The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-11
MR. RArcHELpER,s REPLY
Tells How Many Can Be Had for
Highways

an editorial from the Springfield Re
porter attacking Mr.. Batchelder's po-
sition in favor Of a state system of
main highways. Mr. Batchelder
wrote the Reporter letter of which
the following is a copy
Editor Springfield Reporter:-Dear
Sir.-Your editorial of May goth en-
titled "Wlll Mr. Batchelder Explain"
seems fairly to call for an answer
from me as to how the state may
build, without direct taxation or bond
ed Indebtedness any considerable
number of miles of trunk line high
ways
In answering that question 1 refer
to some Of the data to be found in the
| last Biennial Report Of our state Off
GERS and some obtained from other
sources
| do not agree with your suggestion
that it will cost $4,000 per mile for
such highway but from the estimates
of others on whom rely would say
from $4,000 to $4,000 1t is true that
|
| these lines should come from proper
J application of the present sources of
revenue and proper economy in state
administration, and not by increased
taxation or bonded Indebtedness.
The states income as shown by the
treasurer's report for the year ending
June Both 1908 was $l,l95,O0O and the
expenses for the same year were ST.
073,000, leaving a balance to the good
of $4,000.
There is no good reason why the
expenses should average more for
years to come than in 1908, as they
were larger in that year than in any
previous year except one.
1t Is evident then that il the income
: of the state increases or the expens-
y. es be lessened there will be a sur
plus that may be used for trunk high
ways.
| Now sS33,O0O of the States income
for the year ending June S0th 1908,
was derived from corporation taxes,
namely from railroads, banks, trust,
companies, insurance and guarantee
companies telegraph, telephone,
transportation and express compa-
MES.
| The revenue from those same
sources for the year ending June
Both, 1909, amounts to $SSl,000 an in
crease Of $4,000. 1t is fair to as
sumo that in the years to come there
| will continue TO be some further In
crease from these sources.
The last legislature appropriated
| for permanent roads $4,000 annually
| Let that part Of this appropriation
which goes to those towns through
which the trunk lines would pass, to
gether with the amount which those
towns would contribute under the
laws OF 1908, In consideration of the
/ local benefit, be applied in those re
spectiye towns on the trunk line
| This would yield, say, $4,000 pei
year.
let the tax on automobiles whicl
will amount in (191O the 2nd yea
under the law to $4,000 or abou
ii that and is likely To- be larger .eacl
y year. be applied for the present a
least TO the construction Of thes
= lines.
= Now as to the reduction Of the e,
II penses:-
II Let the General Assembly at ono
II reduce the pay OF the members an
OF the Governor to what Il was b,
fore the session Of 1908 and that wi
reduce the expenses Of those year
when the legislature IS in sessio
more than $4,000.
Let the General Assembly when
next convenes re.draft It's rules, or Q
least those OF the House, which hay
stood practically unchanged for s
many years, and expedite the bus
ness OF the session by changing tn
II practise OF putting so many OF III
members OF experience and know
II ability upon few of the committee
and then referring all the importar
measures TO those committees. an
II leaving little for the others to do. y
II putting upon those other committee
some Of the experienced member
and referring part OF the importal
measures to them and so divide u
the labor which under the presei
system a few over-worked commit
tees perform. a larger number and
far larger number OF the member
will thus participate in the commit
tee work and It will be more exped
tiously done This will bring TO n
front many men OF ability who wou
do good work II they had the oppo
tunity but under the present syste
never become known.
Everyone who has been in the lie
islature has wondered why It W,
that for days and days until long INT
the session, while a few men wei
hard at work IN their commltts
rooms, the larger part OF the mer
bers were idle, doing comparative
nothing. because no work had bee
given their committees.
. This should be changed aud n
l work thereby will be expedited an
the session shortened. and at lea
$4,000 saved which may we'll be a
piled to trunk line roads.
With the amounts obtained In Il
ways above indicated there could I
from 30 to 40 miles per annum. a,
more, of trunk line highways bull
II the state would start on that pole
II would make good progress In 4
trunk lines without a dollar additio
al taxation. and would still leave I,
I | "a.