Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-12-07


sibilIty OF devlsing constitutional In
come tax law which shall substantially
accomplish the results aimed at The
difficulty Of amending the constitution
Is 30 great that only real necessity can
Justify n resort thereto, Every effort
should be made In dealing with this
subject as with the subject OF the
proper control by the national govern
ment over the use OF corporate wealth
In Interstate business, 10 devise leg's'
latlon which without such action shall
attain the desired end but II this falls
there viii ultimately be no alternative
to a constitutional amendment.
Industrial Training.
Our industrial development depends
largely upon technical education. In
GLIDING In this term all Industrial edu'
cation, from that which fts man to
be good mechanic, good carpenter
or blacksmith to that which fits a man
to do the greatest engineering feat.
The skilled mechanic, the skilled work
man, can best become such by tech
meal Industrial education. The far
reaching usefulness of Institutes OF
technology and schools of mines or OF
engineering Is now universally &C
knowledged, and no less far reaching
Is the effect OF good building or me-
chNnical trades school. textile or
matchmaking or engraving school.
In every possible way we should help
the wageworker who tolls with his
hands and who must 1--WE hope In
constantly increasing measure) also
toll with his brain. Under the constitu'
ton the national legislature can do but
little of direct Importance for his wei.
fare save where he is engaged In work
which permits II TO act under the In
terstate commerce clause of the consu-
tuition, and this Is one reason why l
so earnestly hope that both the legis-
lative and judicial branches of the gov
eminent will construe this clause OF
the constitution in the broadcast posi-
BILE manner.
The Farmer.
/ Inc Only OlutI 'HN'N " -
fare is as vital to the welfare OF the
whole country as is the welfare OF the
wageworkers are the tillers of the soil,
the farmers.
Several factors must cooperate In
the Improvement Of the farmers con-
dition. He must have the chance to
he educated in the widest possible
sense. in the sense which keeps ever In
view the intimate relationship between
the theory OF education and the facts
of life.
Organization has become necessary
In the business world, and 1t has ac-
complished much for good In the world
of labor. II is no less necessary for
| farmers Such movement as the
grange movement is good in itself and
is capable of a well nigh Infinite fur
/ Their extension for good so long as IL IS
kept to It's own legitimate business.
| The benefits to be derived by the as
! sociation of farmers for mutual adj
vantage are partly economic and part
/ ly sociological.
Irrigation and Forest Preservation
Mich Is now being done for the
states of the Rocky mountains ana
great plains through the development
of the national policy Of Irrigation ana
| forest preservation. No government
policy for the betterment of our inter-
nal conditions has been more fruitful
of good than this.
Divorce Legislation.
II am well aware of how difficult 1t Is
to pass constitutional amendment
Nevertheless. in my judgment, the
whole question of marriage ana di-
yorce should be relegated to the au-
thority of the national congress. The
change would be good from every
standpoint In particular 1t would be
good because 1t would confer on the
congress the power at once to deal
radically and efficiently with polygamy,
and this should be done whether or
not marriage and divorce are dealt
with. 1t is neither safe nor proper TO
leave the question of polygamy to be
dealt with by the several states.
Merchant Marine.
Let me once again call the attention
of the congress to two subjects con-
corning which | have frequently be-
fore communicated with them. One Is
the question of developing American
shipping ! trust that law embody-
ing in substance the views or major
part of the views expressed In the re-
mort on this subject laid before the
house at its last session will be passed
It seems to me that the proposed meas
ure Is as nearly unobjectionable as any
can be.
The Currency.
I especially call your attention to the
second subject, the condition OF our
currency laws. The national bank act
has ably served a great purpose in aid
ing the enormous business develop
ment of the country, and within ten
years there has been an Increase In
circulation per capita from S2l.41 to
S33OS. For several years evidence has
been accommodating that additional leg
islation is needed The recurrence OF
each crop season emphasizes the de-
fects of the present laws. There must
soon he revision of them, because
to leave them as they are means to IN
cur liability of business disaster. Since
your body adjourned there has been a
fuctuation in the interest on call
money from per cent to 80 per cent,
and the fiuctuation was even greater