Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-10-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO

y
be authorized to thoroughly investi-
gate the subject of rendering calves
immune, with power to furnish and
use the virus until a thorough trial
has been made, at the expense of the
state.
Il also recommend that you clOthe
such commissioned with authority to
prescribe rules regulating the care OF
cattle where the state Finishes aid,
particularly in requiring the use OF
comfortable sheds, we'll ventilated
stable and pure water. If the state is
to assume some portion of the eX-
pense of keeping cattle free from dis
ease, it should have a certain super
vision in the care of these animals.
HIGHWAYS.
The subject of better highways is
fast becoming one of the most impOr-
tant factors in our state government
and the last four years have demon
strated to a certainty the wisdom Of
the states assuming control Of the
batterment of our roads. 1t was pre-
dicted by many when Act No. III of
the laws of 1906 was passed creating
state highway commissioner who
should in effect have almost complete
control of our highways, that the
towns would lose their interest in
their roads, but the contrary has been
the result The annual appropriation
of fifty thousand dollars by the state
for highway purposes IN 1906 was IN
creased to seventy-fve thousand dol
lars in 1908: and for the towns to
benft by this appropriation, these
must contribute like amount. This
fact has stimulated the town officials
to greater endaaVOrs than ever before.
"Our people are fast learning that
our public highways are the avenues
of travel and of commerce, and are
nearly equal in their Importance to our
railroads. They are, as it were, the
arteries of our social and commercial
system, reaching out into our country
and gathering the products of our
farms and mills, and transferring
them to our railway stations and to
commercial caDters.
1T is becoming more evident every
day that good highways are iudispens-
able to our commercial growth and
we'll being. Our people are fast learn
ing that it is the surplus from our
farms and mills which we sell that in
Creases our wealth; it is not that
which we consume; and thus the cost
of transportation and distribution Is
an important factor; and If it is toe
expensive, the products Of our farms
and mills are valueless.
"The discussion Of this subject
could be continued indefinitely.
THE effects of good roads upon our
educational life is self-evident anc
too apparent to require discussion
Easy and cheap transportation to anC
from our schools is Of greatest. impor-
tance and the same arguments pertain
to our churches and to all social life
The automobiles have come TO stay
and must be reckOued with in Oul
highway problems, and they are con
tributing largely to the construction
and maintenance of our roads.
Great SIS the benefits are of goOC
roads, can but feel that we are
adopting a safe and businesslike meth
cd in dealing with this subject.
cannot feel that our people are ye
ready to bond our state for trunk line
highways, so called. The improve
ments during the last four years arr
great and another two years will Ger
tainly show still greater progress
along this line, and if the appropria
tiOn could be quite considerably in
creased, and think it can be. with n,
fear of a state tax, the improvement
will be that much the more.
"The report Of our commissioner 0
highways has been published and
urge your careful consideration Of tn,
same. and especially Mr.. Gates rec
concentrations, the first Of which re
fers to a larger appropriation by thi!
Legislature; and in this l earnestly
concur.
TAXATION.
'The effort to devise a more salts
factory system of taxation than tina
now on the statute books has occupied
the time Of your last two legislature!
to greater extent than any Othel
subject, and still but little or no ad
vancement has been attained. The
commission appointed in 1906, after
two years of careful cOnsiderat ior
gave your assembly most complete
and instructive report, and this was
submitted to the LEGISLATURE of 1908
but no definite results were attained
and again we find the same plank ii
the republican state platform. demand
ing further consideration and actor
as to tax refOrm-more particularly tt
remedy evils of double taxation, 81
called, and, again, to ''impose the bul
den of support Of the government
equitably among all men," Surel!
every gentleman present has prom
lsed to use his best endeavors to &C
complish this purpose. YOU are al
agreed JnaC some or angeS should bt
made. but it is difficult to determin,
how far and in what manner the evi
can be remedied.
''It should be the policy of Vernon
to keep her taxation laws as nearl
as possible abreast Of the times: t
correct any feature therein that work
injustice or permits evasion of taxa
tion and to invest listers with rea
sonable powers and support as wi
enable them to obtain just and fai
results.
Too radical legislation would b
unwi5e. but earnest effort to brin
about some of the needed reforms i
methods and administration are de
manded by our people.
81 do therefore recommend that tn
same rate of taxation be impose
upon intangible personal property Xix
loans, bonds, credits and mortgages 0