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

may speak on his retirement from office
and render the state great service. In
deed, the vicious two years rule inn
poses upon the retiring governor the
practice which has lately grown up.
The valedictory message is an act of
simple justice to the executive as well
as valuable service to the state. 1t is
the only means and the occasion is the
only opportunity custom has given
governor to render an account of his
stewardship. Governor Barstow has
not abused the precedent established
by his recent predecessors. His mes
sage is brief and comprehensive re-
view of his administration accompanied
| by recommendations which have grown
out of his experience. He also fur
nishes information respecting some state
institutions, and the practical result of
some reformatory measures that will be
useful in the present and for future ref
erence. The recommendation which
he makes for the protection of laboring
men, and which was derived from his
of 1SS3-to give the workingman
first lien upon the products of his labor
is humane and reasonable. A law
| of this character. if the statutes do not
already afford sufficient protection, is
simple act of right and mercy to the
laborer. 1t will not restore to the Ely
miners the wages which would have
furnished bread to their furnishing fam
lilies, but it may avert similar hardships
! from other labOrers, and from the state
the bloody consequences which were
impending at Vershire. The governor
pays merited compliment to the Ma
tional Guard of Vermont. The remark
able efficiency of the organization was
shown in practical way in its response
to the summons to Vershire. He testifies
to the diligence and good management
of the board of agriculture, the mem
bers of which have furnished a maxi
mum amount of service for minimum
|
sum of money, and have kept within
the appropriations. Their work has
been of real value, and the legislature
will show real far-reaching economy by
reasonably relaxing the purse strings
of the treasury in making the appropria-
tons for the ensuing biennial term.
The recommendation of one board of
directors for all the penal institutions is
business-like, and is in the interest of
the best efficiency and economy-the
invariable result of strong, judicious
central board of management. 1t is
doubtful if the recommendation of an
addition of four hundred dollars to the
salary of the supreme court judges, and
the assumption by the state of certain
expenses while on duty, is just and
equitable. The latter part of the rec
Ommendation is the more mertorious,
and its adoption would be fair COM
promise with the executive, at least till
his own salary is lifted up to basis of
semi-respectability. We believe in an
executive so well paid that good men
may always be obtainable for the office,
and encouraged to devote thorough
study and labor to the material and
moral welfare of the state, as well as to
the strictly technical duties of the Of
flee. Governor Barstow finds, from a
somewhat extended inquiry, that the
average rate of taxation in the state is
sixty per cent of the grand list He
finds further that the rate paid by trust
companies, under the revenue law of
1882, is equivalent to one hundred per
cent on grand list basis; by savings
banks, fifty per cent; by railway prop
erty, twenty-one per cent-the value of
the latter being estimated at Sal ,000,-
600. If the governors figures are even
approximately correct, the inequality
they disclose will be fit subject for
legislative rectification. One very OBJ
vious conclusion derived from thei re-
firing executives admission that " No
statistics are gathered upon this sub
ject," is the imperative need of trust
worthy statistics, not only upon such
matters as the average rate of taxation
throughout the state, and the value of
railway property, but upon great va
riety of other matters. Such statistics
are the basis of correct judgment and
just legislation. They can be obtained
only by the sanction and under the au-
thority of law. The general assembly
should provide effectively for the gath
ering of such statistics. The governor
renews his recommendation for the
appointment of a railway commission.
A body of this kind, constituted under
law framed with just regard to the
rights of both people and corporations,
and composed of men of high charac-
ter, good judgment and independence,
should work to the advantage of all in
terests. There are men in this legisla-
ture who are competent to frame such
a law, and law which should be
passed Men worship the rising sun,
but the setting sun conduces to whole