Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1876-11-30
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 80, 1875.
REPORT OF THE MMITTEE
ON STATE EXPENSES.

muJee IelallnR 10 Jne increase Oh state
expenses, which was submitted last
week has been printed. 1t is an import
ant document, and should be read by
all the people of the State. The increace
of State expenses has been enormous
during the past fifteen years. The total
increase in the current expenses of the
last year above the current expenses for
the year ending August 81, 1860, was
1888 294 48, or nearly one hundred and
twenty nine per cent. The increase in
court expens 3 over 1860 was SOS, 013.-
6S. The committee attributes a large
share of the increase in court expens
to the manner in which the local off,
GERS In some of the counties enforce the
provisions of chapter ninety of the
general statutes. The committee says
that "the law in some of our larger
counties is only SO far enforced a5 to
give sheriffs, jailers, justices of the
peace and grand Jurors large income
from the State, and it is against their
interest to stop the traffic in intoxicat-
ing drinks, and thus kill the goose that
lays the golden egg for them" The
system of fees under this law, whatever
abuse they may be subject to, is most
important, if not absolutely necessary to
the enforcement of the law. The trouble
about it is that persons who are natural
ly inchued to mind what they consider
to be their own business, will not under
take the enforcement of the prohibit
tory law. The majority of the pee
pie do not believe that it is a
crime to sell liquor contrary
to the provisions of this chapter, excep-
as it is made such by the statute. There
must be some special inducement ther
fore in the way of fees, division of fines,
ETC., in order to have the law enforced.
In this town for example there are very
few men who take any active part in
the enforcement Of the law. This must
be, in the nature of things, generally the
clse, as it is in all parts of the State.
HOW it can be different without making
the law practically imperative is ques-
ton of considerable importance. We
have no hesitation in saying that the
manner in which the law is now gener-
ally enforced is wrong. There are but
few prosecutions, except such as are
based upon the disclosures made by per-
sons arrested tor intoxicatiop A suffic-
lent ground of complaint can easily be
discovered without subjecting the State,
and in many instances towns, to the ex-
pense of arresting and keeping in Jail
intoxicated persons.
Another important part of the report
is devoted to the expense of the public
printing and stationery. The increase
in the amount paid for these is very
great The cause of il, in the Language of
the report, sis due ia great degree to
the freedom with which the peoples
money is voted to print reports, some of
which are of little value, and of these
that are valuable there are pli-ted in
some cases more copies tta1 are neces-
ssry. In regard to this subject the CON-
miltee make several impor ant recon-
mendations which ought TO be adopted.
Other matters of great interest are pre-
sent.d in the report, which we publi.h
h.era~~ith 10 fgn. fell,vva,
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
toes.
1ro senate committee appointed ~
virtue of joint resolution TO report It.
lalive TO the increase of our State ex-
penditures would Tespe cIfuny report
that they have given be suhiecr as
much consideration as possible, coosis-
tent With their other duties, and ,uey
submit herewith a statement oil me cur
rent expenses of the State for the fiscal
year ending August 81, 1860, and also
for the fiscal year ending July 81, 1876
adCiag also the expenses lcideul 10 me
regular session of the Legjsia ule N
1874, as there was no session in the year
1875.
1t appears from these statements that
the expenses for the year ending AUGUST
81, 1860, deduCting special appropria-
tions not properly Chargeable 10 tue
current expenses of the yea, were
$142, 9S2 As; that the expenses Tor the
year enUing July 81, 1876 ms king simi
lar deduCuopS, were 1914 9j4 20, and
that adding he expenses INCIDENT ~ the
regular session of The Legislature (ouE
not those Of The extra session OF 1879
$81, 322 % would make The total cur
rent expenses of year, including The
regular session amount to 1926 276 SO
making the total increase $1S3, 1884 48,
or nearly one h1ndred and Jwenty-uiue
per cent. The increase in our expenses
in 1873, without any session, over the
expenses of 1860, including the exDens-
es of the regular session, is $101 972 %. !
The biennial session Of 1874 was only
w OF ,F
that the comp carlson so far as expenses, |
incident to Legislative sessions, is con-
Cerned is not materially affected there |
by. In these statements we have not |!
included any payments on account of |
Principal or interest of the State debt, |
or other payments not properly charge |
able to the current expenses.
While much OF this increase is caused !
by the progress of the state in caring /
for the interests Of the people in the |
matter OF eduCa ION, the advancement OF |
the agricultural aud other material in |
terests OF the State, the establishment /
and maintenance Of Teiornatory inslita- |
lions, as well as the Increased expenses I
in almost everything siuce 1850, owing
to the depreciation of the currency and |
other causes, we think I'll al st least s.the |
first step" in the right direction should |
be taken now, and That hereafter the ex- /
penses can be reduced more and more,
The most we can really hope to ac- |
complish at this time is 10 bring the |
facts before the people in way so plain
that they can see just what our ex-
penses are and what they are for, giving |
them an opportunity to reflect upon |
them, aud the Legislature of 1878 will |
be better prepared TO act upon the ques-
- no, -,
animation we can give the matter at
this time.
With this view we recommend the
adoption of the joint resolution here
with submitted, so that the report of the
Auditor of Accounts may hereafter ex
hibit more comprehensive and detailed
summary of the receipts and disburse-
ments OF the State revenue. We would |
refer 10 the Auditors report of 1860 as
a model in this respect. BY means of
that report any person can ascertain the