Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-09

tWtcl lilfHl, as TtBdIuS InlS particular
plank in Mr.. Batchelder's platform, might
be suspected. Here is what MIR. Batchel-
der says concerning his attitude toward
trunk limo highways:
81 am in favor of the state building and
owning the main trunk line highways.
thus relieving tho towns of a share of
their burdens and providing a system of
roads that will keep Vermont abreast of
her sister States such system should
be extensive enough to benefit all sections
OF the state ana not be confined to
fraction of the towns. believe that
such q. system of roads, If their construc-
ton is extended over a reasonable mum
b"r OF years, can be built by a wise use
OF the present revenues Of the State but
would not approve the assessing OF
direct tax or the bonding of the State to
accomplish such result"
Candidates who announced them
selves previous TO Mr.. Batchelder, without
exception approved the continuance Of
l'Ehway Improvement on lines that are
answering present demands consistent
with the financial means available. AZ
4 champion Of main trunk lines OF high
ways that shall virtually network the
state, Mr.. Batcheder supports radi-
cal departure to such an extent that he
should go further than n statement only
generally applicable. 1t is unnecessary to
take space here to convince anybody that
the building Of any such system of trunk
highways as Mr. Batchelder's language
as above quoted contempates. means the
ultimate expenditure of an enormous
sum of money. lie declares that he OPP
poses any direct taxation or bonding OF
the state for this purpose and 1t seems to
us that his next proper duty. If ne wishes
to be considered AS a bona tide candidate,
is to snow specifically in just what way
| any considerable sums of money may he
| round for the trunk line highway pur-
poses upon which he 50 earnestly declares
himself.
The state is spending annually now
better than 100000 to carry on the
states business. The revenues behind
/ this enormous expenditure come mostly
| from corporation taxes, The cxpendi-
| cures run 50 nearly the amount Of income
that probably In the biennial period end
Ing June % next the unoxpended surplus
will not very much exceed $4,000. This
! surplus, whatever it may be, by no means
will represent an unexpeuded balance with
all debts paid. If 1t Is large enough to
meet claims upon the state, which for
one reason or another VIII not be paid at
that date. It wifi be we'll and if the State
10 able to break even. reasonable expec-
! tation will be satisfied. safe It Is TO as
sumo that from an annual revenue of
over 100000 now, under present meth
DDS in its expenditure. no amount large
enough to be used for trunk line highway
! building can be saved.
| II MT Batchclder has some ideas, II
Mr.. Batchclder has some facts, and We
refer 10 him, not to Mr.. Howe of the
| Hammer, from which he can show how
under retrenchment the state may build
trunk line highways he has Il most ex-
| ceNent chance to serve his cause by
! shedding light upon the question without
delay. To do this. OF course, Mr.. Bat
chelder must show wherein the State
may get more income by indirect taxa
! ton or wherein better economy may APP
, ply In spending the States present in
come. If he can show how more taxes
| may be squeezed out Of corporations or
II he can point out sufficient extravagan-
| cies which if corrected. would help his
trunk limo highway scheme he has a bet
ter chance to serve the State than he ever
| had before in all his long public life or Is
| ever likely to have again. Let him show
how the state may get without direct
mortgasor by bonded Indebtedness mort
gasinG the future. any considerable num-
her of miles Of trunk line highway at
500 a mile, if he can.
Mr. BATCHELDER'S REPLY.
Editor Springfield Reporter:-Dear SIR
You: editorial Of May 10Th entitled
win Mr. Batchelder Explain" seems
fairly to call for an answer from me as
10 how the State may build. without
direct taxation or bonded Indebtedness
any considerable number % miles Of
trunk line highways.
In answering that question refer to
some OF the data TO be found in the last
| Biennial Report OF our State officers and
some obtained from other sources.
l do not agree with your suggestion
that IT will cost 5000 per mile for such
highways but from the estimates of
others on whom l reply would say. from
$3.50 to 5000, II Is true that money 70
make material progress in these lines
should come from proper aQpllca ton of
the present sources or revenue and prop
er economy in State administration. and
not by increased taxation - bonded in
iebtedness
ING ''Nte income as SHOWN by the
troasuter's report for the year ending
June 30tn 1908. was Sl,1g5,Gtl and the ex-
pensc for the same year was 81 o13. O0o
leaving balance to the good Of $lo2, oOo
There is no good reason why the ex-
pensos should average more for years
10 come than in 1905, as they were large
mat year than in any previous year
except one,
1t Is evident then that if the income OF
the State increases or the expenses he
lessened there Will be a surplus that max
DC used for trunk highways.
Now $,j3.rr of the States income for
inc year ending June Goth. 1908. was
derived from corporation taxes namely
from railroads. banks. trust COMPANIES
insurance and guarantee companies tele-
graph, telephone, transportation and ex-
press companies.
Inc revenue from those same sources
for the year ending June 18th. 1865
amounts TO s>Slu 40 an increase OF S4S ODn
II is fair to assume that in the year tc
come there will continue to be som,
further Increase from these sources.
Inc last Legislature appropriated 70,
permanent roads S75.O0O annually. Lei
'hAt part of this appropriation which goes
10 'hose towns through which the trunl
mes would pass. together with the amour,
Whlch those towns would contribute under
tHe local oenofit, he applied in those re.
apecuVe towns on the trunk line This
would yield. say. $500 per year.
Let the tax on automobiles which vii
amount IN Ngl0D the End wear undor m,