Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-11
Matrhman & 9unrnaL.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER II, 1889.
Governor Farnham's Message.

dictory message But the legislature of 1880
made so radical changes in some important stat
utes, attempted so much in the revision OF the
laws of the state and in proposing constitutional
changes, so much has been done by the state
officers In performing the work laid out for them
by that legislature, and many events of interest
TO our state have occurred In the intervening two
years, that no excuse is necessary for my taking
this opportunity OF referring to some of them.
Besides, the retiring governor has a better knowl-
edge Of the affairs Of the state at the close Of his
term than when he assumes the duties of his
office and is more fully acquainted with the bust
transactions of the state for the two years Of
his term than his successor Is likely to be.
THE REVISION OF THE LAWS
The great business Of the legislature Of 1880
was the revision Of the entire body Of the statute
laws Of the state The preliminary work had been
placed In the hands of a competent commission
two years before, and their report embodyiug
the compilation of the annual laws for seventeen
years, and the changes and CONVERSATIONS pro-
posed by them was laid before that legislature
for its consideration and action. This report WAS
referred to a committee composed Of some OF the
best lawyers in the state, and they gave the en-
tire work thorough and careful examination for
many weeks. Their report was adopted with but
few changes The legislature elected Clarence
II Pitkin of Montpelier, l.. II. Thompson of lras-
burgh, and Ashton X. Willard of Montpelier,
commissioners to edit and superintend the publi-
cation of the work under the name OF the Re
vised Laws of Vermont" together with the consti-
tuition of the state and that of the United States
Before they had commenced their labors Judge
Thompson resigned his place on the commission,
and appointed Hiram A. Hnse, Esq, of Mont
pelier, to fill the vacancy The commissioners
went TO work soon after the rising of the legisla-
ture, and worked diligently nearly every day
and many nights until the publication of the
work early in August. The revised laws came in
force on the first day of August, 1881.
The revision and the editing and the publica-
ton of the work have commended themselves to
the Judgment of the lawyers and business men OF
the state as well done. The revised laws make a
book of considerable less size than the general
statutes of 1868 The arrangement is systematic
and convenient, and the head notes to chapters
and marginal references are full accurate and
Of the utmost convenience. The type is clear
and of good size, the binding is substantial, and
the paper of good quality, so that the book, in
mechanical as well as literary and legal aspect
is credit to all who had hand in its produc-
tion, and one that the state may well feel proud
of.
The revisors made many suggestions of changes
in important laws that were adopted by the legis-
lature, and think we may feel safe in believing
that the adoption of the revised laws was q de-
cded advance in the legislation OF the state.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The legislature of 1880 acted for the first time
under Article % of the amendments to the con-
stitution, adopted in 1870 by the last convention
held under the old system The senate proposed,
and the house concurred in six amendments TO
the constitution. 1t is for the present assembly
10 say how many and what of the proposed
amendments shall be submitted to the people for
their approval Two of the articles seem to be OF
considerable Importance, viz that relating to re-
prieves, combinations and pardons, and that re-
lating to the legislatures power to control the
traffic in intoxicating drinks. or the first speak
in another place As to the latter the least that
can be said that II is in accord with the highest
Christian sentiment Of the day 1t puts in
more permanent form the voice of the people so
long expressed in the same direction by the legis
lation upon statute books cannot believe
In oil han rurlu in
matter.
THE TAX LAW.
But in addition to the labor performed by your
predecessors in 1880, in revising the laws they
made some new legislation of great Importance
to the state. The new system OF taxation was
departure in the right direction Our bill Of
rights declares that every member Of society,
hath right to be protected in the enjoyment Of
life liberty and property, and therefore is bound
to contribute his proportion towards the expense
OF that protection" II is now well settled that
every mans proportion is regulated by his pecu-
MARY ability to pay that proportion. The diff
Guilty heretofore has been to ascertain each indi-
vduars property so that his Just proportion might
be established, Listers and seectmen could not
ascertain what property the Taxpayers owned
and all former devices have failed to hunt out
large proportion of the personal property in the
state. At length the thought occurred to some
body to ask the taxpayer himself about his prop
erty. No one could know better than he about
1t, its character and amount. Why not ask him?
ute his proportion towards the expense of protect
ing his life, liberty and property, and there GER
tainly can be no objection to obtaining the neces
sary information from the taxpayer. And to
ensure its absolute correctness there shonld be
penalties for those who do not make truthful
statements The principle of the new tax-law Is
evidently correct The experience OF the past two
years may show that some notifications are nee
essary for its more efficient workings. OF this
you can best Judge Whatever complaints may
be made of the law, one thing is certain, it
brought the grand list OF the state, not including
cores and unorganized towns, from 81 ,00l, 3l7 81
in 1880 to 81, 63, 454 06 in 1881 an increase in
the list OF $685., 1871 10, being more than sixty per
cent A tax Of twenty per cent in 1880 gave
S2OO,263 SO, while tax OF seventeen per cent in
1881 gave us S277, 1851. 30, gain of ST. 593 IA
in taxes at a rate of three per cent less than the
year before Can any one complain that anybody
has been wronged by this law9 Has the law
compelled Taxpayers to put into their inventory
property to the amount OF over six hundred
thousand dollars that they did not own? Ger
tainly not. 1t has simply brought to light prop
erty that ought to be taxed and should
have been for years past 1t may be unpleasant
and inconvenient for individuals TO disclose the
condition of their private affairs, but justice to
the state and justice to others demand It,
FINANCES
But our financial condition IL very satisfactory
in other respects. The treasurer's report, made
August |, 1882, shows that he has on hand in
cash and available assets Sl5i, 505 90, while the
entire liabilities OF the state are 500 5o379 But
these liabilities include the agricultural college
fund, Sl5 800 which is not due till 1890 soldiers
accounts, SS95902, which are made up of very
small balances, and most Of them will never be
called for; that II we set aside these items moi
TO be called for at present. the treasurer had OF
hand August l, 1882, available for present ust
and running expenses, $50, 40.
STATE AUDITOR.
The act abolishing the court auditors and re
quiring their duties TO be performed by the stat
auditor is having most beneficial effect. Tn,
efficient state auditor has reduced to something
of q system what before was without the pretensi
of system, that is, the allowances of fees anC
costs in the different counties. But he has dom
more than this. He has brought about the col
lection OF fines and costs imposed by magistrates
so that for the biennial term ending July ~, 1882
the amount Of fines and costs collected was SGG,