The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-10-13
Governor Ormsbee's Message.

ance with the provisions of the Consttu-
ton, as the chosen representatives of the
freemen of Vermont, in the several legisla-
tive departments of state government
each and all by our several oaths of Office
bound to faithfully do and perform every
duty. In aid and furtherance of our ndi-
vidual determination to sacredly keep those
oaths, let us ever remember that, in and of
ourselves only, our best endeavors are
liable to come to naught; that, abiding
strength and unerring guidance come only
from him who rules the universe. The
people, whose servants we are, demand of
us prompt and efficient action in whatever
comes to us to do or consider as their rep
resentatves. The time and money spent
here in their service is theirs, not ours
Duly impressed with correct views of duty,
let us proceed to performance of 1t with as
much dispatch as Is consistent with candid
consideration and safe and wise conclusions.
The biennial reports of the several state
officers, as to matters under their charge,
will be before you. To these you will look
for details and itemized accounts of current
state affairs, and also for information and
light as to how well or i'll the affairs per-
tanning to the welfare of the state have
been, and are being, performed by your Sc
lected and trusted servants-for the state
officers are but the servants of the people
and their reports an account of their stew
ardship 1t Is a part of the duty of these
respective officers by their reports, to make
suggestions and recommendations, and
coming from persons inosC cohNersaht WIN
W. ,iti ~ ,yorl;ncts as veil oa tIo nood ~
of their respective departments, such sug-
gestions and recommendations are entitled
to, and doubtless will have, your careful
attention and consideration. The report of
the treasurer presents an itemiZed state
of the state The snbiect NJ the inances ~
Tho state usuailv los and aivavS aLo,,Id
%aI,a tIo '',ost yie,id I'D raraf"I yso.,,ti''
and tba nnhIic dos and should reonire thiSs
TREASURER hhroHi'
FROM 9his report IL appears Vnat, az tne
close ol ,ne iasV llscai yea, ouly 81, iooo' Vhe
state haoiil'les were as loiioWs'
Due towns. United states surplus fund.- sl39gl62
Due Aericntnral College fund 1885, 500 90
Balance due on appropriation for state IL
brary .......,..........:;....:.. 2'7O655
fraro Nortb Hero ~ aPhmrab 'o' 10 oe9 M
-ww
Total ........... - .S@,22i.l3
And the resources were as follows:
Cash on hand and in banks $3.50 97i o7
Estimated amount of tax from corporations
for 1856 2OOOOOOO
Hmntinvtpn fund secmrt les VI 600 M
----w
Total s375si@
OF the items making up the liabilities the
following are not subject to call, and no
present provision is required to meet them,
viz:
United States surplus fund sls97i62
Balance due soldiers ;,..,............ s,55l46
AGRICULTURAL ooneee iuiu''''''''''''''' l1o'oOOOV
Amounting ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. sl57 ASS Os
which sum deducted from tbe total 1.bil-
it;as iaa,as Snhioct tn ha noid nrasantI,
eli 7Go O5 ebowino an evcass of rasourcooe
o,,ar cmrrent Eahii7ties All BOZ % ,Tbis eW'
cess Of avaiIahie resources 10 about eonal
tn the exnenses of fine state in a session
vaar when no ax+raordinarv annronr;otions
are ,nada nr unusual axnaenses incpprrad
STATE EXPENSES
This subject has received much attention
and consideration at the hands of the egis-
lature within the last decade: many abuses
have been remedied; many sources and
avenues of unnecessary expense have been
effectually closed. important streams of
revenue, that had ceased to flow partially
or wholly have been made to pour again
their hidden or diverted contents into the
state treasury This is lust cause for con-
gratulations and thankfulness. That so
much has been ACCOMPLISHED their prede-
cesssors, in their biennial messages have
uniformly given much credit to the faithful
and intelligent service of our present au-
ditor of accounts, and take this opportun-
ity to express like sentiments, not as com
pliment merely, but to give public and
official recognition and appreciation of faith
full and intelligent performance of duty.
Turning to the report of the auditor of ac-
counts, we find that he has given requisite at
tention to the transactions of the state treas
urer, and of him he says that " all transac-
tons in his department are correct" This
is gratifying, but not unexpected intelli-
gence. The auditor, in his report, dwells
at some length on the fruitful subject of
court expenses" and your careful atten-
ton is solicited to the information there
given, and the suggestions and recommends
lions there made. The want of uniformity
in existing laws, wherein it consists, and a
proposed remedy therefor, are so plainly
set forth, that there is no occasion for me to
dwell upon the subject further than to ex-
press a confident hope that such legislation
NAV be had as to provide that all costs, ac-
cruing in criminal prosecutions, should, in
cases of conviction, be taxed against the re-
spondent So far as may be reasonably pos
sible, let the violator of the criminal law of
the state, as part of the penalty of his
crime be required to pay the costs and eX-
penses of the state in bringing him to Justice.
| The remarks and suggestions of the auditor,
| bearing on expenses and costs in criminal
cases. merit and trust will have your care
full and patient attention. That abuses have
been corrected, and that misapplied or with
| held funds of the state have so largely found
| their way into the treasury is. as | have
| said, cause for congratulations but not an
excuse for relaxation of vigilance. You
will not forget that it often happens that
there is the greatest danger in fact, when
quiet and seeming prosperity abound An
empty treasury is far from being an I'M.
mixed evil: il prompts and ENCOURAGES care
and economy, while an Overlooking one