Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-08-06

Excess of liabilities ............. Sl26,93 26
An examination of the auditors books
discloses the various items of expense for
which the $3l4,859.42 of auditors orders
have been drawn, some of the leading items
of which are as follows: Court expenses,
S55,79S.30. To this should be added the
sum of Si6,6i6.43, the difference between
the amount paid by the treasurer without
orders, and the amount received by him
from county clerks. So that our court ex-
penses for the past year aggregate the enor-
nous sum of 1902, 446.73. Can there
be any greater travesty on justice than this ?
The sum is double at least what it should
be, and we trust our newly appointed COM
mission to revise the statutes will pay partic-
ular attention to the joint resolution adopted
by the last legislature, requesting them TO
report to the next legislature what, in their
judgment, shall be the best method by which
court expenses may be reduced and the
efficiency of our courts at the same time be
preserved" There is certainly great need
of reform in this particular
The item of salaries foots up s50,924.77,
a large sum to be sure, but we know of nc
state officer who does not fully earn the mod
crate stipend he receives in such capacity.
The amount expended during the past
year in completing the House of Correction
and pavinu ite runninp axpanaao q; noa a houi
November LIST, was S43,l29.4S. We have
always held grave doubts as to whether an
institution of this kind in our small state
could be made advantageous or desirable
Its friends and those best acquainted with
the matter, however, insist that it is moi
only desirable, but a necessity, so that w
can do but little more than "hold ou
BREATH" and await the result of the ex
pertinent.
The expenses OF the Reform School durin,
the year were sl4,77l.46, which is probabl,
as low as they ever will be, and possibl,
as low as they ought to be.
The expenses of the State Prison wer
S22, 590.26, from which should be deducte'
the sum of Sl9,04073 received from con
tractors for labor of convicts. This is al
excellent showing, and under the presen
efficient direction of the institution it wi
doubtless continue so to be.
The educational state expense during tn
past year was s2,S6O93, to which should b
added the sum of l0,822.24 for services c
town superintendent. The first item ma
be, and undoubtedly is, all right, but if an
one thinks that the service rendered III
cause of education by the occasional visit
a town superintendent to the schools
worth the money expended for this purpos
we think they are greatly mistaken, or al
unacquainted with the quality of limb
from which these officers are too often ma
ufactured. The correspondence between u
auditor and many of these officials disclos
an ignorance on their part which shou
consign them behind a scholars desk instei
of the position they hold.
Our militia tax Is very light-liehter '
imagine than that of any other state in d
Union. The total expense for last year W
only $ll,262.ll.
The last year was not good one for beal
or else our mighty Nimrods have lost the
cunning with the rifle. Only twenty-o
bears and one lynx are reported as kills
involving the state to the amount Of $685.