Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-17
WHAT OUR NElGHBORS SAY
A Letter from Mr.. Clement Regarding
state Issues md the sharp News.
paper Retort 1t Evoked.
(From the St. Johnsbury Republican,

(F'rom the st. Johnsbury Republican, |
We have received the following letter !
from the Hon Percival w. Clement Of |
Rutland in reply to a recent editorial criti-
cism:
Rutland. W. March I, 1904
Editor ST. Johnsbury Republican.
St Johnsbury. Vermont.
Dear Sir:--My attention has been called |
to recent editorial in your paper. in |
which you say why didn't he (Mr.
ClcmenO advocate these commendab!c |
things (good roads and reduction Of state
cxpcnses) when he was in "a position
to do something? In recent years he has
represented Rutland city in the house of
representatives and Rutland county IN
the senate. but r careful porusa Of the
journals of the proceedings Of these ses
sions fails to reveal n single wor1 or tho
record of "A single vote where Mr. Glenn
ent even limited at these things
had the honor to represent Rutland
county in the senate. session OF 1907 Early
during the session, introduced a resolu-
ton providing for joint special commit
toe to Investigate state systems OF ac-
counting. etc. That committee, of which
4 ! was chairman. reported a bill called
Senate Bill lj7, entitled An Act to Sys-
tematize State Finances and Reduce state
Expenses Tho bill was finally passed
by the senate and killed in the house
also introduced Senate Kill 10. known
as The General Corporation Law,
| planned somo what after the general cor
poration law of New Jersey. In advo-
! eating that bill on the floor of the seti-
/ ate. ! called attention to the enormous
amount, moro than million dollars,
/ which the State of New Jersey received
! annually from corporations chartered
under this law. and suggested that We
! should follow the example OF Now Jcr-
! sey and spend the money received under
/ the operation of Senate Bill ~ on The
/ building of permanent roads in this State.
Both of these bills and the action on
| them are fully reported In the journals
Of the proceedings of tho Legislature.
VIII you kindly give the same publicity
! to this correction which you gave to the
original statement in regard.to this mat
, ter.
Yours truly
PERCINAL W. CLEMENT.
We are glad TO give space to the above
1 communication as it affords us toXt for
comment We might otherwise have been
una bic to make.
1t is true as Mr. Clement says. that
! tie two bills he refers to We're intro
ducod in the senate in 1909 and that the
= ion on them is fully recorded in the
I official proceedings Of the session. The
history of the proposed Corporation Tax
Law" takes just an inch space in the
4
not reported favorably from committee
and was refused third reading
The other bill. to reduce State expenses
and look into the system of state ac-
counting. Jared but little better. 1t was
| introduced by Senator Dunnctt from n
special committee of which Mr.. Clement
was chairman. II was amended by Sena-
tor Cudworth. Senator DeBocr and Sena-
tor Stanton and finally passed by the
senate To be- refused third reading in
the house III" last night of the session.
So mitch for the history Of the bills
Now for the why of it. We did not mean
to infer in the comment above referred
to that Mr. Clement was to busy"
| whilc a member of the senate of 1900
We have seen a balky. kicking horse in
a team. that had threshed around and
refused to pull with his mates until he
had lost his usefulness. Mr.. Clement at
the time in question reminded US of the
balky horse. He WIS in a position to do
something and to bring about some of
the good things he has been talking about.
but he had been developing what for want
of a better term we shall cali political
seliishness." until he had lost the conf
dence of a majority of his associates and
consequently when bill like the one re-
terred to was introduced by him. it was
looked upon with suspicion and side
tracked as soon as possible. When he
wanted the State finances Systema lied
the most Of his associates were satisfied
. that the bill had string attached to it
, somewhere and that no scheme he might
suggest could improve the system then in
Use in the Office Of State Auditor Barber
or State Treasurer Bacon or any other
of our trusted State officials.
The bill was simply a move to make a
possible campaign text and the animus
r OF the whole business cropped out two
years later when Mr.. Clement went up
f. and down the state reading himself out