Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-15

Jay. OCTOBER 10. 19O
our highways by automobiles. Their
removal is In some cases helpful to dry
sections OF -oad that would otherwise
be excessively wet. while. on the 9TH
er hand. some sandy and naturally
dry roads are helped by a reasonable
amount of shade. Oftentimes proper
trimming would accomplish all that
is necessary either from tho stand
point OF safety or for the improve
ment Of the road. The law has been
so administered In some sections OF
the state as to work genuine harm to
our highways and materially mar their
beauty. II should either be repealed
or very carefully safeguarded.
| In general, the highways Of the
State will improve as the towns realize
their opportunity and their RESPONSE
bility. Under our system Of govern
ment we cannot rs n rule improve in
these matters faster than the people
see the need and in"ist upon the i'm
| provement. The work must to quite
| an extent he educational. This all
| important problem, however. Of the
construction and maintenance OF perma-
nent highways some of the towns are
not meeting as they should They do
not realize sufficiently that II has 10
quite an extent become a state ques-
| ticn, that tho state Is making very
liberal compliance with all the pro-
| propriations. and that she must tn
sist upon rigid compliance with all
the provisionas conditional upon the
towns receiving any share of the
states appropriation. Through the
| untiring efforts of the state highway
| commissioner tho standard has been
raised. and urge upon you the i'm
| portance Of giving him all authority
| necessary TO further raise the stand
ard and make that higher standard
universal.
STATE HATCHERY AT ROXBURY.
The state hatchery at Roxhury has
not during the past few years been
| entirely successful. a large number
of brook trout fry have died, thus re-
ductng the output OF the hatchery and
making the showing much less favor
able. Mr. Thomas. the nsh and game
commissioner, has used every effort TO
discover the cause of the trouble, Sc
curing from tho bureau of fisheries at
| Washington expert examination and
| opinion; but no satisfactory reason
| for the loss has AS yet been found. If
| the state hatchery is to be continued,
the unfavorable conditions must be
discovered and remedied, and n su.h-
cient appropriation should be made
for its necessary repair and improve
lncnt. ] think. however, it would he
! better to discontinue II. Tho national
! government through its highly equip
ped bureau Of fisheries is successfully
| carrying on the work of fish propa-
! cation throughout the country, and is
| conducting some OF It's work in this
state. II has skilled employees. equip
! ment and experience necessary to aC-
Complish the best results We have
not been. and I do not think can be.
equally successful \ thorough en-
forcement of our laws for the protec-
ton OF trout In our streams and such
| Restocking as can be done with fry
furnished by the national government
! without expense 70 the State ought to
sufficiently replenish our streams.
TUBERCULOSIS COMMISSION.
The principal duty Of the tubercu-
losis commission. created by Act No.
142 or the laws OF 1904. and continued
by Act No. 1857 Of the laws Of 1906. has
been TO conduct campaign of educa-
| ton throughout the state regarding
the best methods Of preventing and
| curing tuberculosis. This commission
| has done excellent work. has hold
public meetings. and through them
and otherwise has aroused consider
able interest. It is expected that the
| Vermont Sanatorrrm at Pittsford be-
sides It's service TO individual patients.
will accomplish muck along educa-
tional Ines; lut there Is need for fur
Their work such as has heen done by
| the tuberculosis commission. II is
very difficult to secure competent men
who can give the time necessary to
make the work effective. ana in my
! opinion tho time has como when this
work can be more satisfactorily done
| by the state board Of health. and in
| connection with public meetings held
throughout the state for other pur-
poses. such as agricultural and educa-
| tional meetings. The preparation and
distribution OF literature can also be
done under its direction. | recommend
therefore. that the tuberculosis COM
mission be discontinued and that its
duties be committed to the State board
Of health.
COMMISSION ON SYSTEM OF STATE
! AUDIT.
Act No 20 of the laws Of 1906 provided
for the appointment by the Governor Of
| two persons, who. with the auditor Of ac-
counts. were constituted commission
| to examine into and install system Of
| bookkeeping and accounting In the office
Of the auditor OF accounts. The State
was most fortunate In securing the serv-
| ices OF JOSEPH A. DeRoer Of Montpelier,
| and DIN Merrill Of Enosburgh Falls. TO
! perform this service with the auditor.
This commission made very careful
| examination OF the conditions in the audi
| tors Office, considered the best systems
| In vogue In other States and institutions.
and gave much thought to practical con-
ditions and requirements as they exist in
Vermont. Their report "a In every re
spect very complete. and should be care
| fully read by every member OF the Lcgs-
| lature. Their recommendations in every
Instance. as far as our statutes permit
have been put in force ana are now m
| full working order In the auditors office.
a few changes in our statutes. as rec
commended by the report. are necessary
10 make the system complete and in full
accord with the recommendations of tho
commission. and they should be enacted.