Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-08-25

slOi 3ls'O5
| The debentures of the biennial legislative
session, the erection of the workhouse at
Rutland, and the payment of legislative APP
ropriations-alwsys larger in the first year
of the biennial term-account for the excep-
tionally high showing for this year; still
there is decrease since 1866 of over S40,-
600. The state tax was 80 cents, decrease
since 1866 Of 25 cents. In 1878 the total state
expenses were S3l3,27L94. Expenditures
for our public institutions were Sl09,22090.
Now, for the purpose Of comparing that pc
riod with 1866, we must bear in mind that
at the latter time legislative sessions were
annual, at the former, biennial. The total
state expenses for the biennial term of
ls77-7s was S742, 6sO.02, or at the average
100000 since 1866. For the year ending
July 81, 1872 the legislative year of the
last biennial term, the actual state expenses
were $780,, 0i0S9, decrease of nearly $780,
600 from the legislative year of 1877. For
the fiscal year ending July 81, $780, as ap-
pears from the forthcoming report of the
state treasurer, the state expenses were $751;,
| 701 so, decrease of over 100000 from the
corresponding year QS7S) of the previous
biennial term. The gross expenditures for
our public institutions during the past year
have been S116,304.l7. The income from
the state prison and workhouse has been
s14,s25.Sl, leaving the total net expense for
our educational, charitable and reformatory
institutions, Sl0l ,47S.3G. The total of state
expenses for the biennial term ending July
81, 1880, is S64S742.4S, or an average an
nual expense for the past two years of 1884,
371.24, decrease of 1000 from the aver
age annual expense of the previous biennial
term, and decrease of sl47,000 since 1866.
Now in the light of the evidence furnished
by the reports of the state officers, from
which we have taken all our data, what be-
comes of the Democratic charges that our
state expenses are snow 100000 year !"
and "have been increasing from year to year
since the warp There is not fact in any
report of our state officers, or anywhere else,
| that will substantiate their statements as to
the amount of our state expenses just be-
fore" or I" Just after the war or "now."
| A comparison of the figures of 1860 with
those of 1880 is decidedly in favor of the
latter year. In 1860 the state expenses were
nearly s222,OOO in 1880, s32i,0O0, an in
crease of 100000, which Democrats charge
to Republican profigacy aud extravaganza.
| The reason for this increase is not far to
seek. In 1860 the state had neither reform
school nor work house. In 1880 these, TO-
gether with our other public institutions,
received $4,000 more of the states money
than in 1860 In 1860 the towns paid the
expense of liquor prosecutions; in 1880 the
state pays it. In 1860 the state tax was 20
cents, but the state owed $4,000, to pay
which and leave the state just even with the
world would have required tax of 40 cents.
In 1880 the tax was 40 cents, but the state
is not only free from actual debt, but has
100000 in cash available for current ex.
penses During the war the state tax rose
to 1876 cents. In 1866 is was 55 cents, ant
steadily decreased from that time till il
1875 it was 35 cents, and in 1876 the as
sembled wisdom of the state made the mis-
take of laying tax of only % cents, with
which to pay the current expenses of tn
state and redeem maturing war bonds
This act of unwisdom necessitated tempo
rary loans, and the tax of 1877 and 1875
was raised to 80 cents, aud in 1869 to AZ
cents, TO redeem the final installment o
bonds, and provide for coming Legislative
expenses The grand list for 1876 and 1877,
averaged over $4,000 larger than for 1877
. and 1879. Notwithstanding the increase o
10 cents in the tax of 1879, an average rat
of 80 cents for the last four years woul
have paid all expenditures and left th
treasury in substantially the same condition
as on the 3lst day OF July, 1880.
1t must be remembered, to do full justic
I. to this remarkable record of skillful an
y honorable management of our state affairs
that this steadily decreasing rate of taxi
ton from 1875 cents during the war to :
cents in 1885, and to 30 cents during the pas
four years, has been accomplished while tn
4 state, in addition to its current expense
Is has been paying off 81 ,650,000 of war bono
40 and interest, the last installment of whicl
&c $4,000. was paid in 1878.
:, We discussed at some length, in our issu
.. Of July %, the increase in the expenditure
3 for our public institutions. That matter
v not a political question. Humanity
r, mands that we should take no less though
IA full care of our unfortunate insane, our de
and dumb, our incipient as well as our har
T. ened criminals The progress of improv
ment will suffer no stinting Of the meag
9S appropriations for education and agricr
20 ture. Indeed, a wiser economy may be in
20 more liberal expenditure for these object
20 and we do not believe a single intelige
~ Democrat in the state can be found to star
"a up in the coming legislature and advoca
q, q the reduction of state expenditures in th
W department to the basis of 1856 or 1860.
10 1t does not appear that Republicans a
or more litigious than Democrats, or monol
re lie the courts with their disputes, but Il
a. publicans early recognized the evil embodi
- In the increase of court expenses and wit
AZ out any hint from the Democracy vigorous
he undertook its reform. A commission &C
oh sisting of the late Hon. G. w. Willard Al
n. Hon. W. q. Veazey was appointed under
- act of the legislature Of 1878 to revise I
oi state laws and pave the way for radi'
Ter cure Of this evil. The report Of this col
IRE mission will be ready for the next legis
,ro ture. Meantime'we have gratifying eviden
40 of the prevalence Of the spirit Of reform
No this department in the fact that much v
OF done TO reduce court expenses In 1873, a
NO we understand the next auditors report v
m show that during the biennial term j
- closed court auditors orders were nea
'k- $4,000 less than during the previous bi
ur- NAL term.
is, There is absolutely nothing in this clan
,be about the increase OF state expenses. ii
~ Mr. Horrs tree toad, ait is nothing but
'o' id noise pa mere subterfuge
es' catch votes, trick TO draw away pull
H. attention from the hollowness OF the natio
lad Democratic cause and concentrate 1t vi
~. a state tissue" made up of unwarranta
iuo and unsubstantiated charQes.--and the PEG