The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-28

cases which, if they should ever be per-
mitted to go to higher court at all Gas
perhaps they sometimes should, for the
determination of some important princi-
pie involved), ought to be subjected to
the entire incidental expense. This
would not only save the state money.
but it would save the citizens of the state
large amount by lessening litigation.
The salary of the secretary of state is
stated at 81, 800, and his official expenses
at 81 ,302.96. Perhaps this is not too
much, but it is more than twice as much
as it was few years ago, and since the
duties are not SO arduous as to prevent
the incumbent from carrying on private
business and holding the salaried posi-
ton of clerk of the Central Vermont
railroad company, to say nothing of de-
voting not little time to the manage
ment of political campaigns as secretary
of the republican state committee, there
is room for the opinion that he is either
paid too much or is capable of perform
ing vastly more labor than the common
run of mortals. If il is to be paid to
anybody, we are quite content that it
should go to the present incumbent, at
least for a reasonable time, for he GER
tainly performs his duties with unpre-
cedented system and acccptability, and
"is one of the cleverest fellows in the
world" But during the last fifteen
years there has been such silent and
gradual increase of state expenses it is
worth while in these hard times, al
though the state taxes are not high, to
see where the money goes and TO make
every just retrenchment, for other taxes
are high.
The quartermaster general has a sala-
ry of 5000, and has in some manner-to
us mysterious-kept his expenses down
to $50. The adjutant and inspector
general has a salary of S475 and his ex-
penses were S1,11l.04; besides having
an assistant who was paid $500. The
expense of the militia was ST., 706.27
and the quartermaster generals eXpcn-
ditures on their account S12, 192.4S,
which, added to the military salaries
and expenses above mentioned, makes
the expense of the establishment $780,
304.79. This is not high compared with
the military expenses of other states. II
is not high enough TO be mentioned in
view of the security offered by even a
small force against possible danger. 1t
may be doubted if il is high as a tuition
for that training which some portion of
the youth should haye. II is not to be
complained of in view of the fact that it
does not cover nearly all the expense of
the militia, more than half of which, in
some localities, is borne by the men
themselves.
The auditor makes classification of
A Ia. l. L.. Il. Al
cost of trials for (D oflenses punishable
by death or confinement in the state
prison, CD ofenses under the liquor
law, (3) other and minor ofienses, (4)
iailors' accounts, % sheriiis' accounts,
CO. clerks accounts, and CD miscellane-
Gus. BY aggrcgating these for the sew
eral counties we find that the trials for
felonies cost 81 ,925.34, and for viola
tons of the liquor law, 81, 1861. The
totals under all the seven heads above
mentioned are S7S, 2S7.31. The trials
under the liquor law cost in Windham
and Windsor counties (he latter of
which is the largest county in the state)
only S129.S2 and S244.lS, respectively.
while in Rutland and Chittenden coun-
ties they cost S3,029.94 and S4,210.18
respectively. And yet, with the posi-
BILE exception of Brattleboro, the law is
much better enforced in Windham and
Windsor than in Rutland and Chitten-
den, or perhaps we should more proper
ly say, it is much better regarded. The
same expense in Franklin county was
81, 220.33, while in Caledonia county it
was only S7G1.19. 1t is in the large
towns, with the honorable exception of
st. Johnsbury, where liquor is at once
the great curse and the great expense.
The auditor also gives, by counties,
the amounts paid grand and petit jurors,
court and witness debentures and COM
plainants in liquor cases, and deducts
from it in each county the amounts re-
ceiyed for state fees, actions entered,
tried, etc., and for fines and costs. The
excess Of expenses over receipts Is 5 102,-
G46.76, which shows that something,
probably several things, ought to be
done to make the law less burdensome
on those who do not go to law or violate