The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-10-13
GOV. McoULLoUGH's MESSAGE.


today, is on the whole good one,
as messages go. He makes a plain
and concise statement of the business
of the State during his term of office,
relative to things to be done in the
future The main fault to be found
with it is that it is too much re-
minder that many of these things
which he recommends doing might
and should have been done during his
term of office. The message is not
so much q record of achievements as
the State had right to think it
Office of Governor two years ago.
Governor Mccullough has been a COM
petent and faithful public official.
He has done we'll the routine business
which surrounds the office of Chief
Executive He may have erred in
some cases, but, if he has, he has
done so honestly. He has even in
some matters taken the initiative in
securing the performance of work
somewhat outside of the regular lines.
For example, his part in securing the
government investigation of the con-
dition of the waters of Lake Cham
plain with reference to their alleged
pollution by reason of refuse and
sewage dumped into the rivers flowing
into it.
But Governor McOullough's admin
istration, as shown by his message,
has not been one Of great accomplish
ment. There were certain matters
that it had been hoped he would in
terest himself in that he failed TO
take up at all. One of the chief Of
these is forest preservation AMI cult
walton. The Journal has long ad-
vocated action looking toward the
proper conservation of the timber
supply of the State and the taking Of
steps which would assure "A supply in
the future. 1t had reason to believe
that Governor Mccullough during his
term of office would make some real
active effort along the lines of for
estry. He has not done so, but, in.
stead, has incorporated in his fare
we'll message some suggestions relative
to legislation on the subject What
he proposes may be we'll enough in a
way but it is nothing more than what
could have been thought up in half
an hour. Nothing has been done.
The lack of accomplishment is to be
regretted.
Several recommendations incor-
porated in the message should be
needed by the Legislature. When
he says that the law providing boun-
ties for the killing of noxious animals
should be repealed, he is right. The
$40, S21. so paid as bounties during the
biennial term might well be saved
without any loss being felt by the
farmers. 1t is good chance to cut
the expenses of the State. His rec
concentrations with regard to an at
torney- general may we'll be followed.
An efficient primary election law
should be- adopted, as he says, but he
gives not the slightest hint as to the
proper construction of such a law
What he says about forestry and the
conservation and development of the
water supply of the State is we'll
worth attention. Even though the
particular plan that he suggests may
not seem the best to secure the desired
ends, yet the basic principles-the
real reasons for some decisive action
are plain to be seen. The Legisla.
ture, in its wisdom, should examine
carefully into both subjects and make
a start along the lines suggested or in
some other way.
Under the title of Good Roads
Governor Mccullough discourses much
as might have been expected of man
whose chief acquaintance with Yer.
mont roads is through the windows
of private car. He apparently be
gins with the assumption that the
roads of the State are so bad as to be
almost useless, and leaves almost
without mention the work that has
already been done throughout the
State in the building of permanen
and improved highways. He pro
poses two or three trunk lines to rui
north and south and six or seven eros
lines running east and west. 1t is Il
be supposed that he thinks that tn
people can get out to these trunl
lines from their homes by the car
trails and bride paths by which the
now travel. He is away off. H
writes almost as if no scheme for roa'
improvement had been even considere
by Vermont. Apparently the Governo
is ignorant of existing laws and exist
ing conditions, One suggestion h
makes in this connection, however, i
wise one. He says: By improve
highways l do not necessarily mea
Macadam roads, for it is extremel