Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-12


officers, as in many cases to nearly double the
amount paid for the same service for more than a
score of years previous thereto.
1t was claimed by many at the time the acts
were passed, so materially increasing the expenses
of the state, that it was III advised legislation
that it must necessarily add to the burden of the
people by an increase of taxes; that one in of |
fee had ever thought of resigning or declining
reelection il he could get it, by reason of being
too poorly paid for his services nor was there any
complaint from any quarter but that competent
reliable, and in every way respectable men, could
be found who would honoraby and with credit
FILL and honestly discharge all the duties of these
numerous offices, To these appeals a legislative
majority gave but little heed. Money at that time
was plenty, agricultural products and manufac
tured goods found a ready market and brought
good price. The war had ended, the people were
elated and happy, and many for the time being
felt in most generous mood, and hence the ex-
travagant and munifcent legislation of those
| years.
The financial crash of 1873, and the alarming
depreciation in the value Of all property since that
year, has brought bankruptcy many commu-
nifty, and sorrow into many household. Many
a strong man and woman has struggled valiantly
for the last six years with debt and disaster with
a hope that they might Mt least save the old home
stead, the house and the home where their chill
dren were born and have at least a shelter, though
humble it might be, wherein they might end their
declining days. But poverty, like wolf hovers
about their doorstep, and the future looks blank
and forbidding.
Governor Proctor took n realizing sense Of the
changed condition of things among the great mass
Of the people of the state, when in his message he
alludes to the reduced cost of everything to about
where it in the year 1860, and expressed Il
hope that as result of the legislation of the
sion they would feel warranted in q" reducing the
state tax to twenty cents on the dollar of the
grand list" But that kind of legislation did not
seem to meet with favor; high fees and high sal
aries were mainly retained, and a state tax of
forty cents, the highest tax since 1872, voted
for the year 1879; and this too, in face of the
startling fact, that the grand list Of the state for
the year 1879 is one hundred and sixty nine
thousand, six hundred and forty six dollars less
than it was in the year 1874, which was the year
of the largest grand list ever known in the state.
There has been material falling off in the grand
list of the state most every year since 1864 and all
the signs indicate that the end thereof is not yet.
The entire amount of our state expenses in the
year 1860 was S1i2 9S2.4 AS In the year 1876 the
expenses of the state 1926, 1876 90, being
SlS3, IA As in excess of the year 1860, than
double, as be seen The state expenses for the
year 1877 were S315, sol Co. The expenses for the
years 1878 and 1879 will be made known when the
state auditor publishes his report, which will be
done in the month of September in the present
year. ! have no doubt that the two last years
will show quite an increase in the expenses of the
state over the years preceding. We have on our
hands now to support two reformatory insttu-
tons as they are called, which did not have in
1860, a reform school and house of correction
Whether our tax-burdened people can well afford
to sustain such uxuries in state so purely agri-
cultural as is Vermont may well be questioned,
but the existence and support of these institutions
in no way accounts for only small portion of the
increased expenses OF the state.
1t is the expenses of our courts, and the in
creased costs of criminal prosecutions, and the in
creased fees and salaries consequent upon the ex-
travagant legislation in the years before referred
to, that this vast increase of expenses and the
consequent high rate Of taxation must be charge
able to. And the same must continue until such
L time the legislature, in its wisdom, shall undo
the inflated legislation referred to- and bring us
|
5 to the years previous to the time when an ire
deemable paper currency was from imperative
= necessity made by law a legal tender for honest
y debts.
r The great majority of the fines imposed are in
+ the liquor cases which come up before the courts
e and most of the money paid into the hands of the
:, clerk Of the court is realized from that source
but the legislature in fit of generosity at Their
| T..
+ Of all the money realized from fines in such cases
should be paid, not to the state formerly, but
to the complainant, or to the prosecuting officer.
% 1t seems to be as it now stands very unequal
partnership; for, while the prosecuting officer who
e is held to be the states attorney is made liable fol
,, no costs or expense, and Is paid remuneratiyC
salary for his services whether successful prose
cutor not, still, If he succeeds in proving any
number OF offenses, great or small he has paid tc
). him one-fourth of all the money collected II
e fine of $500 is imposed, one hundred dollars Of 4
l. is paid to the states attorney. The attorney /,
l. liable to no risk expense, yet takes one-fourt
d of all the fines. As will be at once it is In
the nature of bride to the prosecuting officer and
J. cannot be regarded in very complimentary ligh
9, by the legal profession, and SUCH think is the
is view that most If not all of the profession tax,
Of it.
10 The states attorney for Windsor county has
70 yearly salary of $500, which is an ample remu
u neration for the service required of him; and the
salaries paid in the other counties undoubtedly
ample for the service rendered, have never e
10 known a lawyer to decline to take the office by
10 reason Of the inadequacy OF the pay. -Four OF
" five weeks at the longest, in any one year. is til,
70 extent Of time that any states attorney in THU
d county, competent for the place. has to devote L
y the duties of this office exclusive OF other business
IL 1t Is by far the most lucrative office in the county
10 except the office of sheriff. am not aware thai