Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-20

the farmers wife and daughters. Books have
taken the place OF the distaff and spinninp-wbeel
and the farm and farmhouse, instead Of being,
as formerly, n scene Of constant drudgery and
work, and hence Of narrow views Of men and
things, are now the scene Of healthful industry
OF pleasant recreation, and Of n degree of mental
culture which really makes farming a profession,
not only first in time but first In dignity and inn
portance. Only Bourbon would return to the
old condition, although doubtless the farmer does
not, can not and ought not live now rs cheaply az
his father did.
" General education, which il the basis OF true
refinement, brings with it that increased expense
which Is the necessary result Of all material,
social or intellectual progress. During the war
when the expenses of living were vastly increased
and AN unusual amount of labor thrown upop the
various officers of the state the salaries of some Of
them were increased
" In 1876, when the business Of the Offices was
about az now and the expense of living not ma
terlally different the matter of salaries received
a thorough investigation by the legislature, and
after mature consideration were fixed Mt the pres
ent amounts. Shall we make another change?
Frequent changes are as unfortunate in legisla-
ton rs they are fatal in business Still II the
salaries are too high they should be reduced. A
comparison with other New England States NAV
be something of guide
Inc salaries in Vermont Of state officers, in
Guiding the Governor, are SO J75 Those Of
Maine are s2i3OO00 Those OF New Hampshire
Win lees, as near rs can be estimated, 81 900 90
In New Hampshire, however, they have no An
ditor or Quartermaster-Genera or Superintend-
ent OF Education
those Of Massachusetts are .............. ss23i60O
Those Of Rhode Island 800 90
' VI 'Vnnecucul he'''''''................. ll,g0W
Hence it will be seen that the expense to Yer
mont for its state officers yearly is much less
than any OF the New England States, with the
exception OF New Hampshire, but II must be re-
membered New Hampshire has not as many Of
fcers.
UStiu Varn,on, 10 ,,robobi,. N. .;oi, . .,.
as any state in the Union.
But II Is said the state expenses are too large
This may be So and II SO, where is the leakage?
Is It at the little spigot from whence goes the
SlO, LOO in salaries or s II at the bung which
pours out thousands Of dollars in the adrninistra.
ton of our criminal laws? Statistics show that
the loss to the state in the administration Of one
law, commonly called the liquor law, is more
than S2O,OJO.OO yearly more than is paid to all
of the judges Of our supreme court
The undersigned does not undertake to crit-
else the purpose of the law but when its penal
ties are In money, and supposed to be adequate
TO the onence committed, and its administration
is 80 fatal to the public treasury it would seem
as though there is some error in its provisions or
that 1t is not sustained by public opinion
But II is said that many men will accept any
OF the state offices at reduced salaries. This Is Il
common argument, not coming from sound rea-
son or addressed to sound reason It is made
simply because it has a popular sound. 1t means
nothing and may be applied to any office, The
who holds, and is fitted to hold Il position of
trust, dignity and responsibility and labor than
we, as representatives of the people, and guar
dams OF the Treasury ought 10? This is all the
people demand. While our constituents are in
dustrious and frugal they intelligent and just
They are perfectly willing to pay their public
servants n fair compensation.
True economy IL neither meanness nor in
Justice 1t Is far more economical to pay rea-
sonable compensation to men who are competent
and honest, through whom the fair fame OF our
state will be preserved, than take the cheap po-
litical trickster aud meet with deialcation EN-
bezzlement and disgrace. All which is respect
fully submitted. WALTER SCRANTON"
The amendment proposed by Mr.. Smalley was
then disagreed to-ayes 50, nays 10.
MIR. FULLER of Farhaven moved 10 amend 50
a. To fix the pay of members at three dollars per
day, instead of two and half dollars per day
and favored his motion on the ground OF paying
members so they will nave sufficient to meet their
actual expenses while in attendance upon the
legislature
Mr. TALCOTr of Williston moved to amend the
motion of Mr.. Fuller by striking out the whole of
section twelve, which would leave the nav of
members Just as IL now is which proposition was
accepted by Mr. Fuller
Mr. HOWEof Ludlow opposed the amendments
and desired that the bill should stand where ii is
MIR. WATERM AN Of johnson moved to further
amend by striking ont section thirteen relating
70 the pay OF the President Of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House. and also section fourteen
relating to the pay Of Sergeant-at-Arms He sub
seqnently moved TO strike out also sections ten
and eleven relating to pay Of the Clerk and As
sstant Clerks of the House
The bill and amendments were discussed by Mr.
Currier Of Troy, Mr. Ely-Goddard of West Fair
lee, Mr.. Hartshorn of Gnildball, Mr.. Collins of
Barton and Mr.. Camp of Newport.
Mr.. HOLBROOk Of Milton moved that the
House 90 into committee of the whole for the
further consideration of the bill disagreed to.
Inc bill was further discussed by MIR. Fuller of
faiIhaven, Mr.. Howe of Ludlow and Mr. Ely
Goddard of West Fairee
The amendments proposed by Mr. Waterman
oil johnson were accepted by Mr. Fuller of Fair
haven, and the question was stated on striking
out section ten, relating TO salary Of the Clerk;
section eleven, relating to salary of the Assistant
Clerks section twelve, relating TO salary of the
Senator'S Representatives, Doorkeepers and Chap
lains; section thirteen, relating to salary OF the
President OF the Senate and Speaker OF the House.
and section fourteen, relating to salary of the
Sergeant-at-Arms. The striking out of these sec
tons would leave the salaries of the officers named
as they now are. Mr.. Jones OF Nottingham de-
manded the yeas and nays, which were taken
ayes ia nays 9l so the amendment was agreedto
Mr.. HAMMOND of Middlebury moved that
the bill be dismissed; and ON that question MIR
Howe of Ludlow demanded the yeas and nays.
The bill was further discussed by Mr. Reding-
ton OF Rutland, Mr.. Scranton of Vergennes, Mr..
Hubbard of Plymouth, Mr. Sprague OF Brandon
Mr. Eaton OF Danvle, Mr.. Collins OF Barton, Mr..
Dart OF Weathersfied Mr.. Howe of Ludlow Mr.
Miles of Craftsbury Mr. Ialcott of Wilston,
demanded the previous question on the disnis-
sion OF the bill, and 1t was disagreed to-
Mr. WATERMAN of johnson moved to strike
out sections and relating to the salaries of the
Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Senate:
and Mr.. Smalley OF Burlington moved to amend
the motion so as to include sections 10 and 49, re-
lating 10 the pay of the employees Of the Sergeant
at Arms office. Pending the consideration of the
proposed amendments
On motion of Mr.. POTTER OF Pawlet, adj.
House-Afternoon.
Unfinished buSinesS--Ihe House resumed con-
Sideiation Of II 39l, establishing the salaries of
certain state officers, and fixing the number and
regulating the pay NJ certain state employees
Tue question being on the motion OF Mr. Smalley
Of Burlington 10 amend the motion Of Mr. Water
man OF Johnson, 10 strike out sections 8 and o.
relating to salary Of secretary and assistant sec.
rotary OF the Senate, by adding also, TO strike out