The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-08
The Messages.

The messages of the retiring and in
coming governors are strong and in
cisive. Governor Dillingham; speaks
of what has taken place during
his, administration-of what he has
studied from position that should
give him special opportunity for sound
judgment. Especially interesting is
what he says regarding Swedish
colonization. His conclusion is that it
would be the height of folly to abandon
the policy of advertising the industrial
and agricultural advantages of the state.
The experiment, so far as it has pro-
ceeded, has been success; let it con-
tinue until it is certainly known how il
will result. The report of the super
intendent of education is warmly COM
mended, and his arguments for state
tax for school purposes are pronounced
unanswerable. The message is largely
devoted to a discussion of the opera
ton of the laws regarding prosecutions
for the violation of the prohibitory
statute. On this subject the governor
is explicit, and every one of his recon-
mendations should be given the most
candid consideration. They are the
conclusions of two years of thought and
observation.
Governor Pages message is replete
with suggestions bearing on retrench-
ment in expenses and reform in exist
ing conditions which are not satisfactory
to his sense of the needs and dignity
of the state. His table of expenses
of the biennial terms since 1880 is an
epitome of the message. 1t speaks in
no unmistakable figures of the change of
practice which has gradually crept into
the legislature within the past ten years
An increase of nearly one hundred per
cent in ten years, while the population
and resources of the state have only
held their own, is matter demanding
not only attention but immediate ac-
ton. Members of both houses should
paste that little table in their hats and
take look at it every morning as they
start out toward the state house. Re-
garding the tax on corporations, he says
all that can be said at this time The
law must be amended to meet the con-
stitutonal objections, and Commissioner
Martin, who has made a special study
of the problem, will submit bill, which,
it is hoped, will straighten out the tam
gle. The suggestion that the corpora
tons pay one-fifth more than they now
pay is not unreasonable, unwelcome as
it may be to the institutions that would
be affected Taxation should be based
on the ability to contribute to the gen.
eral expense, and the corporations Of
the state are surely able to increase
their contribution. That the time for
departing from the policy of prohibi-
ton, in reference to liquor legislation,
has not arrived is seen in the course of
high license men quite as clearly as in
the position of the defenders of the
present law. The continual discussion
of this subject is forced and unwel-
come. " If you find the present law
defective, correct these defects" eX-
presses the opinion of the majority on
this subject. Governor Page very prop
erly calls special attention to the need
of intelligent and careful action regard
ing the agricultural college. The ma
tional government is pursuing most
commendable policy in this respect, and
the state can do no less than to bring
to its share of the work broad
and far-sighted spirit of assistance.
Vermont is an agricultural state, and
will always be such. No state needs a
fully-equipped agricultural college more.
The practical farmers of both houses
will find no more profitable subject for
their best efforts this fall than that OF
formulating the wisest possible measure
for the disposal of the money recently
4