Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-11

Of the several incumbents Of that Office
but is due to the fact that both sides
of the work ~ all its detail is more than
one man with the assistance now pro-
Vided by law can possibly do.
The auditing work proper as distn-
guished from it's legal aspect is import
ant not only as a check upon wrong
doing and the prevention of mistakes.
but in the interest of an intelligent I'M
Outstanding of the affairs of the State
by all our people. There should be a well
considered. simple and uniform plan of
keepit,g all of the accounts of the State
and such work should be so kept up that
at all times exact and concise Informal
ton will always be available with re-
spect TO the public business. 1t is de-
sirable that the people of the state
should be accustomed to the considera-
ton of these exact figures The business
of the State does not require that we
should have both a comptroller and an
auditor, but both lines of work can prom
erly be done under one Official If such
official be a lawyer as has been the Gus
tom, he Is able to pass upon the legal
questions involved; but he should have
a deputy at sufficient salary to secure
the services of a skilled accountant who,
under the general direction of the auditor
could give his attention to the purely
auditing side. He should also have such
clerical assistance as is necessary to keep
the whole of such clerical work in first
class shape.
| recommend that in conjunction, with
the efficient present State auditor this
matter be given a thorough investiga-
ton during the present session. that the
system prevailing in other States about
Our size be considered, that. if necessary
expert ACCOUNTANTS be employed to ad-
wise with respect to a uniform system of
bookkeeping and returns for the State
and that the whole clerical side of the
auditors office be put upon the best up
to-date business principles. Some uniform
system of municipal accounting should
also be worked out in the same connec-
ton. l would go no farther nor make
any greater expense than any private
business concern would incur doing as
large business as the State OF Yer
mont, scattered over so much territory
and transacted through so many lndivld-
uals ard institutions; but / do not be-
leve that the State can afford to do less.
The money which business corporations
spend for this purpose is not spent for
|
of saving The small increase in expense
to the State would be more than saved
by the results.
The recommendations of the State au-
dtor to my predecessor regarding the de-
tails of his department and the admin
istration of justice deserve your care
full attention.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
There Is always a tendency on the part
of many people to seek special legsla-
ton to enable them to do some special
thing or to protect them from some real
or fancled wrong when In reality such
relief, if r,eeded, could he obtained under
the general law. This kind Of legisla-
ton is wrong in principle and always
dangerous. 1t unnecessarily takes the
time of the Legislature, encumbers our
statutes, and is more likely to do real
injustice than to be of any actual benefit.
You should, therefore, scrutinize most
carefully all special legislation. In al
most every case relief, II really needed,
can be obtained under the general law.
There is also n tendency to seek legis-
latlon general in Its character but spe-
cial in purpose to At some particular
case which has arisen or is anticlpa ted.
1t may cover the particular case in mind,
which may be entirely worthy and meri-
torious. it is often wholly unsuitable for
general application.
All new legislation should be given
very careful consideration, and when a
law has been passed. unless there Is
marked reason for its repeal, 1t should
be given a reasonable and thorough trial
The Objectionable points are at once APP
parent and repeal Is sought before II
has had sufficient opportunity to bring
out It's real merits. You should, there
fore, be conservative with reference II
repeating legislation until 1t has been
thoroughly tried.
SPECIAL CORPORATION LEGIsLA-
TON.
Corporations are the largest subject OF