The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-16
Executive Expenses Twenty Years Ago.

The expenses Of the Governor and
his staff were the subject of senatorial
solicitude some twenty years ago.
The Senate of 1884 passed a resolu-
ton calling on the auditor for a state
ment Of executive expenditure for a
term of years then past, and that officer
reported that "the expenses of the Gov
ernor's staff have generally been limited
to their per diem at annual muster,
which has usually been paid by the
quartermaster general" The auditors
report on the resolution of inquiry
specified the expenses in question 10
detail for four biennial terms of which
the subioined is summary:
Biennial term ended Oct /, 1878,
Fairbanks, Governor, S 935 81
Ended Oct. l. $780,
Proctor, Governor, 791 "a
Ended Oct 1, 1882,
Farnham, Governor, 1925 68
Ended Oct l. 1884,
B4rstow. Governor, 1862 "a
High water mark in these eight years
was reached under Gov. Farnham's adj
ministration. During his official term
occurred the assassination and death of
President Garfield and the centennial
celebration of the British surrender at
Yorktown. The Governor and staff
attended the funeral of Garfield at
Cleveland at an expense of 1921, and
the celebration at Yorktown at a cost
to the State of S62636. The foregoing
summaries of executive expenses in
clude considerable amounts for print
ing and postage. If from the modest
sum which expresses the aggregate ex-
penditure from the biennial term end
ed Oct. l, 1884, is taken Sl05.70 that
accrued under Farnham, and S10S.69
fol- printing and expenses of secretary
of civil and military affairs, there is
left the frugal sum of $14S 45 as the
sum total of the plebeian Barstow's
official expenses for the two years of
his term as Governor. How did the
people endure such extravaganza
Aud yet Barstow was a good Gov
ernor, one of the best and most con-
scientious of his times. In his mes
sage to the Legislature in 1882, having
referred to class OF accounts that are
paid without specific authority of law,
sc oh III Of
fetal expenses, he expressed the opin-
ion that the laws should be 80 amend
ed "that no State officers should be
allowed to approve, pay or draw orders
for any purpose not specially authorized
By la,o." Continuing the discussion of
this subject Gov. BarstoW said: "If
any hardship arises under such re-
striction, it will soon come to light and
can be provided for. 1 regard the saw
ing of money to the people, important
as that may be, as of less consequence
than is the adoption of system which
will put a stop to improper and illegal
expenditures based on custom, and
which diminish with faithful auditor,
and when public attention is directed
to them, but increase again under diff
ferent circumstances. We should not
only remove abuses but prevent their re-
currence." Gov. Barstow's precept
was certainly strongly reinforced by
practice.
The foregoing data from the records
of the not distant past may serve to
point moral as we'll as to adorn tale.
Sixteen years after Gov. Barstow
uttered his warning, the Legislature
has been stirred to realization of its
laxity and its prime responsibility in
certain important matters. For very
much that is the subject of present
criticism the Legislature, the legislative
system and customs in Vermont, are
primarily responsible. The system
itself, the custom regulating final adj
journment and other proceedings, en-
courage and entail crude, hasty and
incomplete legislation. Law-making
in Vermont is ever menace to the
welfare of the State. With a people
less conservative, less capaole of self
control, under the results of the exist
ing system and prevailing customs 80
ciety would be in a constant turmoil, 9
constant state of revolution. Yer
monters govern themselves not exactly
under their laws, but in spite of theil
laws.
While there is absolutely no justid
cation of certain "improper and illega
expenditures" recently brought to light
it is nevertheless true that State Off
cials have sometimes saved the Stat,
, from loss, have sometimes stretched
their authority in the interests of rea
: economy in administration, because tn
Legislature has been 30 indifferent, o