The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-08

that my predecessor, Governor Barstow, has
given much careful study and reflection to
this subject, both in its general aspect and
in its details during his executive term, and
we may well anticipate a. we enter upon its
consideration here that we will find in his
retiring message much that will aid MS in
connection with the commissioner report
in rightful comprehension of our duties at
this session in respect to It,
TRUST FUNDS.
After his usual clear and accurate man
ner the treasurer sets forth the several
funds held in trust by him at date of Au-
gust LIST last:
The agricultural college fund, invested
wholly In Vermont registered bonds of
Bennington battle monument fund in. ''''''' w
vested In three per cent registered - .
National Life insurance. company fund, '''
deposited under act of November 18th. -. ooo =,
s1i. All IN y: 3 four per cent bonds 10000 90
under act of November 18th, ls7l....,. lOll6S ~
This last fund is invested in notes and
mortgages, Burlington city bonds, Burling-
ton Gas Light Company stock Merchants
National Bank, Burlington, stock, and How
ard National Bank, Burlington, stock, All
these investments of trust funds, for which
the state is holden however carefully and
iudiciously made, should always be regarded
with closest scrutiny and concern by the
Legislators 1t is a duty which a vigilant
and economic people will always exact
hands. In addition to the above the state
treasurer holds the United States deposit
money-sometme called school fund -
to the credit of various towns and cores to
the amount of S133N so. Also there stands
another important trust in the hands of the
state not heretofore among these high, i'm
portant and perpetual responsibilities. /
refer to the " Huntington fund" which the
treasurer, in pursuance of joint resolution
of the general assembly of 1882, authorz-
tn pnllnCf n nd pft hn
tor of the last will of Arunah Huntington,
late of Brantford, p. O., all the property to
which the state was entitled under said will,
and deposit the same in the state treasury"
has, with the counsel and assistance of the
state auditor, successfully accomplished and
deposited the net amount so received, to
wit, S205. i'll %, in the treasury in the
month of April, A. ID. 1883. This fund was
collected in the kind of various stocks,
bonds notes, scrip drafts, cash, etc, as set
forth in the details of the treasurer report,
some of which have already been converted
into other investments, as therein specifically
shown, so that the amount of this trust fund
at date, August LIST, 1884, Is, par value, S219,-
S64.%. This has been " received " and de-
posted as above stated, and the treasurers
duty in the premises is ended. 1t now be-
bones your duty, gentlemen, to take such
measures in legislation as shall secure to the
government and legislature of the state of
Vermont this fund and its proper invest
ment and direction for and to the end and
purpose sought to be attained by the tesla
tor, to wit For the use ana benefit of the
common schools. How this may be best
brought about will be the subject of your
candid discussion deliberation and legisla-
ton. That the recommendations and sug-
gestions of the testator be treated with
your considerate and careful regard so far
as the same may be clearly practicable and
in no measurable degree an impeachment or
hindrance to the attainment of the high
NJ and IN, ha licI,
under the will, i would earnestly rec
ommend. But above all these considera-
tons such legislation should be had as will
best carry out and on this trust for the sole
use and benefit of the common schools.
How may this be best accomplished at your
hands? have not yet seen the report of
the superintendent of education, but have
had occasion to confer and discuss this ques-
ton in limited degree with him and more
at length with others who have given this
subject thought and reflection, and would
now recommend as one of the means sug-
gested by the honorable superintendent of
education, and which commends itself to
my judgment above others that have been
presented, that the minimum period re-
quired by law for the length Of our common
schools be increased to such a number of
weeks above the twenty per annum now re-
quired by law az shall be sufficient for the
utilizing of the income of this fund in this
way for the use and benefit of the common
be had whereby the standard of the school
requirements as at present existing shall be
fully kept up in the manner heretofore, or,
at least, independently of, this trust fund,
so that the current provisions and require
ments in the interests OF the common school
education of the youth under the law, shall
be in no way diminished, but their securities
supplemented and enlarged by the blessings
which this new fund was intended by its
donor-a native Vermont philanthropist-
n ham not t,.a,..
been able to see the state superintendent
report which has for long weeks been in
the hands Of the printer and inaccessible.
The same has been true of most of the Of
fetal reports until within the past week.
Legislation correctionary Of this inconven-
fence has heretofore been recommended.
To continue this subject of state finances /
take and collate from the auditors report
the following tabulated statement of results:
auditors orders 1884 .................. s23l4 IS
Fines and costs collected isl ... 1854 Il
Net court expenses, 1854 1868 So
For the biennial term ending July 31st 1878,
and so forth, the following orders were
drawn: For 1S7S-state prison, SAC, 1920;
reform school, S43 1927; militia, Sal 213.-
43; asylum S4S,523.OO. For 1880 State
prison, SAT ,902.99 reform school, S2S, 1897 IS;
house of correction, S53,753.76; militia, $751;
170.44; asylum, S56,54S.74. For 1SS2-State
prison, S75, l27.04; reform school, 81 ,175.15;
house of correction, S27 ,141.9 militia, S24,-
Cox. 46; asylum, ST., 90. For 1SS4-State
prison, $40, 927 SO; reform school, 800, 81052;
house of correction, SIG, 566.74; militia, $37,-
457.S8; asylum, 7O,327.55 1t will be no
ticed by referring to the state prison and
house of correction reports that the excep-
tionally large items in the prison and house
OF correction expenses are accounted for as
being occasioned by special rebuilding and
repairing expenses connected with those in
situations. The following comparative sta
tistics for the four last biennial terms, be-
ginning July 31st, 1878, distracted from the
auditors reports, is also subjoined, being re-
garded as of special interest to yourselves,
and through you perhaps more accessible to
the people OF the state than through the
more voluminous books of the reports of
state officials: For the term ending July
31st, 187S-Auditors orders, $5S2 1886 %;
court orders, S165, S22.73; net court ex-
penses, $223, 1896. 80; fines and costs collected,
S2S, 1876; state prison, $40, ll620; reform
school, SAB, 1922; militia, Sal ,213.43; asy-
lum, S4S, 1890; probate fees, 81, HIP def
icit. For the term ending July 3lst, 1880
Auditors orders, 1860, 464 81; court orders,
Sl3,379.97: net court expenses, S176, 565. "a
fines and costs collected, $45,00713; state
prison, S47 ,sO2.99; reform school, S2S, 637 56;
house OF correction, $53, 1876; militia, $751;
1904; asylum, $50, 54S74; probate fees, ST.
5000 deficit. For the term ending July
31st, 18S2-Auditor's orders, $55S, 20i 49,
court orders, $83,68317; net court expenses,
500, 728.76; fines and costs collected, $780,
57647; state prison, 49, 127 .W reform school,
SH ,l75.15; house of correction, S27 ,141.94
militia, S24, 695.46; asylum, So, 544 90; pro-
hate fees G1O1 IN pYppgs For the term end