Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-01-04

Reports.
Boston, Jan. 2.'l'hc great and gen
eral courr formally opened for the srS'
sion Of l9O2ni | | o'clock today. \ short
time afterward Governor Crane de-
livcred his inaugural address.
In preparing II statement Of the tnan-
cial condition OF the commonwealth
Governor Crane deals only with totals.
referring those who wish for fuller in
formation TO the annual reports of the
trcasurcrand the auditor. The address
says in part:
"rhr gross debt of the commonwealth,
actual and contingent. Jan. |. 1907. was
SII .G3ti, G3J.3U. or this amount. So. 49,
2e233O is represented by loans which
have been issued for state PURPOSES rX-
cluSively and sol ,95S,4l2, the total con
tingent debt. by loans which have been
issued for the benefit of cities ana towns,
and which will be repaid ultimately hy
them to the commonwealth. Applicable
to the loans issued for strictly state pur-
poses, there are accumulationS in sink,
ing funds amounting TO $1321S. 1iai9,
making the net actual state deb, ST.
46OO13.Gl. For the redemption Of the
loans included in the contingent debt
there are Accommodations in sinking
funds amounting to S3.3122, Sj3. II. which
amount. applied to the principal of The
loans. makes the net contingent trbt
SiS,6lI..I5S.S:i. or the net contingent
debt. 81. lO1 ,0S2 ~ falls upon certain
cities and towns in which armorirs Lave
been built. and the remainder. Sill
5+i,4I6%. upon the cities and towns IN
the metropolitan water, sewerage and
parks districts.
'rhe receipts of the commonwealth do
not Increase in Il ratio corresponding To-
its expenditures. and unless Il greater
restraint is exercised over nppropria-
tions it will not be long before new
sources of revenue will need TO he dis
covered. We must keep the colnlnon-
wealth progressive and liberal hut 1T
the same time We must not forget that it
is our duty to administer her affairs with
Il Scrupulou> regard for the s,ric.rSt
economy.
"rho water board last year called At
tenton to the great increase from year
to year in the consumption of water in
the district. There is undoubtedly n
considerable consumption of water
which is excessive and waStpful ami
which can he prevented. Some me,hul
should he devised by which every city
ana town. If not every individual water
tak"r. shall he financially Interested in
the prevention of waste AMI of the cX-
ccSSivr use Of water.
'lh" abolition of crossings AT the same
level as our steam railroads and our
streets and public ways is IN important
matter. The general law of 1890 by
which the policy of the state in rcsprc;
to the abolition of grade crossings WAS
first established. has practically ceased
to br operative. am of the opinion
that the further operation of the con
cral law for the abolition of grade cross
ings should be secured by an lrproprin-
tion for that purpose ana therefore
recommend an appropriation of S1.WD.-
600. TO he expended. at the rate of not
more than S1D0.OOO in any one year. hy
the commonwealth. for the abolition of
grade crossings of railroads, and bubble
ways.
"'rhc insane in the public institutions
of thee commonwealth Ii numbered ON Oct.
!, 1901. 100: of this number 3719 were
men and lol1 women. Gn the cogrc-
spending date of 1900 the total number
was I'll, showing an increase of 373
for the year. The board of insanity
will This year recommend that ap-
preparations he made to provide accom-
mountiOnS for an increase of 415 Jo-
tienls In this recommendation | con-
cur
"The latest school returns show that
the number of pupils of all ages enrolled
in the public schools the preceding
school year was 1863. .ISS: in private
schools, S2'2l. OF 33l,9l3 persons re-
turned 10y the school census aS coming
within the compulsory age limits of !
and ~, 81 percent We're included I'M the
public school enrolment: the rest. Win
few exceptions. in the private school en-.
rolmrni. Th" total expenditure by !lir
the. public schools was Sl4.197.9l7, of
which Sli,l3l,Wil was for support and
S3.OlI,Ol3 for school buildings. The
cost for each child in the average mrm-
bcrShip of the public schools was S3lol.
| pon the publi" schools more than upon
any other public agency depends the
welfare of the commonwealth. Their
10 this welfare justifirs m,
large sums annually expended upon
them"
~ ndrr existing law. street railway
companies may he organized AT viii
and receive locations from local brnr,ls
nt aldermen and Srlectmcn for rrutns
Trough any Number of cities AMI towns
Il sometimes happens that in granting
ocaiioES the interest of the public nrr
not tsatlsfactotlysa safrg,iarded. Ir,cn..-
niZr the dcSilahility of hlvin. the local |
boards proceed. as now. To grant locn
ions in the first instance: hut rec, ,n. |
mend Il change in the law. to rcOuirn |
hat all locations granted hy local boards |
shall hc subject to til" approval of the |
board of railroad commissioners.
Il renew my former rc"oinmenIr.
ions on the subject of municipal leyis.
ation. Ii is good policy To comprl cities
md towns 10 depend upon their own rr-
'purc"S in IN" management of their To-
al affairs, instead of encouraging them
O crme To the legislature for roller