The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-10-10
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.
The Messages.


having taken the oath Of office, William
W. Stickney, the successor to the gov
ernorship, addressed the members in
Joint session on subjects OF state which
he deemed of primary Importance.
These messages appear in full in this
issue of the JOURNAL.
Governor Smith, without circumlocu-
ton, goes straight for the subject,o his
recommendations He is after reform
in the State system of accounting. A
man practically familiar with systemat-
ic, comprehensive and perspicuous ac-
counting in large affairs, he sees the
faults and deficiencies in the States
existing system of account keeping, or
lack of system, as the Governor puts
it. The subject of State expenses has
been almost continuously discussed.
1t is q stock issue of the Democracy in
a State political canvass. AS news
paper the JOURNAL has often reviewed
the charge OF extravaganza in the adj
ministration of the affairs of the State.
The reports OF the State auditor and
the State treasurer have been the source
from which the facts as to State expen-
ditures have been obtained.
With these reports have been mixed
a variety Of items which properly APP
pear in the accounts, but merely as a
matter of bookkeeping. Money bor-
rowed and repaid, money received into
the treasury-like agricultural funds
from the State or the United States, or
school and highway taxes-for the pur-
pose of distributing to the beneficial
ries of the funds, the agricultural col
lege, or the towns of the State; money
drawn on orders of county clerks for
court expenses, and money paid back
from the receipts of the courts, money
drawn for the institutions of the State
and money returned by these institu-
tions from their income-these, and
many other similar items, properly en-
bodied in report of the transactions
VI I'LL OluCldl, Luuob DO OlALhlhhbON AAObA
the report or reduced to their proper
relation to the matter of the actual cost
to the State of administering it's gov
eminent.
From this mass of crude and miscel-
laneous information the investigator
into the subject Of actual State ex-
tot thof
should come from the chief accounting
department of the State, such state
ment as the chief accounting officer OF
a business corporation would make to
it's stockholders for their information
as to the standing OF the company.
This statement should be made annu-
ally, separating from each years tran
sactions items that are brought over
from the preceding year, and taking
into account those which anticipate ex-
penditures for the succeeding year; and
this statement, which every one who
has given any attention to the matter
has always yearned for, is what Gov
ernor Smith is calling for. The news
paper editors in particular will second
the call.
The Governor enumerates in detail
the duties of the auditor, and is OF the
opinion that these are too numerous
for one man to perform promptly and
efficiently. A person accepting a
State office owes the State the first al.
lotment of his time. If the duties OF
the office, tor their full and efficient
performance, demand all the officials
time, the State has San unalienable
right" to that time, and if for any rea
son the official cannot give it, he ough
to resign his office. II an officials pro
fessional business consumes time tina
should be devoted TO the duties of hi
Office he ought TO give up the office Of
mis- professional engagements. When
any competent official thus devotes hi
time and energies exclusively to thu
business of his Office, and finds its dutie
too numerous or pressing for his individ
ual attention, for full and prompt per
Torrance when this is fully demon
strated the State ought to give tn
overburdened servant relief.
Gov. Smith speaks with force AM
vigor on the various subjects that hav
engaged his attention. Each is worth
of careful consideration, and eac
would be the subject for an editoris
article. There is nothing perfunctor
in the message. The retiring Governo
speaks because he has something
say, and what he says is of high import
ance to the State.
Governor Stickney's message has tn
abstract merit of brevity and the col
crete virtue of very direct bearin
upon the best interests of the Stat
Much is packed into a small spac
nNko .onono ~ a ~ lot fiona 40 n, ;pt n N.