Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-12-06

No man has a right to take from an
other man anything for which he does
not make due recompense. and this no
more under the sanction Of law than by
any other process. The good of the
state requires that each citizen should
be educated, but he should not be edu-
Gated at the expense of the state only
up to thar point that the good of the
state demands. Experience has much
to do in determining where that point
can be found. All beyond this accrues
to the benefit Of some at the expense of
all, which is not wise legislation.
In regard to state expenses, and we
speak Of our own state, there is a ten
dency towards extravaganza. \ few
years ago our financial condition was
such that it was thought that corpor-
alton tax could be raised and obviate
the necessity of laying a direct tax up
on the towns or the citizens. This did
very well for a year or two. Then the
expenses were made TO outrun the m
come from this source. A light tax
was levied, which, it was iniimated,
would tide us over pinch and be only
temporary. But it is evident that this
tax has come to stay, and not only that
lit has in it the elements of growth.
small it has almost reached 1
the proportions of war tax. And |
there is room for indefinite expansion,
provided the people win permit it. Two
years ago it was twelve cents on dol /
lar, now it has grown to twenty. A
difference OF eight per cent. may be re-
garded as light, but il costs the town
Of Randolph. for instance, the price of
an average farm. 1t seems as though
each legislature not only found it neces-
sary to continue with an increasing a.
mount of support the institutions called
INTO being by its predecessor, it must
,reate some new ones so as to pile up
he expense. And when an institution
mas once fastened itself upon the state
treasury tits next to impossible TO choke
i off. Besides there are always some
odd jobs, ike monument or a bridge
hat must be attended to. The legisla-
.ure that has just adjourned has out
stripped preceding ones in the line OF
1t appears to have been
run by lobby, and the governor who
should have checked extrayagant ten
lencies interposed no hindrances. 1t
IS singular that this session should have
cost the state $4,000 more than the
asst. We are prone to believe that the
of schools under the new
school bill might have been made as
cheap as under the old without detri-
nent TO any one. But no, $4,000
must be added to the public burden in
his direction. And so the spirit of
extravaganza has run riot until the
,tate has been set back nearly half-a-
million dollars. The members of this
legislature do not seem to have consult
d the feelings or wishes of their con-
tituents or they might have known
hat it was bad time for foolish out
ay. The people hoped tor economy,
,ut they have seen their money go for
obs. They supposed they had sent
men to the legislature, but they find
hat a good deal of the work done is
ust what might have been expected
f boys. 1t is abont time for the peo-
lie to think protecting themselves
gainst their representatives. We ap-
rehend that the day is not distant
rhen there will be change in the di-
ection of public affairs.