Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-10-14
Gov, Fairbanks MeSsuce

Gov. Fairbanks Message
Is one of the best State papers ev
err issued from the Executive Cham
Der. 1t has u clear and business
like ring which is refreshing in these
days Of wor.ly aud verbose publ,
documents. We regret that ".
cannot make room for the whole o.
the Message, rs it would welt repay
perusal. Below will DO found ~
abstract 4:
Ia entering upon tn o legislative duties AL,
responsibilities imposed by the Coustitu' ion
IL IL tit aud proper, especially In this Centcn
uil year Of our National existence aud near
~ completed century oi the existanse of oul
, State under u constitutional government, tina
our hearts should be- hlled Wit h thaukiunes,
and gratitude to the Author Of all blessing
not only for the general health, peace aud
prosperity which he has graciously vouch
.ated during tho past two years, but also tol
the imnum cradle blessings which have attcn
ded our entire existence ms u state. Aud cs
pecially is it lifting that we should remember
with gratitude ana thaukiulness at this tim,
the mercies mud goodness OF that Proyiden q.
wni h led our fathers safely through thos,
=, peculiar aud trying circumstances which el,
! virOued them ia the memorable year of M
and which scarcely have their parallel in tn,
worlds history-wnen though clai.ned on the
east ny New hampshire, -caimed and me
paced ON the west by New -vppresrl
and warred against ON the north by Grca
Britain, -unrccognized aud unsupported b.,
} the sister colonies, they, v mere handful Vi
sturdy yeUlnen, stood mautuly and indepcn
dainty ioI the right framed and adopted #.
constitution, winch Tor the most part remain,
unchanged, ANA under which they and thci
llt.(
inenI OF life, libcr,y ANA property" and hav.
been led TO that 'trin udhtrunce to justice
uioderat ton, temperance, industry aud irugai
"" which has mace them ana lis az intel.i
gent, virtuous and happy people. May til.
4 same Infinite Wisdom guidt lis III all legisia
N i've deliberations, that We mar not the fan
proportions q. the governmental structure
reared by orr fathers, but enjoy aud trausuiit
1t improved adorned and emOellished, t,
those who may come after us.
Stanuiig on the divlling line Of tho centu
ries, it IL the part OF Wisdom to consider NOT
alone the present, its comforts and privilege s,
uut as well the past, that we may learn tneir
cost, its lessons, and take warning from any
mistakes by the way, and that We may plan
BROADLY, inteligentiy and wisely for The fu-
lure.
The biennial reports of the State officers
having i'll charge particular depai tLients vi
| the puDllc service, VIII fully inform you vi the
present condition OF the Important affairs vi
tho state. Inc suggestions ana recunilLenda-
| lions OF these OthcerS Who have becuuie tamil
lar With the Necessities aud Workings Ut their
respective departniovt $, deserve, ANA NO doubt
Will receive, your careful considerations.
FINANCES.
1t is a matter for mutual cOngratulation
that by wise legislation. and careful and HON
| est management, the finances of the State are
in most satisfactory and prosperous condI-
| ton. When we call to mind that ten years
ago, after having cheerfulIy met the enorinus
taxation necessary for the support of the war,
he state was found to have Il funded debt OF
one million six bundled and twenty-five thou
sand five hundred dollars, it is not little re-
narkable, and certainly very gratifying, to
| find that Mt the close of tho present financial
year the Treasurer had in hand assets, mostly
in ready money, to the amount of seventy-tWO
| Thousand nine hundred aud seven dolacs aud
eleven cents, in excess of all existing liabil-
ties. Although portion of the state debI
does not fall due for several years. aud it is
really due from the State to the State, and ii
c0nsidera lie portion of the money then on
hand will be needed to defray expenses which
will accrue before another State tax can be-
collected we have the proud satisfaction of
having entered upon the second century sub
stantially free frs,n debt and with no State
financial burdens for PROSPERITY to bear.
Inc Treasurer's report. to which you are re-
terred, will furnish o clear, definite and de-
tailed statement Of the financial transactions
Of the State for the past two wears.
From the report it appears that during the
financial year. ending August LIST, 1875 besides
debt was diminished tifJy-nue thousand dol
lars. aud there was aided to the sinking fund
one hundred aud thirty thousand dollars.
With the same prudent foresight, and the
same economical and honest management con-
tinued, Vermont will never be numbered
but her promises to pay, will us at present,
command pl eniuln i'll the money market.
The Governor next considers the subject of
expenses. "As the expense Of administering
the alta IRIS of the State must be paid almost
entirely from direct taxes, taXatation should
be kept at the lowest limit consistent with
the permanent protection. growth and devel-
opement of the interest of the entire people.
He recommends several changes in our Judi
ciary system.
The expenses Of prosecutions by the grand
jury and trials by the petit jury for the last
fiscal year amounts to nearly 100000. He
thinks that considerable saving could be
made if the Office of Attorney General should
be created, to be filed by All able and expo
rienced attorney, whose duty it should be "to
ness OF the State; attend to the collection of
all fines and torieitures; give instruction
and aid to tue States Attorneys in drafting
inform tions and indictments and to be pres
ent and conduct the most import ant criminal
l believe, with the criminal
business in the care and charge of such AL
officer. that The necessity for insttuting such
by o grand jury would, III Il great
measure, cease TO exist, and might be dispen-
sed with except in cases of treason and lnur- {
der. For such cases the grand jury might be
called whenever occasion should require and
not in each county annually, AS is now done.
| have been led to these suggestions from
the belief that some such change i'll the law
as has been indicated, could be made. which
would not lessen The effectiveness of criminal I
their expense. Tho right Of trial by jury is :
secured by the constitution, except where
parties otherwise agree " BY such agreements
such causes may be referred under rule OF t
court. 1 am informed that the cost to the
State for such jury trials per da, is about one
involving the simple right to recover for la
Dor or property 70 an amount exceeding ten
)r twenty dol lrs, dependent upon the nature
Of the action, can BIZ, and often are, carried to
:he county court by appeal. The trial of such
Eases are rarely completed IN less tlian day. Il
,ases is no Kindness even to the prevailing 1
Iarty. Besides, tho i'll feelings likely to be /
.ngendered by such trials, the expense of the 4
rial to him IS usually much more than the \
mount OF the claim.
The ordinary expenses per day of a compe- 9
ent referee do not exceed ten or fifteen dol n
airs. Hence If all jury cases should be refer y
ed, and the State should assume the pay X
nent of the referees fees, very great saving II
II expense would he secured to the State anu II
IL right of parties would be thereby sacrificed q
he main obstacle III the way OF an agreement C
# reference is that parties know that they c
an try their case by jury Oh the payment .oi q
tx dollars to the state. aud that 4 trial by a ii
omplete referee may cost them many tim es II
hat sum. think il would be etomomy to u
r.vide Tor the payment by the State of d part ii
r tue whole Of the referees fees and that %
he expense VI trial by jury may be lessened q
y proper legislation in the two directions ill., q
Icated, without any detrinent to public ol "
rivdte interests. - N
The subject of taxation is clearly consider u
at considerable length and many of the de. Of
cts of our present system are pointed out. Il
am convinced. he says, 'that the law in re- ~
ard to the assessments of taxes needs u care al
ii and ceusidcrate revisiOn--such revision
, will atpurtiun and distribute the public ex.