The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-10-13
RAILROAD COMMISSION.


The power and duties of this COM
mission have been considerably en-
larged from year to year. 1t would
now seem advisable to go at least one
step further and provide that in the
cases where competing lines are so
seriously at variance that there is no
hope for reasonable results, the COM
mission have the power to step in
and take some action to prevent fur
Their inconvenience to the travelling
public.
WEALTH AND ATTRACTIONS
We are making considerable progress
in the development of our mines and
quarries Our manufacturing inter-
ests increase by leaps and bounds
from year to year, until nearly every
city and large village within our bor-
ders has some important industry to
the conspicuous success of which the
whole State can justly point with
pride. In large number of instances
these particular enterprises are stand
ards of their kind, and by excellent
quality of their products are able to
lead the way against the sharpest COM
petition of the general market
Mindful Of all this, however, | still
maintain that agriculture continues
to be our distinction and the most inn
portant field for our activity and best
endeavor.
In view of possible legislation 1 call
your attention to the board of agricul-
ture, the good work of the Agricul-
ture College, the interests of the for
estry commission, the Dalrymen's AS
ISOLATION, the Maple Sugar Associa-
ton, the Horticulture Society and
kindred organizations.
There IS no question but that the
Vermont farmer, aided by these and
supplemented by the instructive work
of the Grange, has been able to sys-
tematically increase and wonderfully
develop the agriculture wealth of the
State until today while cultivating
less acres he is making possibly larger
pro rata crops and is producing larger
pro rata amounts of maple sugar,
fruit, corn, grain, hay, potatoes and
dairy product than any other State in
the Union, Furthermore, with i'm
proved machinery and with brains
trained to. appreciate the relation of
cause and effect he is doing all this
with better actual results in profits
than ever before.
Today farming is recognized as q
science. | could almost say it ought
to be classed as one of the professions,
for he who will succeed In it must
study, must be we'll informed and
must thoroughly understand the bust
ness. From this it follows that the
farmer must recognize his rights and
be ready TO demand them in matters of
legislation. The advantage in respect
to members in the General Assembly,
is always with the farmer, and his
interests should be given the Just at
tention they deserve.
COMING LEGISLATIVE ELEC.
TIONS.
At specified times during the ses-
sion, it will be your duty to elect
| important State officers, including the
! judges of the Supreme Court. These
elections demand your most careful
attention.
/ Upon the result of your action in
these matters depends to a great de-
| gree our administrative success for
! the next two years.
| You will be called upon to elect a
| successor to the Hon Redfield Proctor
, as United States Senator fol the term
of six years from March 4, 1905, The
result of your action in this instance
ance it is an affair of national con-
sequence. So long as we are repre-.
sented in the Senate by such men as
Edmunds and Morrill,, Proctor anC
Dillingham;, we shall be heard from
in national affairs and Vermont will,
as in the past, continue to occupy 6
commanding position in matters Of
national legislation.
IN CONCLUSION.
Much intended legislation is sug
gested, and no doubt considerable il
desirable, regulating the careful ex
penditure of public funds, looking t
an improved system of auditing &C
counts, the better protection of fist
and game, reasonable caucus Law
and more effective restriction of tn,
liquor traffic.
You are elected to attend to thesC
matters in the best interests of thu
State. Let me suggest, IN closing
that you cannot conclude your worl
satisfactorily to yourself or the State
| unless you bring these matters up TO
consideration at the earliest possible
moment, and after necessary delibera
tion let your conclusions be promp
and honest and the result of most ma
ture Judgment.