The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-10
Governor Fuller's Administration

exhibit he makes in his valedictory
message of duties discharged and la
bors performed to assure the people of
Vermont that he has been a very
faithful steward. His message tells
chiefly of those technical administra.
tive acts which the law and constitu.
ton require of the states chief magis
trate. The document shows that Gov
ernor Fuller has been close student
of the workings of the state insttu
tons, that he has a practical idea of
what those institutions are designed
for and by what specific ways and
means their purpose can be best accom-
plished.
The retiring governors discussion of
matters relating to the penal and re-
formatory institutions leaves little
room for comment The house of
correction seems TO have undergone
thorough renovation under the gov
ernor's direction, and his belief that
" the improvements made have added
greatly to the efficiency of the institu-
ton " seems to be confirmed by all
the facts in the case. The practical
character of the governors observations
is illustrated by his remarks upon the
cost of commitments and his sugges.
ton of remedy. When the cost
of commitments for trihing offences
in default of the payment of fines
is S25, and the delinquent's earn
ings for the period of commitment is
only 81, the "opinion quite current
among those who ought TO know that
there is something wrong as to this "
seems fully justified. Service under
the road commissioner in satisfaction
of the offenders wrong-doing would
be both advantageous to the commun-
ity and might have deterrent effect.
A criminal might prefer a snug berth
at the house of correction to working
on the highway, and, if he could not
have the former, might conclude to be-
have himself or leave the state.
Governor Fuller's remarks under the
"prohioitory law" division of his mes
sage will attract general attention and
excite public interest. The statistics
he presents, showing the extent to
which prohibition prohibits, will afford
much encouragement to those who be.
lieve that the existing system of regu-
lating the sale of liquors is the best for
Vermont-and those who so believe
constitute the great majority of the
thinking people of the state. The gov
ernor aims decisive blow at the traffic
in his suggestion that "the liquor seller,
the gceat source of the evil, must be eff
fectually got at" To hit this offender
"effectually," the recommendation is
made "to pass a law disallowing appeals
on plea of guilty in liquor cases." The
landlord of premises on which liquor is
sold receives an admonition in the
proposition to make him party in
cases of nuisance and to require bond
from him. The governor is right in
saying that "these blows must be struck
before the battle of prohibition is fully
won and the remaining towns in the
state, now suffering under this curse,
enabled to take their place in the COL
umn of towns from which the saloon
has been practically driven out" In
all his remarks under this head, Gov
ernor Fuller opens the way to some
very necessary temperance legislation.
The expectations the state enterter-
tanned OF advantages to be derived from
the Columbian Exposition through the
agency of Governor Fuller were not
disappointed. He had had large expe-
rience in exposition work, and the state
at large and exhibiting citizens profited
by his assiduous and influential atten,
ton TO their several interests. The ser.
vice rendered the state at Chicago was
supplemented by similar advantageous
| representation dI Tue Dan FThuClsCC
midwinter fair. Vermont and her va
ried interests have had large and sue
cessful advertisement through the pains
the governor has personally taken, with
out requirement of the laws and with
out compensation, to have her AIDE
quately represented, not only at thu
great exhibitions at Chicago and Sal
Francisco, but also at minor publ,
gatherings, such as the meetings of th'
Sons of Vermont, an organization tina
has an existence in many states ant
cities in which Vermont's self-exlet
children have gathered.
His concern for the material welfar
of the towns has been conspicuousl,
shown by his active interest in TIT
building of good roads. In this i'm
portant matter he has spent time, labo
and money in correspondence with thu
road-inquiry bureau at Washington, il
attending oOod-rOad conventions. an