Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-06-28
The Republican Platform and Ticket
CONTINUED from Sd page.)

sstration. In one institution a great
and inexcusable lack Of discipline was
revealed. Every one directly or in
directly responsible for that shouit be
promptly punished to the full extent
Of the law. l am sure that all true
Wermonters are of one accord regard
ing this. If extavagance or poor man.
agement exists anywhere II should be
corrected at once and believe II IS the
duty Of the governor at all times 20
assume fun authority within the limits
OF the law for the correction OF such
abuses in executive and administrative
channels. If elected governor, s. far
az lies within my power, the business
interests Of the state shall be conduct
Cd upon up-to-date business Irin-
cipIes. Her institutions. for example
should buy their supplies as cheat or
cheaper than any individual or corEor-
alton. and / should endeavor to see
that they did
Vermont Must Be Progressive.
AOur expenses, TO be sure, have in
creased: but that is because the num-
Ter, extent. and scope Of the activities
OF the state for her people have in
creased. II we expect to hold our own
with other states, keep our people at
nome, and draw strangers TO our bor-
sfers, we must keep well abreast Of the
progress of the age We cannot mark
time; that means falling behind, for
others are surely advancing. Instead
of making less progress we should
make more in the future; but let II be
zIong the line Of a practical and con-
aervative expansion rather than any
radical innovation or parsimonious re-
trenchment.
The Good Roads Question.
Much has been said about the poor
condition OF our highways In some
sections many OF them are rot
good and some are very bad They
can and should be better We are all
agreed regarding that But in our ef-
fort to improve them we ought not to
Zoe led into higher taxation or a state.
debt am strongly opposed TO tssu-
sng a state bond for the purpose Of.
building state highways. The condi-
fhln OF our highways at the present
tlme IS not bad enough nor the prac-
ftaai advantages to be derived fIom
ssrpensive highways great enough to
warrant loading upon the state debt
ysnr is II good business 70 mortgage
81 advance what someone simply
Claims can be saved in the admins
tration Of our state institutions. Each
proposition should stand by itself
We should not deceive ourselves by
undertaking any policy with respect
80 state roads which is not otherwise
warranted and which IN itself indie
pendent Of any question OF saving In
5ur state institutions. we would not
lle willing to undertake.
County Road Supervision Needed.
We are a rural community. our
innate. grades. soil, and other natural
conditions are such that we have much
80 contend with and taxation must not
se made excessively burdensome We
have started right and during the past
ten years there has been progress in
some communities very marked. The
ryreaent state highway tax by which the
large towns I'm effect contribute some
part Of their direct highway money 70
the smaller towns is right in principle
nut the method Of expanding IL should
~ must be decidedly improved. II
should continue TO be expended by
each town but its expenditure should
be under much more complete and
aigid supervision and In accordance
1E5fh q more strictly enforced uniform
plan for permanent construction upon
roads in the different towns which
sorIn parts OF selected through high
asays state roads should be gradually
created out q me state highway mon
~. Every dollar OF il should be To-
Gated and expended under state super
vision, but IL is impossible for one man
20 properly supervise the expenditure
~ over one hundred thousand dollars
distributed annually in small amounts
throughout every town in the state
TyBc state commissioner should give
hiss entire time TO outlining the work
aud to its general supervision, and
ghere should be supervisors under him
S0r each county TO designate where
M state fund should be expended in
csssh town and closely supervise its ex-
Denditure.
''Ae the method OF expending the
state highway fund is improved the
sfaie might well add TO that fund in
80 Ear as that can be prudently done
without the creation Of a state debt or
the ievying Of a direct state tax. The
East two biennial terms we have been
without a direct tax for the support Of
b state government and we can and
si>ouid continue this policy. We should
80 adjust our expenditures and reve-
uues and in every department OF the
ataie government practice such econ
omy that this will become a fixed
policy Of the state l think some part
~ the highway fund, and especially II
ne state contributes to Il, should be
distributed for permanent work in
Gowns which viii pay towards such
work certain percentage OF its cost
That system Is used in Connecticut
and some other states and its prirci-
pie modified 10 suit our case would
tend 10 Increase the construction OF
permanent roads.