Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-10-14
THEMEssAGES OF EX-GOVERNOR
FAIRBANKS AND OF GOV.
ERNOR PROCTOR.

gently treats of important matters per-
tanning to his administration and the
condition of the affairs of the State.
Governor Proctor also presents a very
able and comprehensive message to the
legislature, which will be of much use
to that body, and of general interest to
the citizens of Vermont.
The following digest Of each message
will be of interest to our readers: After
a brief introduction, Gov Fairbanks
speaks of pardons and the pardoning
power vested in the governor. He states
that he has granted. during the two Of
fetal years, one hundred and ninety-fve
pardons. One hundred and eighty of
these were of that class of prisoners upon
whom fine was imposed by the law,
and who were imprisoned for inability
or a refusal to pay their fines. There
being no provision in the law for their
discharge from prison. they could be
discharged only through the clemency
of the governor. The governor gave
good reasons for reprieving the fifteen
who had been imprisoned for more helm.
GUS crimes, and recommended that the
law be so fixed that a remedy for the
evil suggested, could be had, and some
system Of rules in regard to pardons
could be established. Gov. Fairbanks
suggested further Improvement in our
prison system. He gave his reasons for
reprieving Phair, the supposed murderer
of Mrs. Frieze, and informed the legis-
lature in regard to his proceedings in
that case. The governor referred to the
State Work House which has been CON-
pleted at Rutland, and congratulated
the State in the acquisition of an insti-
tute that promises SO much benefit.
During his term of Office, he ap.
pointed a commissioner to investigate
the affairs of the Insane Asylum at
Brattleboro, and also another to see what
can be done toward enlarging the de.
partment of the State Capitol, now over
crowded with the State Library. He
referred to the appointment of Judge
Dunton, to ELL the vacancy caused il
the Supreme Bench by the resignation
of Judge Wheeler; to the organization
of Battery, as part of the militia
and gave information in regard to tn
proposed Bennington Battle Monument
1t appears that New Hampshire has ap
propriated $4,000, Massachusetts, 81,
500, which sums together with the sun
appropriated by Vermont. and donated
amounts to $35, 900. The governor re
ferred to the proposed United State
Survey of the State, to the Light Hous
es which the general government cree
in Lake Memphremagog to the Pari
Exposition, and to the Huntington Be
quest. In regard to the latter, it Wi
be remembered that Arunah Hunting
: ton, a native of Vermont, who died i
= L---l.li ,-,la,
took to give to the State of Vermont, q
common school fund, the sum of 5000
900. There is some legal difficulty i
regard to the obtainment of the SAM
!, The governor closes his message b
thanking the people for the kindne:
shown him in his official capacity, an
invokes the blessing of Providence Q
his beloved State.
4 Governor Proctor begins the busine
:. part of his message by the welcome al
j, nouncemeut that the State is virtual
out of debt. He states that on Angus
q lst, besides paying all the debts of I'll
9 State, there was $97, 1888 in the treasur
In regard to the future expenses of Il
State, the governor after referring
= the heavy Indebtedness of many town
! and Of the people generally, most or
=. phatically recommends that all Sta
= expenses be cut down to the lowest poi
:. consistent with the public welfare. II
- governor asks the pertinent questio
With our population increased less tn;
ten per cent, and our grand hist lie
D. than five, since 1860, is there any go
Sc reason why our State expenses should
ly more than doubled? The governor su
a. mits statistics which show how large
I'd expenses have been increased. It seer
be from the report that what are call
he Court Expenses, have more than double
OF Salaries and expenses of State ofie
OF have nearly trebled the cost of t
IN Militia is five times as great as it "
es in 1860; the cost of education thl
al times as great as then the cost of the Il
ut islature and expenses growing out Of
re is double. and many things have be
1t added to the States expenses then |
er known. The governor notes the US
90 fact that "court expenses are $3.50
" higher this year than two years a,
n The governor says: Il do not mean
Ill say that all this increase of expense l
20 necessary; some of it is called for
We additional duties and responsibility
Jul but quite part of it has come from
general tendency of the times tow;
liberal expenditures in public, as "
~ as private affairs. The governor MAJ
%. wise suggestions in regard to court