Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-03-05

tcrbury asylum in two years past al
though improvements have been made.
The erection and equipment of the new
asylum las been very heavy expense,
but the governor and others In position
to judge, consider the Waterbury asylum
a good investment for the State 1t is es-
tmated that as soon as the improvements
In progress permit the removal of the
other patients from Drattleboro to Wa
terbury, the saving to phe State will be
between $4,000 and $4,000 year. The
state is now paying 1915 per week for 300
people at Brattleboro. When they are
transferred to Waterbury saving of
about $500 week Is anticipated
The expenses OF the acknowledgements
office have Increased; but so has the vol
ume of business of the Office, through the
calls upon 1t for information from similar
offices in other States and from the war
department at Washington, and from the
heavily increased attention demanded by
our National Guard.
one of the main causes of the increase
OF state expenses was the passage Of the
Poland pauper law, which transferred the
expense of supporting pauper insane from
towns TO the State. Another explanation
OF tho increase in the States expenses is
to be found in the passage of laws throw
Ing upon the State tho expense of trials
OF great variety of cases outside of jury
trials. Formerly referees and commission
ers were paid by the parties interested,
but now the fees of such officers are paid
by the State. The change in this direction
mas been made gradually at the behest of
the lawyers, who prefer the State as
debtor TO private persons who may be
financially irresponsible. One result of
this change has been large increase in
litigation, among parties who might settle
their differences II the cost of trial was
to come largely out of their own pockets.
Or course general increase of court ex-
pense follows the increase of litigation;
and 1t forms a heavy item of cost to the
treasury. There are some compensations,
OF course, to be taken into account so
Tar as the taxpayer Is concerned the cost
OF supporting insane paupers, as a State
expense, is to a certain extent the taking
OF money out of one pocket to put It into
another. The towns save what the State
spends In this way or a large portion of 1t.
The railroad, fish and game and other
commissions cost neutrality-suspicious. too
much; but they return some thing that Is
worth while to the public. That 1t will be
possible or advisable TO wholly cut Off
many or any of these sources of expense,
Is not plain; but this much Is plain. The
low prices of farm produce, and the condi-
tons OF business in the State at large, are
not such as to reconcile our taxpayers to
any increase in the taxes; and 1t behooves
our State officials and all who are charged
with any responsibility for the manage
ment of our State finances, to see to IT
that the utmost economy is practiced, in
every branch of the government; that en-
traordinary OUTLAWS are prevented and
that taxes are reduced rather than in
creased at least till better times shall
give the taxpayers more means with which
to meet them. OF course no intelligent
person supposes that the expenses and
taxes would have been any less If the demo-
Gratis had had control. The State democ-
racy of Vermont does not contain the men
who would or could run the State BUSH
ness any more efficiently or more honestly
or more cheaply than 1t has been rum