The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-10-14

salary lne 11uIllClpdl tTltIS anu Noi'i
pensate the prosecuting officer according
to the fruits of his labor. If prosecuting
officers were paid special fees under
well regulated system in cases arising
under the prohibtory law the county
court approving semi-annually their ac-
counts a better enforcement might fol-
low officers cannot nurse crime in Yer
mont for the fees dervable from prose-
cutting it unless the people are willing
Interest the prosecuting officer and make
1t an object for him to do his work If you
would be sure Of the best service
Pursuing and furnishing crime as a
work of love cannot always be relied
upon.
Education.
The strength of our state is in the
character Of our people which is deter
mined by our education. The schools
are the moulding sand in which the
common mind is formed. The best
school is none too good. The district
school, having outlived it's early useful
ness of which we have reason to be
proud, entered a transition process, re-
sulting in the present town system,
with which some are yet dissatisfied
The dissatisfaction with the district sys-
tenn arose from natural causes and were
a return made to that system the same
dissatisfaction would recur. The rea-
sons for the success of the system are
no longer part of our life and we must
use some new plan for conducting our
schools. Originally opposed to town
schools, yet remembering the disad-
vantages of the old district and inter-
mediate systems, 1 believe the existing
law as good as any change would af-
ford. 1t should be borne in mind though
that the incorporated districts prevent
in towns where they exist a fair appli-
cation of the town system. If conces-
sions could be arranged to obviate
these complaints contentment might be
expected.
Colleges.
The colleges are successfully pursu-
Ing their lines of work The university
at Burlington report a prosperous con-
dition, and so does the college at Mid
dlebury. Norwich university is progress
i've Its increasing attendance speaks
well for its discipline and the prof.
cheney of its work. The agricultural col
lege and experiment station are conduct
ing a work in which the agricultural
classes are becoming more and more in
tcrested.
Normal Schools
These schools, in the report of the COM
mission appointed by Joint resolution,
number 346, general assembly 1894, are
presented to your consideration for such
action as in your judgment suits the facts.
The people wish every school in the state
well, and implicitly trust to your wisdom
as their representatives in so disposng
of this important quetion as to not inn
pair the usefulness of our educational
system, and to so bestow or withhold
their money in the premises as to accom-
plish in the interest of education the most
good for the greatest number.
Fish and Game
Your attention Is directed to the re-
port of the fish and game commissioners
and the superintendent of the hatchery
1t appears that the state has an interest
ing property in this line costing already
quite a little money and promising to
cost more. The fish and game of Yer
mont properly constitute a property OF
great general value to the people. These
interests should be properly fostered
For a knowledge of the needs in this di-
rection see the recommendations and es-
Inmates in the reports referred to.
Uniformity of Laws
Hon. Alfred a. Hall of st. Adams, ap-
pointed by my predecessor, commits
sioner upon the uniformity of laws, has
reported his doings pursuant to such an
appointment. His commission having
expired, if further work in this direction
is desired your action in the matter will
be necessary. Uniformity in the laws Of
the several states, as more particularly
pointed out in the commissioner re-
port is undoubtedly desirable. and can
be completed now with as little expense
as any other time.
Fire Marshal
1t is requested that an office be Gre
ated to discover the origin of fires con-
Stunning property covered by insurance.
Such detective officer would supply a
need in which the people and the insur-
ance companies are mutually interested.
His work should lessen the moral hazard
OF fire insurance risks and accomplish
a saving to the companies and a lower
rate to the policy holders. Whether it
would do this or no, it has the moral
recommend of being a proper move to
expose and punish a crime somewhat
common. y measure creating such an
office, the expense to be borne equally,
or in such proportions as you might con-
slider just, by the insurance companies
and the state, would receive my APP
prevail.
Attorney General
1t is a very general opinion that the
office of an attorney general would aid
the administration of state affairs and
| accomplish an annual saving to the
treasury. l recommend that you in
| quire into the cost to the state of counsel