Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-01
DEFICIT NoBODY's FAULT.

We do not see that anybody is spe.
cially at fault for the present condition.
Tho precise effect OF the new comrnit-
aent laws could not be forcseen--ln fact,
II was with a view to economy that the
change was made The fault Will be-
Temedied at the first opportunity. We
may expect q similar shortage In this
snfnc de- "tment during the next fiscal
year. FROM the same cause, but II there
should be a surplus In tho other depart
ment sufficient to cover 1t the net condi-
ton would DO satisfactory. II has seem-
ed 70 $50 that Some doubt might fairly
arise on this point, but wa hops TO be
shown In eiror.-Randolph Herald.
There Is always. Of course this very
comfortable and old-fashioned method Of
blaming everything on Providence, from
case of tho herpes 10 n national deficit,
but plain business folks with taxes to
pay, are rather more that apt to demand
tho exact why's and wheretores OF such
a serious thing as q shortage in an I'M
portant State department.
The Herald has already referred to tho
act passed by tho present Legislature,
which provides for combining all prison
ers. whose terms are under one year in
county jails. It appears. however, that
II goes considerably back of 1903 and had
It's beginnings in act No 300 Of the publo
acts OF 1905, section eight OF which pro-
vides
| Section g. Imprisonments for breach
OF the peace for period not exceeding
three months, and all imprisonments for
! being found intoxicated or for being a
tramp shall be In the county Jail Of the
| county within which the offence is COM
mitted.
This section. IN the cases OF ST. rmon,
76 Vermont, and Bowers. so Vermont,
was held by the supreme court to mean
| that such cases must be confined In tho
county jails. and the hard times coming
| upon the heels Of the decision crowded
the county Jals to the utmost. This. ac-
cording TO Auditor Graham's statement,
recently published. was among the prime
causes OF the congestion. the act OF 1903,
making all sentences under one year
punishable In the jails, hardly having
chance to get In Its work.
I The impression has also gone abroad
that the governor general and the auditor
have Sat quiescent vvhile this appalling
bill Of costs was piled up. but simple
| Justice demands the statement that such
| Is not the case.
| The Governor has made frequent trans
fers from the crowded county iails to 'he
House Of Correction but the most i'm
portant individual act was the ruling Of
the attorney-Reneral, on application Of
the auditor. that. In these short term
cases. punishable IN county jals tho
towns must pay the costs of prosecution.
The opinion. which was issued about
the first Of March. came upon the town
La l.
onsy to keep up prosecutions and ndix-
nantly pursue the casual tramp and
drunkard when the State pays the costs.
Wien the town paws It. when It comes
directly from the taxpayers Of the off,
GERS own grand list. it makes a good
deal Of difference. The immediate effect
has been that prosecutions have fallen
off one-half and even two-thirds in the
various town.. so that, as soon the
heavy expense Of the terms OF court.
previous TO March has been disposed Of.
there will he very lit''a more overcrowd-
ing Of tho county tai!s.
This brings up the possibility OF de-
hclt in the same department next year
and gives color to the belief OF the audi
tor and tho encouragement shat there
, will be plenty of money another ear
especially as the appropriation s $3.50 On
instead of $4,000.
, Right here, It is also proper TO state
that Auditor Graham asked for an ap'
preparation OF 1855. 900 for the present hs
cal year. instead of $4,000, which was
finally made. and that his request was
overruled by the committee on appro-
priations. after conference with variou:
State officials, including the Governor
So. as the matter stands. II the audi
tors estimates had been accepted. thsrt
would probably have been no shortage
as he hopes TO keep the figures OF thu
Mead loan down to SIS 900. and, between
the auditor and the attorney general. II
IS probably "hxed" 30 that there will be
= no deficit next year IN the department
- OF Justice,
This !s mo lIernlds beet Information
in the matter and Is published merely
for Its important news value at this
!. time.
= II has no effect on the general pronosi
ton; why not retrench?