Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-10-05
GOV. PRocroR's INAUGURAL.

Gov. Proctor's message opens with a
reference to the growth in manufacturing
enterprises and in dairy products which
the state of Vermont mas made in recent
years He gives these figures:
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 $42,499,640 to $62,65S, 741
or 47.4 per cent; the annual value of our
manufactured products increased from
$51, SIS, 22S TO 500. GIL or 22.5 per cent. I;
our annual wages to Industrial employees
increased from $11, 426.54S to SIS. 221, 059
or 1872 per cent and the annual product
of our creameries and cheese factories in
creased from $5,500,545 to Sc, ,434 or
1861 per cent. During the same five years
our savings bank deposits increased from
sSs. 290, 1874 to $49,S71. 9O7 or 1873 per cent
ut is the duty of our legislators, to the
state and her people," Gov. Proctor says,
ito so legislate as TO foster and not to
discourage industry to promote and not
TO retard prosperity. and to give to all
common public blessings as Is consistent
with the economical administration OF
their public. affairs"
Reference is made to the thorough in
vestigation of our state institutions which
has been made during the past two years
and to our duty to see to It that all these
institutions are administered, not only
with absolute honesty and every reason
able economy, but upon the broad, hui
name and reformatory basis which mod
ern civilization requires. Reference is
made to the bill being drafted by the
Vermont Bar association for the reorgan-
ization of our system of courts. The
recommendation is made that the fee
system be eliminated from our admins
tration of affairs to the greatest meas
ure possible
Our Public Schools.
In the section OF his address devoted to
our public schools Gov Proctor says:
while we have made progress during
the past 10 years in educational matters,
this progress has not been SO great as in
many Of our sister states. nor what 1t
should have been in Vermont. Sixty
years ago in freedom from illiteracy YER
mont was the second state in the Union;
today she is the 9th. While this Is to
some extent due to the increased number
of foreign born children within the state,
yet whatever the cause 1t is an unpleas-
ant fact to which / urge that you give
prompt, earnest and best attention"
Gov. Proctor believes that the most
pressing need for the improvement OF
our state school system is that of more
competent supervision, and he is salts
fed that the group or district system Of
supervision, such as is in use in Massa-
chusetts and some other New England
staues, would be the most satisfactory
for Vermont 1t need not cost much more
than the present system of town super
intendency, which amounts to nearly $780,
900 year.
"To establish and give this system
trial in Vermont ] recommend the pas
sage of law making such a system per-
missory in the state, and providing that
in case towns unite by vote OF their
school directors for the purpose OF pro-
fessional supervision of a required STAN
dard and employ a competent superin-
tendent, a portion Of the expense should
be paid from the general treasury OF the
state. AS the state is and should be
partner in educational work and as many
towns might hesitate to adopt the method
recommended If they had to carry the
entire expense, II is only right and just
that the state assume part OF 1t.
To put men whose only capital is their
labor on an equality with others in the
matter OF exemption from trustee pro-
cess the message recommends that the
present law be so amended that a mans
wages to the amount OF $40 be made ex-
empt from trustee process.
with regard to the caucus law enacted
by the last legislature Gov Proctor rec
ognizes that there is a strong demand
for some legislation in this direction and
he Is decisive In his recommendation that
the principle OF the law be retained, and
that its operation be continued with such
notifications as are necessary to simpli-
fy Il and make more acceptable Its reg
istration provisions In the stringency
of it's requirements our law falls far
short Of the caucus laws enacted by
many other states and to repeal this law
or TO remove its effective provisions he