Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-10-11
GOV. PROCTOR'S ADDRESS.
Handles Important Matters at Length
and in Detail.

Governor Proctor begins his message to
the legislature and the people by showing
that Vermont has not been standing still,
but on the contrary has been making
gratifying progress in different directions
during the past five years. The amount
invested in manufacturing industries has
increased nearly one-half and our manu-
featured products, our wages and savings
bank deposits have also increased to a
marked degree. Our lawmakers are urged
TO so leglslate as to promote the increase
of our states progress and prosperity.
In addition to absolute honesty and rea-
sonatle economy in connection with our
| state institutions, Governor Proctor insists
that the strictest discipline should be
maintained aud that sanitary and other
conditions pertaining to the health of the
inmates should be of the best. He holds
| commercially that our penal and reforma-
| tory institutions should be such as to i'm
prove rather than further degrade their
| inmates.
With reference TO the reorganization nj
| our system of courts and judicial proceed :
| ings, Governor Proctor refers the legisla-
| tors to the report Of the Vermont Bar as
sociation with the remark that recommen-
dations coming from such a source are
worthy OF careful consideration. In con-
ne1tion with this subject, he also refers to
tne recommendations of Attorney General
Fits as measures'which enacted would re-
suit IN greater economy and the better ad
| ministration of justice. He also recon-
mends the diminution of the fee system az
/ far as possible. 80
Governor Proctor favors better methods
OF supervision for our public schools,
| holding that our educational system ia NOT
producing the best possible results in that
II does not afford all the children in our
state opportunity to secure good com
mon school education. He insists that
the larger towns and cities are interested
In the success of the schools in the smaller
! towns, lnasmuch as the trend of popula-
ton is constantly toward the larger cen.
Tres In order 10 ensure better superyis-
ION, ne would have the group system made
| permlssory in our state. Under this sys-
tenn, which is in operation in Massac6u.
sets and other New England states. twc
OF more towns may form a supervision
district, and the school directors of these
towns elect superintendent.
a recommendation is that the same con-
slaeration now extended to various classes
IN the exemption OF apparel and furniture
ana the necessaries of life be given to la
boring men so that wages or comnensa-
tlon Que the principal debtor for work and
labor performed by him in person shall he
exempt to the amount of ten dollars. and
ehat wages only IN excess OF that amount
should De liable to the trustee process.
Governor Proctor holds that II wop,d
De backward step for Vermont to repeal
the present caucus law, and he gives rem.
sons Tor this belief. In order to keen
/ voters from caucuses in which thew baye
no right be says there must be registroe
tion, and he believes that after the law has
peen modified in few minor particnIars
~ regards time OF declaration Of inten-
tions and some Others, it will prove to he
as satisfactory for the towns which need
70 use u as the Australian ballot system.
when was at first so bitterly criticised
CONNIE rhe accommodation is made that in
tonlunctlon with the present state andi.
tor the advisability of the ADOPTION of a
new system be investigated during the
pre- ent session of The legislature, that tbe
o ys'e ei prevailing in other states about
our SIZE De considered, that, if necessary
expert so;I accountants be employed to advisse,
ra aon respect TO uniform system of book
keeping and returns for the state, and