case, but which another
might not be able to settle without de-
lay, vexation and possible expense to
the State. Such questions must arise
more frequently than ever in the final
settlement of war accounts now remain
ing to be made. A private business, so
large, and covering so many settlements
to be concluded with different parties,
it is easy to see, could not be so success
fully and economically closed by stran-
gers to it as by those who had been con-
Cerned in its management. In short,
the same reasons exist, but with greater
force, for retaining Mr.. Page at the head
of the Treasury for the one year longer
In which this final settlement is to be
made, that have existed for retaining
him in that position to the present time.
He can then with propriety be excused
from further service in that department
until then it is not only fitting and
proper that he should be prevailed upon
to act as Treasurer, but we do not think
that any other person could undertake,
without probable detriment to himself
and to the State, to settle and close up
a business of such magnitude with the
past details Of which he is not familiar.
We trust, therefore, that the people Of
the State will, for their own interest, in
sist upon Mr.. Pages continuing State
Treasurer for another year, if it be with
in the range Of possibility for HIM to
do so