St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-02-24
1--WE denounce the increase Of the tax

state of Vermont $117 600. And in addi-
ton to that increase in current state ex-
penses the state paid out $2l2,4lS.45 for
the new insane asylum at Waterbury,
and $14.500 for the house of correction at
Rutland.
EXPENSES. LESS FINES, COSTS;
COURT FEES, RECEIPTS OF STATE
PENAL AND OTHER INSTlTu-
1893 SaSS as0 20
1894 .................... SsS'o4s.l2
1893 s5 sag a1 S,0 OF
$1,000, 152.11
Increase M s1 az s1s q q
House of correction ............ 14,500.0O
FORMER EFFORTS TO REDUCE
STATE EXPENSES
Now I am not finding fault with the ac-
ton of the. Republican conventions or
with the action of the legislatures. have
had some acanaintanes with the e, leg1Ws ar
mont has had the most honest legislatures
of all that 1 have become acquainted
Various feeble efforts have been made
to reduce state expenses Gov. Smith
the condition of things, but the movement
did not get anywhere Gov. Stickney
made reference to the necessity of greater
but the movement did not get anywhere.
When 1 had the honor to represent Rut-
bill providing for a new system of ac-
counting and purchasing, which would
have gone long ways toward producing,
a large saving in state expenses That
bill passed the Senate, but when 1T struck
the pothouse politicians in the House of
Representatives, it was killed.
THE DEMAND FOR RETR ENCHMENT
SHOULD COME FROM THE PEOPLE,
The reason that all such movements arc
futile is because they don't come from the
people. 1t is not a demand made by the
people for something, and the legislature
without giving such matters much atten-
ton turn them down because economy will
situa tion. Whatever is done has got to
be done in the same way that the prohib-
up as a demand from the people, and
then there will be no difficulty about it.
LOCAL ISSUES LOST SIGHT OF.
glory in the republican party and the
been its leaders in its glorious achieve
ments during the last 40 years, and in the
part Vermont has taken in creating and
sustaining it. 1t is toward US that repub--
licans all over the country have looked
every four years Gin our September elect
iOnS), to give the first note of approval
to the national republican platform. am
proud of the answer Vermont has always
returned to the republicans of the nation,
but while we have been doing that We
have neglected our own affairs and have
allowed gang Of political shysters and
no has been able to stop them, al
though we have sometimes had good men
do The trouble has never been
brought to the attention of the people;
haps negligent. You can assign any cause
you have mind to,-the result is there
and cannot be disputed.
DECREASE IN MARKET VALUES.
Now while the expenses of operating the
state government have been increasing
125 per cent. in the last 80 years what has
been the course of all values? Values
during that time have decreased in some
cases more than so per cent. A farm,
which in 1870 was worth $4,000, can be
bought today for $1,000, and farm prop
erty generally throughout the state has
decreased il, il value tremendously The
had not at that time gotten over the war
prices for things, but suppose that instead
OF Increasing our annual state expenses
mum, we had held them where they were
or had voted the money which we have
SQuandered, for permanent improvements,
in the 80 years we would have built more
permanent roadWayS than any state In
the Union now mas. l. that haa peen
our farms and other property would sell
at the low price it now sells for? Do
you suppose that there would have been
single abandoned farm in all Vermont,
if had spent in the last 80 years &c.
600, 900 in permanent roadways? Vermont
would be gridironed with beautiful roads,
and I believe that instead of depreciation
in values the old high values Of war
times would have been practically main
tanned; but it is useless to surmise what
would have been, except as it may guide
US in the future.
NATIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR
GOOD ROADS PROPOSED.
I noticed the other day that bill has
been introduced into both houses of Con-
the building of good roads in this coun--
try. The income cor n Of the country Is inn
than that of any other country in tn !,
world SO FL say s it would ~ a be props
doubt but that within a short tin
such an appropriation Will pass.
The present bill provides that Vernon
shall have $25oOoO on condition that she
ready to have that $4,000. We can con-
roads without really costing us a cent;
that is, can save it from our present
large plant to construct works of such a
ma gnitude economically. Let us start
now and not be behind our neighbors.
WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.
New Jersey has spent more than $780,
000 and has LOCO miles built and under
contract.
Massa chusetts 5000, 600.
New York 100000.
And in order to begin let the matter be
discussed at home and in the stores and
in all places where men meet and then
send your at men e1 to Montp Sa charged
and the rest will be an easy matter to
work out.
NO STATE TAX LEVIED IN 1902
In the year 1900 told the legislature
that no state tax was necessary, but they
did not believe it. In the campaign of
1902, I called that fact to the attention of
the people, and in the very next session
of the legislature for the first time in the
history of Vermont the legislature did
not levy a state tax. 1 presume that tho
politicians will say that my feeble re-
marks have nothing to do with their
ton; perhaps they didn't, but anyhow 1t
is a mighty strange thing that the legis-
lature should have gone on for the last 30
years, raising lot of money that the
then suddenly conclude that state tax
was unnecessary for the first time in 1902.
Whatever the reason was for that action
it was good and I, as a Vermonter am
glad to be relieved of my portion of that
burden of debt, which we have been stag
am not criticising particularly the
legislature of Vermont, nor the delegates
to Republican conventions. The fault lies
hack of all that 1t rests with the people,
and it is to the people that I appeal, and
it is from the people. that relief must