Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-13

The better you make the roads, the more
your farms will be worth, and all the
more will summer tourists come within
our borders.
Ii you should raise the State tax to
~ per cent and cxpcnd every dollar OF the
probable 100000 such tax will annually
command under competent State supervi-
sion, the State would enter upon an era
of prosperity that can be afforded and
would be enjoyed. Remember II requires
money to make roads. DO not bond pay
as YOU 70. but get permanent roads as
rapidly as can be considered consistent
with our financial ability.
PROHIBITION.
Prohibition continues to he one of the
most interesting features of our state
government, more vital to the welfare of
our society than any other ana deserves
your most careful earnest consideration.
Two-thirdS of the criminal class attri-
butte their downfall co the use of alco-
holic stimuants, and an equal percentage
of the insane and pdupcrs can ascrihc
their misfortuncs to tho same cause.
The prohibitory law is well enforced in
the rural sections. fairly well enforced in
a few of the larger towns, indincrcntly
enforced in some of them, and openly dis
regarded In others. The prohibitory cause
in This State is substantially In the same
condition as two years ago The law Is
better. but this does not meet the situa-
ton. Some localities, but few, however
to our credit be IL said, persist In fragrant
volation--a fact well known to the Of
ficials whose duty 1t is to enforce. There
is law enough, there are officials enough.
and we Will never bc self-respectng
peoplc until enforcement of the prOhihi-
tory law is triumphant After two years
official experience. please Totc the opinion
that the law can be enforced, as well one
law as another, in all sections of the
State alike. when complainant. pros'cu-
tor. witness. judge. jury and citizen CO.
operate in so ordering.
The states attorneys hold the Key to
the situation and the judges of the courts
turn II when they allow certificates OF
pay. Great power for veal or woe to our
people rests with the judges who hold our
county courts.
TUBERCULOSIS.
Between $4,000 and $4,000 has already
been expended in attempting to subduc
this disease. Certain indications only are
given by which the course of the work
fer its determination may bc known. while
its progress is susceptible OF selt-regis-
tratioa.
An individual who would undertake the
extinction of as volatile a quantity as
pulmonary ailments, or any kindred sus-
capabilities among stock, at a probable
cost of "a hundred or more thousand dol
lars work tour years and eNpend fuIlT
ralf that sum, knowing his progress only
by the rule of guess, would bc counted ni
for Guardianship. Yet this Is what the
thorough going business man would "a!
the state of Vermont is doing. record
of all the stock in the State subject 10
this disease, with power to test as last as
recorded would soon determine the whole
undertaking and afford AN opportunity Il
of thngDllghnpSS
work already done. From business stand
point there can be little question about
this proposition, and it is as clear that
the present hup-hazard way of testing
will lead to nothing definite and cost as
much II not more than Il compulsory, sys
tcmatc plan.
\ man should he allowed to do accord
ing to his mind. if il is right. and Shout,
be completed To do what ne ought, II h'
will not do il Of his own motion. II II IL
right To- test that portion @! the stock %
the State voluntarily offered TOR thdt pur
pose, ii l. also right to test the balance
VII, thcr the owners are willing or not. L
n is right to test tAree-fourths, it is al
the more right to test the other fourth
The three fourths tested have right, II
self defence to demand test OF the bal
ance. A compulsory test, with an accu
rate record, would soon furnish our STATE
] with something for the money II has eN
pended in this direction, and the farmer
would soon find 1t To his advantage L
, have a public record of the sanitary con
Gition OF his stock.
CORPORATION LEGISLATION.
This State tenac.ously adheres to tn
vicious practice OF granting Legislative
charters. Most matters can he mcorpora
. ted through the office OF the Secretary o
= State under existing laws, and evey VIII
as good charter can be thus obtained
, Rcpeated but unsuccessful efforts haV
I been made to change this practice and
while some charters are granted undo
- general laws, yet at the last session l.
corporation acts ran through the leSisla
= tive hopper. and also 81 called misccllan
: eous, but relating TO corporations or char
. tcrs, making ls6 acts in all or private char
u acter. occupying three-fourths OF the boo
y containing the acts Of that session; am
these against l42 public acts. II is fnl
i to estimate that three-fourths of the tim
II and expense OF legislation in this Stat
goes To private benefit, And this is no
the worst; nearly all this work is rushe
. on to executive approval by title only.
!, viii hear repeating that three-fourths o
, our legislation Is for private account, II
a which the State has only paternal in
', terest From n full canvass of the State
- upon this subject you are advised tina
:, only few of them do the like, and the
:, regret their neglect to have cast on IN
= incubus Some OF the states AVOID All pr
:, vate legislation by constitutional inhib
: ton; others regulate Il by legislative en-
actment; so that nearly all escape the FOL
= ly in which We persist.
The granting OF charters is source O
y revenue in all the States issuing them IN
= der the general law, ranging from fey
n hundred, along the way OF several thou
a sand, to the round OF three hundred thou
- sand, to the round sum of SSN
Is 900 annually in the State of Ne'
- York. Instead of realizing for the treas
- ury from these favors for private gair
y we expend thousands every year to one
, them Unfortunately in large number
. many of which are never used. and in
- way which shocks legislative practices
=, Seven sessions has this farce been obserN
:, ed by an eyewitness, and belief has 1T
- come firm that II should give way To III
"a original intention that our governmer
" should not subordinate its legislative PR
Ia negatives to private behests.
~ Charters generally, even those includin
', questions OF eminent domain and col
"a demnation proceedings, can undoubtedl
'" he authorized by general legislation, Il
which a reasonable fee should be paid II
=. to the treasury. II constitutional ditiicu
=, ties embarrass, make exceptions To su
- cases; but remember any power that h,
- time and patience to read through
W. least once the charter II grants, is in be
- ter position to confer n safe instrumel
" than the Vermont Legislature.
" You have some of the facts and reason
y, bearing upon this matter. 1t is then
~, ~. your hands, and the people look to sc
y for deliverance.
O. THE CAUCUS.
I'd The caucus is a root factor in the non