St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-10-16
Advice from Gov. Woodbury..
Extracts from the 1essage OF the Retiring
Governor.


ton to the favorable financial condition
of the state and the fact that the per
cent Of expenses of Vermont is less than
those OF any other New England states
except New Hampshire and Massachu
sets. He also called attention to the
excellent report ofthei inspector offinance,
showing "a marvellous increase in the
assets of our savings institutions during
these depressed tines The work done
by the railroad commissioners, he said,
has been thorough and effective. The
expenses have been moderate The retir-
ing governor reviewed the work OF the
other departments which he found salts
factory, and continued in part
desire to repeat my recommendation
made two years ago that the office of
fire marshal be created and that the
expense of the office be borne largely or
entirely by the insurance companies,
In inviting your attention to the
report Of the state geologist | will say
that while ! think he has accomplished
as much as any other person could with
the limited means at his disposal,
believe that the value Of his work is not
worth to the state what it costs.
therefore recommend that the office of
state geologist and curator of the cab
met be abolished and the sergcant-at-
arms be given the custody of the cabinet.
! continue in the belief that the mode
OF balloting should be simplGed. think
that the law ought to be changed so that
voter may be furnished with such a
ballot inside ofthe railing or in the booth
as he can use without marking, or with
out erasurc OF any names or insertion of
Others unless he chooses to make them.
The past two years have witnessed
vigorous attacks upon the so-called pro-
hibitory law. These attacks come
largely from advocates of high license
system, but it must be admitted that
some friends of temperance believe that
unless the law can be better enforced in
Some OF the larger towns that it ought
to be modified or displaced by one that
can be enforced. 1t is only just to the
friends Of the present law, who, believe
comprise very large proportion OF the
people of this state, that ! state a few of
the objections that are raised against it |
III he belief that in so doing you may be
able to correct the evils that now exist, |
and thus promote the cause Of temper |
ance.
Ii is charged that the law is not impair
italy enforced by the officers whose duty |
it is to enforce it, 1t is said that certain |
influential parties in many towns are let |.
alone and only the weaker dealers in
intoXicants are disturbed, and that in a
few large towns open saloons are run |
with the full knowledge of the state at
torneys. 1t is charged that the Selling |
officers are satisfied to seze only enough |
liquor to prove the guilt Of pondents
instead OF Selling all they might easily
find, that the prosecuting officers do not
prosecute vigorously and constantly, !
that judges OF the municipal courts and |
justices of the peace impose only the
minimum, or nearly the minimum
fine, so that respondents will not
be so much discouraged as to 90 out
OF the business, and thus cease to be con-
tributors to the support OF said officials
by the payment of frequent bills OF costs.
1t is charged that the main business of
many of the druggists, licensed by the
board OF pharmacy, is the sale OF liquors
unlawluly.
These and many other things are said
These are serious charges il they are par
tally true, and the most vigorous meas
urcs should be taken to remove the
cause for such complaint. From my
knowledge, gained during the last two
years, ! must say that the charges are
sufficiently true to demand the attention
of every lover of law and order, and
believer in temperance. These things
should be corrected under The present
law as it is, il they can be, or the law be
modified, so it can be respected. Tenn
perance men must not bind themselves to
the fact that something needs to be
done. There is no license system i'll force
in the United States that would, | think,
be preferable to our present law. | am,
therefore, i'll favor OF the present law
with such changes or notifications as
time and experience may provenecessary.
| will make a few suggestions of
changes namely: That the judges of the
municipal courts be paid salaries, instead
OF fees. This will be, in my opinion, of
great benefit in the enforcement of the
law, and will cost the state less than
under the present fee system. 1t will
relieve the courts from the accusation
that they impose small fines so that
respondents will be frequent contributors
to their support. ] would also suggest
that the law be so changed as to stop, if
possible, the device frequently escorted to
by saloon-keepers of employing persons
called fine takers" so that only first
offences will be found and small fines
imposed. | would change the law so
that persons convicted the first time of
selling would be punished the same as
for second ofIenscs, if there had been pre-
vious convictions Of person or persons
for violation OF the law in the same
place. The board Of pharmacy should
be authorized and directed to annul the
licenses Of druggists who are convicted
for Illegal selling,
The severe business depression with
which this country has been afflicted for
the past few years has been felt in Yer
mont, but not in SO marked degree as
in some other states, The low prices of
agricultural products to be regretted
but our people are contented and hope
full. Vermont is all right Her people
are patriotic, and whenever the republic
is threatened with harm her sons respond
quickly. In 1861 Vermont responded
nobly by sending $4,000 of her sons to
fight manfully for the preservation of the
A,1I ,,,t 1