Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-18
Trunk Line Highways.
(From tho Bennington Banner)

I'm some parts OF State there is con-
siderable bowling for trunk line high
ways In Vermont. Trunk line highways
are all rght-when they are paid for,
but to start now to build several hundred
miles Of that kind Of road would be folly
1t Is better to let good things
como slowly than to plunge heavily IN
debt for MISUNDERSTANDING Sitter.
The sitter mistakes the intent Of at
least some Of those who advocated and
urged the building Of trunk line roads
The plan proposed to the legislature last
fall did not involve the necessity OF run
Ing the State into debt. 1t is not neces-
sary, The trunk line highways can be
built without bonding the State and with
out a penny increase In any towns tax
rate II the legislature will lop of a few
extravagances and turn the money where
1t will do more good. In addition to this
the natural increase In the State income
should be used for trunk line highway
building.
It may not be generally known but
there is a natural and healthy increase in
the States revenue. Consecutive legisla.
lures. VIGOROUSLY the last, though IN
little greater degree than its predecessors
have thrown this money away or voted
1t where It did less good than it ght
had II been used for road building Thtt
increase of State income will undoubt.
eddy continue in the future as our saw.
ings bank deposits grow and our other
business interests develop The corpora.
ton taxes from which the State derived
its income are very moderate now and
might be increased slightly in one or tive
Instances with absolute Justice At any
rate there should be no dminut,on OF
these corporation taxes and II Is therefore
evident that the state treasurer will ham
die moro money in the future than he haa
in the past.
Don't fear but that this money Will b
spent. Vermont. and no other State sc
far as We are aware. ever had legis-
lature that couldn't md way TO spend
money. 1t Is only choice OF directions
II the State Of Vermont wants Its avail
able money spent for road building IL
must send men to the legislature pledged
| to that idea.
When the next legislature meets there
will be plenty OF schemes put forward
for spending the available State money.
The legislature vii! be asked for tha
money for trunk line highways, for cen-
trail normal school, to boost up the pres
ent normal schools, 10 add to the perIna-
nent school fund. to build an addition ia
tho State House. for increased salaries
and new departments, for the suppression
of tuberculosis and other contagious dis
eases and for numerous other purposes
that cannot now bs fcretold.
| Many OF tho things proposed VIII oe
| worthy and deserving OF aid but ths
State Is precisely like an Individual ana
cannot get all II wants In day or
year II should take on advantages only
as 1t can pay for the. The Banner does
not believe In piunging the State heavily
into debt to build trunk limo highways
but It does believe that improved high
ways will DO more for the progress and up
building Of the State than any other one
thing and that a reasonable scheme for
system OF trunk line highways 70 hs
built at the rate OF 81 to IS miles year
should be the next important step in the
development OF Vermont and should coma
before tho other things that will be pro-
posed.
We believe that the natural increase
Of the States income during tho next
few years will do half OF this and Prob
ably more and that the other half and
some more can be saved by looping of
$4,000 TO S2o0oO a year in court extrava-
gance; 5000 to $1,000 a year In doing
away with fee evils: and $4,000 to 500
900 every two years by introducing decent
business rules and procedure for tho con-
duct OF legislative sessions
Isn't the plan worth trying? Won't the
voters OF tho State OF Vermont send
some men to Montpelier next fall pledged
to a definite plan. rather than to elect Q
lot Of good fellows, whose Intentions will
be Of tho best but who are not committed
to anything and will 60 to the Stat,
House and let the same old gang allow
tho State to drift along In the same old
rut In the same old wayf
ONE OF OUR URGENT NEEDS.
(From the Montpelier Journal)
Ono Of the most urgent needs Of the
north central portion Of this State 10 thu