The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-08
Governor Pingree's Message.

Governor Pingree had an attentive
and appreciative hearing Thursday.
Two elements combined to make the
delivery of his first annual message an
occasion of exceptional interest. There
was an intelligent body of representa-
tives having a Jealous desire to obtain
an understanding of state affairs and
governor who, it was plain, had made
the discharge of the first duty of his
office no perfunctory task. His mes
sage is u succinct and well-digested
treatment of matters of great impor-
lance, his CONGRATULATIONS are dignified,
patriotic and inspiring, his recommen-
dations wise and positive, and his advo-
cacy of certain reforms eloquent, fear
less and convincing. In few modest
but significant phrases he speaks his
grateful feelings for this second I'M
sought expression " of the confidence
of his countrymen in his trustworthi-
ness, and expresses "the profound
sense of the obligations and responsible
tiles which their partially has imposed"
He enters upon the duties assigned him
"by the public summons under the
laws of the land answerable only for
faithful, fearless, impartial, and so
far as he is able to discriminate"
| Just administration of the high and
varied duties of the executive office"
These are no conventional words; they
are instinct with the spirit that made
and maintained him the candidate of
his party. His message itself confirms
them in every material subject which
he treats. He reviews the history of
the operation of the tax system which
prevailed prior to 1880, the disregard
into which the law had fallen and the
facility the lister found " in substan-
TALLY making solemn oath that one-third
or one-haf of the known worth of spe-
cific property was its Just and full value
in money" This system gave way to
the " Act to Equalize Taxation" in
W. IL
sands of personally which had never
before been reached were brought out
and laid at the service of the state with
the hundreds or less that had not been
kept back from the assessors" His
trenchant comparison of the practical
working of the two systems is followed by
an endorsement of the new one, which
should be sufficiently unequivocal to suit
the most aggressive revenue reformer,
legislator who may seek to impair the
efficiency of the tax legislation of 1880
and 1882. 81 believe" the governor
says, " there has been no improvement
in legislation in the quarter of CEN
fury in which l have had to do, pro-
fessionally or officially, with the laws of
the state, which has more universally
and emphatically commended itself to
the appreciation and confidence of the
people than the act of $780," The gov
ernor traverses again field which his
predecessors have gone over and which
the discussions of the press have made
familiar to the people, the operation of
the corporation tax law and the effect
upon the state expenses of the reforma-
tory legislation initiated in 1878 and
completed in 1880. He finds good rea-
son for this reiteration and for com
mending the attention of the members
of the general assembly to the details
of the auditors report" that by repe-
tition and in an increased variety of
ways this whole subject of state eX
penses may be spread before the public
for their careful scrutiny of the de-
tails which go to make up the aggre-
gate" The most signal feature of a
message distinguished for its vigor and
excellence in all its parts is the adj
vanced ground taken on the subject of
education. To Governor Pingree be-
longs the distinguished honor of first rec
ommending the general adoption Of the
town system. The measure has long
been agitated, but no chief executive
before him has had the courage to
champion it. The subject is of so
much importance and the governors
treatment of it is so clear and impress
sive, so statesmanlike, and the facts he
sets forth so startling, we especially
commend this portion of his message to
the earnest attention of the people of
the whole state. The subject is worthy
of such serious consideration that we
defer extended comments upon it till
some future occasion. Governor Pin
gree has started his administration on
a high plane and our belief and conf
dence is that he will more than sustain
himself.
The Supreme Court.
The constitution of the supreme court