The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1906-10-12
GOV. PrOCtOr'S Message.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives

The privilege and the duty of
legislation is yours, but in accord
ance with the constitutional provision
and in conformity to the usual custom
/ submit to your judgment some consid-
erations which appear to me of i'm
portance in connection with your work
the present session.
Vermont is making excellent prog
ress in both agriculture and manufac-
turing, and our state is rapidly becom-
ing known as a beautiful and desirable
place for temporary sojourn or per-
manent residence and home making.
The report of the United States Cen
sus Bureau shows that in the five
years from 1900 to 1905 the capital
invested in manufacturing enterprises
in the state increased from $40, 49,
$40 to $G2 ,65S,741 or Ala per cent I;
the annual value of our manufactured
products increased from $51,515,22S
to $63,O3S,611 or 22.5 per cent; our an
nual wages to industrial employees in
creased from $11, 425,54S to $15,221 ,O59
or 1872 per cent and the annual
product of our creameries and cheese
factories increased from $5,5OO,545 to
$6,416,434 or 1877 per cent. During
the same five years our savings banks
deposits increased from $3S,290,394 to
49,371 ,907 or $50 per cent.
II ;S acnooiolIv inonortant that Won
should recognize this progress and so
legislate as to further advance it and
establish it upon a permanent basis.
To be sure we cannot create prosperity
simply by legislation; true prosperity
must come from a deeper source. 1t
must come through the efforts of the
people,-through taking advantage of
natural conditions and opportunities.
We shall prosper agriculturally only so
far as the farmer employs the oppor-
tunities and natural conditions at his
command. Manufacturing will devel-
op in Vermont only so far as brain, cap
ital and energy utilize the splendid
opportunities in our hills and water
powers and our reasonable proximity
to markets. But your duty to the
state and her people is none the less
important, for it rests with you to so
legislate as to foster and not to dis
courage industry, to promote and not
to retard prosperity, and to give to all
our people the enjoyment of as many
common public blessings as is con-
Sistent with the economical administra-
ton of their public affairs.
During the past biennial term we
have had an able, thorough and i'm
partial investigation of our state in
situations. The honesty and economy
with which these institutions have been
conducted is gratifying. We should at
all times insist upon absolute honesty
and every reasonable economy in the
administration of all the institutions of
the state. Our duty and responsibility,
however, does not cease here. The
strictest discipline should at all times
be maintained. Sanitary and other
conditions pertaining to the health of
the inmates should be of the best
Modern civilization demands that the
broadcast and most scientific treatment
should be given our unfortunate insane;
and that our penal and reformatory
institutions should be such as to i'm
prove if possible rather than further
degrade their inmates. With this end
in view 1 recommend to your favorable
consideration the reports of the In
vestigation Commission and such parts
of the report of the Attorney General
and the message of my predecessor as
relate to these institutions
COURTS.
Some reorganization of our system
of courts and judicial proceedings is
necessary. The Vermont Bar Associa-
ton has given this matter much atten-
ton and is drafting a bill to be sub
mitted to you providing for a general
Reorganization of the present system.
Recommendations coming from such a
source are worthy of your careful con-
sideration. The recommendations OF.
the Attorney General contained in his
report to you, covering the arrest,
trial and commitment of persons
charged with misdeamors in our lower
courts should also have your careful
and favorable attention. His recon-
mendations if enacted would result in
greater economy and the better admin
istration of justice.
FEE SYSTEM.
In this connection 1 remind you of
the desirability of eliminating the fee
system as much as possible, especially
in the administration of the penal
laws in our minor courts. 1t cannot |
be abolished entirely without making
an unnecessary and disproportionate
expense for salaries. But we should |
remember that in principle the payment |
of public officials by fees any further |
than the conditions absolutely require |
is undesirable.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
An important matter to receive your |
attention is that of the public schools.
While we have made progress during
the past fifteen years in educational
matters, this progress has not been so
great as in many of our sister states
nor what it should have been in Yer
mont Sixty years ago in freedom |
state in the Union today she is the