Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-10-13
EXTRACTS FBOM THE MES
SAGE OF GOV. JOHN. L.
BARSTOW.

The law imposes upon the retiring gov
ernor the duty of making certain reports
to you, while the increasing duties de-
volving upon the executive by the action
of each succeeding Legislature seem to
make a general report, or message. at the
close of the biennial term, the only meth
Oh of conveying to the general assembly
the information necessary to legislation
upon the subjects to which those duties
relate: l shall, therefore, without apol-
ogy, follow the example of my predeces-
sors and lay before you such report with
some brief comments and Suggestions
upon matters of public interest.
RIOT AT vERsHIRE
I regret to state that, for the first time
since 1916, there has been an instance
where the local civil authorities of our
state have been unable to enforce the
laws and preserve order without calling
upon the executive for military assist
ance. On the 9th of July, 1888, 1 was
informed by the sheriff and other promi-
nent men of Orange county, including the
selectmen of Vershire, that there was
riot and instruction in the town of Yer
shire beyond the power of the civil au-
thority to suppress; that a body of men,
composed mainly of miners who had not
been paid their wages, to the number of
lied, held possession of the village and
the mining property at Vershire includ-
ing large quantity of powder; that
money had been eXtorted by threats of
broken open and searched; that, fearing
further outbreaks, families had packed
their valuables and were preparing to
leave the vicinity, and that notice had
been given by a delegation from the riot
ers to the managers of the mine, that IN
less the men were paid before o'clock
p. m. the next day, the whole property Of
the company would be destroyed. 1t
was also represented that these threats
would undoubtedly be carried out unless
the rioters were subdued by a force great
er than the local authorities could COM
mand, and a formal demand was made
upon me for assistance. 1t was stated
that the amount due the men was about
twenty-five thousand dollars, and that
the mining company could not possibly
raise over four thousand dollars. AS
Vershire was beyond telegraphic COM
munication and l was unable to obtain
information from other sources, inform
ed the sheriff by messenger that assist
ance would be rendered, but thatI should
insist upon having the four thousand
dollars in the hands of the company dis
tributed among the workmen, in proper
tion to what was due them. I directed
Adjutant General Peck to order five CON-
panies, under command of Col. Green
leaf, to report to the sheriff of Orange
| county, at Vershire, at daylight the next
morning, and gave Col. Greenleaf writ
| ten orders to the end that the military
force should be held under strict subordi-
nation to the civil power.
accompanied the force solely in the
|
resistance was offered, to be able to in
| fiuence them to submit to the laws with
out conflict.
I exacted promise from the managers
of the mining company that the money
in their hands should be paid to the work
men that day, but as Col. Greenleaf sue
ceeded in surprising the miners in their
beds, no resistance was offered, and the
payment was by mutual consent deferred
few days.
The men were paid according to agree
ment, but there still remain due them
over sixteen thousand dollars. The min
ing company is in the hands ola receiver,
but the unfortunate men have scattered
away without filing their claims. In view
of these facts, 1 respectfully submit that
legislation should be enacted to give Ia
Dor first lien npon its products, and a
speedy method of enforcing its claims.
The expense of the expedition was
much less than l expected, as the bills OF
the Central Vermont and Passumpsit
railroad companies were at the regular
muster rates and made no extra charge
for special trains. The state auditor
: places the expense under the head o
s'militia,'' while it might with equal pro
priety have been classed with ''court ex
penses.'
Whatever may be said as to the propri
| ETY. of my action, the expedition demon
} strated that the
: | NATIONAL GUARD OF VERMONT
, are not merely ''on paper" Ninety pc
! cent of officers and men responded to
call for instant, active service. The reg
iment and battery have reached point G
e proficiency that is indeed gratifying
= They are, with few exceptions, made Il
f of the very best young men in their II
o spective localities.
/ earnestly recommend that the govern
or be given the power to appoint the az
= jutant and inspector-general and tt
:, quarter general. In every stat
5. where the best methods of fostering tt
s national guard are adopted, the governC
is allowed to appoint his staff.
The expenses of the militia for tw
~ years past have been increased by tt
"a legislation of 1882 which requires an O
l. ficers' drill each year and authorizes tt
h purchase of new uniforms when found
20 be necessary by board Of survey.
In considering the expense of the mi
tia, it should be borne in mind that tt
u state has received, during the past TWEEN
L years, according to a statement furnish
s. by BrigadierGeneral Kingsley. fro
pc sales and exchanges of military proper
i and from credits at the war departmeI
the sum of $197 ,290.
At the annual muster at ST. Johnsbu
he in 1888, a private in the battery lost
Il, arm while in the discharge of his dut
n 1t will be in accordance with precede
q and justice as we'll that suitable provisi
be made for him.
~ THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
is appointed biennially in accordar
he with the law of 1880 under which Gt
in Farnham appointed the present memb
IF of the board. | found their report
+. 1882 so full and valuable and their VIZ
so satisfactory that 1 re-appointed
" entire board. lin 1882 they printed
me | addition of over 0O00 comics of THAR 70 N