Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1880-06-05
STATE EXPENSES.

the publication of IN able article
In the Woodstock Standard on this
subject. He is the court auditor OF
Windsor county and knows where
OF he aflirlms. lie states clearly the
disease, which is getting chronic,
and it bellOOves our people to be
more careful than they have of late
been about the qualifications of
members Of the next legislature.
the skill required to cure this fear
full disease upon The body polite
renders the employment of any
more legislative quacks unwise.
We give below the prominent
points of his article. He says:
1t was recently announced that
Gin the vacation proceeding the
last December term of Windsor
county court, fines had been col
lected for violation of the liquor
law to the amount Of 1906, eXcn-
sive of costs; and that during the
December term, fines for violation
Of the liquor law had been collected
amounting to $1155. Also that
bonds were forfeited in liquor cases
during the term to the amount OF
1876, and in other cases to the
amount of $3.50" From this state
ment it would appear that the state
treasury would he replenished to
the extent of $3.50, provided the
bonds forfeited should none of them
he chancered by the court, for any
cause, below the amount for which
they were taken and provided fur
ther, that the forfeited bonds should
all be paid in full. This showing
looks hopeful on the face Of it and
wears an aspect of enterprise and
thrift. TO a person not "behind
the SCENES" as they say Of "a thea
ter, such showing is decisive, and
glitters only to deceive.
The state auditor for the years
ending July 81, 1877, and July 81,
1878, in his report to the legislature
at the October session 1878, gives
clear summary of the court ex-
penses, showing the actual expense
to the state of each county for
courts and criminal prosecutions
and expenses, for each of those
years after deducting all cash re-
ceived for state fees, actions enter
ed, tried, ETC., and also all amounts
received from all the counties for
fines and costs in criminal ceases
during said period. From this re-
port it appears that the actual ex-
pense to the state for courts and
criminal prosecutions for the fiscal
year ending July 81, 1877, was
$113,237.12, and the like expense
for the year ending July 81, 1885,
was S11O,549.77, showing a slight
decrease i'll this latter year of 3d.
GS7.35. But as compared with the
same expense for the year ending
July 81. 1876, the increased ex-
pense for the year 1878 was over
$35, 100000 what it was in 1876, as
was stated by Governor Proctor in
his admirable message to the legis-
lature at their last session III 1878.
Here would seem to be 'fOOd for
thought" and thought worthy the
attention of the people.
He then illustrates his point by
taking the court expenses of his
own county of Windsor, and, as he
must needs be thoroughly convers-
ant with the facts, his statement
must be accepted as correct. AS
the result in that county is but a
sample of that in the other coun.
ties in the state, the great need of
a radical reform both in the laws
themselves and their execution will
be seen. In that county the gross
amount paid by the state for court
expenses for the two years ending
July 31st, 1878, was S1S, 266.39,
while the amount received by the
state from all sources was only &c.
1860, showing the expenses to be
$12,123.7O over all receipts for fines
and costs. The above statement
may be verified by the report of
the state auditor, published in Sep
TENDER, 1878. Since that time
three terms of the county court
have been held. AT the December
term, 1913, the expenses were S4,-
1l1.35, and the receipts were ST.
1924; excess of expenditures over
receipts, S2,92S.94. At the May
term, 1879, the expenses were O.,
OS6.17, and the receipts, $449.12
excess OF expenditures over re-
ceipts, s3,636.O5. AT the Deem
Der term, 1879, the expenses were
S4,7SS.75, and the receipts, 3d.
OOS.OS; excess of expenditures over
receipts, S,7SO.67. The actual ex-
pense to the state, then, of these
three terms was $9,345.66, after de-
Quoting all money received for
state rees, fines and costs. There
would seem to be good reason for
these comments on the above facts.
a