Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-10-05
THE SESSION OF1S94
WOODBURY.,
Messages of the Outgoing and
Incoming Governors.
GOV. FU1LER's vAIBD1CToRY

USEFULNESS VI lllt Nu0t'lAl NAllNA iit'' -iN''AA
up for the retiring executive to make such
observations on the needs and condition
of the state as his administrative expert
ence has suggested Acknowledgment is
made of the uniform kindness and help
fitness which have facilitated the labors of
the executive office. "In laying down the
duties Of the office, the governor delicious
" saws: 1--WE are like those who have
come in a journey to some commanding
altitude from which panoramic view may
be taken of the places through which we
have passed. as well as a view forward into
the places where the journey is to be con
tinued under other leadership"
state Finances.
Proceeding to the discussion of pract-
cal affairs, these summarized figures from
the state treasures report are given
The total amount of cash in the
state treasury at the begin
ming of the biennial term
july l. 1892 was 1g7. 337 Is
There has been received during
the biennial term ending
June 30. ls9i, 1.7l6.3s1 "a
Total. sLei8.7is 60
There has been expended, l.5t9.101 %
Leaving cash on hand July !. 1894. 344Ol1 43
The commissioner of taxes states that
''if we were to strike out that department
of state expenses which relates to local re-
lief we should not be obliged at the pres
ent time to 90 beyond the corporation
taxes for all the financial needs of the
state.
The schools.
The amount of school money which all
the town has expended Sduring the past
biennial term Is S1.542, 063. o.. Under the
town system a single board in each town
has expended this money instead of it be-
ing handled by a large number of school
district officers, as formerly. The report
of the superintendent of schools indicates
that the change of system has been made
with but slight friction, and the decided
improvement is recognized
GOV. Fuller again urges the question of
free textbooks upon the attention of the
legislature. As an Illustration of the
benefits of this system he says that a trial
of it for fifteen years in the town of Hart
ford has shown the average cost of books
for each pupil per year to have been only
Al cents; and the Iown has all grades of
schoolsIfrom the primary to those which fit
for college. The extension of the system
throughout the state would result in a
saving of several hundred thousand dollars.
The House of Correction.
The condition of affairs at the house of
correction at Rutland is discussed at length.
The institution is very badly overcrowded,
and its sanitary arrangements were faulty,
resulting in all outbreak of typhoid year
ago. Changes and additions have been
made, giving partial relief but the state
should extend its facilities so as to make a
recurrence of these evils impossible. Refer
ence is made to the eXtravagant cost OF
commitments to the institution, especially
of prisoners from remote parts of the state.
In such cases the average cost is So.
while, supposing the sentence to be for q
days, the prisoners earnings to the state
would be less than 81. Gov. Fuller sug-
gests that a better way might be to turn
the prisoner over to the road commissioner
of the town where the offence is committed
to work out his fine. Officers fees are un.
doubtedly a temptation, land play toe
important part in the matter.
The message describes the difficult ant
important work which has been done in
very satisfactory way, in improving anC
extending the facilities of the state insan,
asylum at Waterbury.
Good Roads.
Gov. Fuller keeps this subject to tn,
front as might be expected of him, and al
important suggestion is made with regarC
TO our highway policy. The governor be
lieves the time has come for a chang,
from the plan of simply keeping old roads
in tolerable repair, and adds: Il am salts
fled that the state road tax should be uset
for the construction of roads in a NOR
permanent form. and that no portion of j
should be used for ordinary repairs If al
the towns We're TO adopt a policy of layin!
aside certain percentage of their roaC
taxes for the building of certain roads in
permanent form, they would, in few
years, be able to replace their roads by
durable structures without increasing theil
expenses. and in the end would secure
class of roads that would cost only a nOmi
nal sum to keep in repair
Military Affairs,
The Vermont National Guard is now al
the highest point of efficiency which it ha
ever reached. Both the efficiency and tn,
economy of the service would doubtless b,
still further subserved We're a permanent
camp-ground to be provided not too re
mote from the new Fort Ethan Allen, bu
entirely separate from il. At the time O
the mob outbreaks last summer the stat,
troops were ordered to be ready to move a
an hours notice, and the general govern
ment was advised of this fact. The Cover
nor looks with apprehension on the worl
which these agitatOrs and disturbers of tn,
peace are allowed to do. Their very name,
are strangely dissimilar from those which
indicate American citizenship. This
country is doubtless receiving crimina
classes that are being driven from othel
shores. "Unless something is'done to ar
rest this state of affairs there must be
fought out upon American soil a great
social problem with the irresponsible for
eign criminal element who, although Will
us, are not of US" The Importance, there
fore, of the enactment of such immigration
laws as will make certain "that those who
come to live with us, are people with gooC
intentions, who will be helpers and not
disturbers OF society is apparent
The PrOhibitory Law.
The most important and significant pOr
ton of the message is that which relates
to the prohibitory law and we quote il
full:
THE report of the officers of the house of or
reCtion shows that the commitments 10 that in
stitutiOn have increased from BPS for the bienuia
period ending lssi, TO SOS for the biennial perioC
ending ls94. In attempting to account for th
increase in crime the superintendent OF the houst