The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-02-13
The Work Done

he WORK Done
The Journal printed the other day
a resume of some of the more impor-
tant bills that became laws during
the session of the legislature recent
ly brought to a close
II is not easy to select out OF near
ly 500 acts the one that is most inn
portant, because what is of first rate
Importance to one man, 1t best will
be of only second rate Importance to
another. 1t will be pretty generally
agreed, however, that one of the
most important was the transforma-
ton of the Randolph normal school
into an agricultural school. This is
the beginning of a policy that ought
to be of very great benefit to the farm
ing interests OF the state. The study
of agriculture as a science means
more profitable farming interests Of
the state. The study of agriculture
as a science means more profitable
farming and the keeping of some OF
our boys at home. who, otherwise
would go to the cities.
Another bill OF the first rank is
that doubling the states aprropria-
ton for good roads. This is gen.
timely progressive measure and under
the direction of capable official like
State Highway Commissioner Gates
the money will be expended wisely.
II is safe to predict that the end of
two years the roads of Vermont will
show marked Improvement.
A hill that many will consider the
most important of the session is that
establishing the office of commissions
er Of weights and measures. There
is plenty of evidence to show that the
evil OF short weights and Measures
is yeIy great and that the people OF
Vermont are losing in the aggregate
a large amount every year. The crea'
ton OF this office ought TO prove an
excellent investment for the state.
The bill permitting the establish
ment of teacher training courses in
twelve high schools or academies
should mean a marked Improvement
in the quality OF teachers in the rural
schools. Probably a majority of the
counties of the state receive little II
any benefit from the normal schools
and this act is designed to bring
teacher training into practically
every county. II the state must be
hound forever to the present made
quate locations Of our normal schools
then 1t is better. probably, that the
state should own the property used
by those schools In the opinion OF
this paper. however, the failure OF
the Legislature to establish a central
normal school was one OF TIE con
spicuous mistakes OF the session.
One scandal was ended when bill
was pessed refusing to permit JUS
ices Of the peace 10 secure pay for
trying criminal cases in towns and
cities where there is municipal
court. The power given to trustees
OF state institutions to use insurance
money for the repair OF buildings dam
aged by fire viii prevent the occur
renee OF sue an embarrassing situa
tion as Ia; which followed the fire
In the Waterbury insane hospital
more TIN year ago.
The revision OF the banking laws
was cn excellent measure and repre-
sents 4 great amount of labor on the
pant OF the commission appointed by
Governor Prouty. The additiona
powers given to the state tax com
missioner and TO listers and the pro
vision for correcting and legalizlng al
stracts OF individual appraisals will
help materially to solve the difficult
tax problem.
A modest but very Important bill II
that establishing n bureau OF public
/ ity In the office OF the secretary o.
state This carries only an approprl
alton OF 5000, but an OF Il Is avallabl,
for publicity aud in the hands OF
competent administrator like Guy w
Bailey. II Is likely to be so eifectlv,
that two years hence the state will
consider a larger appropriation goo,
Investment One OF Vermonts great
est needs Is publicity and this bureau
working In harmony with the stat
Board OF Trade ought to accomplish
much for Vermont
The provision for a new system O
bookkeeping In the state treasurer
Office IL In line with the roorganizg
ton of the state auditors office. Tn
permission given TO towns 10 exemr
hotels from taxation ought 10 encoul
age the summer hotel business. Tn
reciprocal provision with other state
for automobile licenses will help Wei
mont.
Among the wise appropriations ar
those increasing the funds az the dil
poeal Of the board OF agriculture an
forestry, increasing the Mlddlebur
College and University OF Vernon
} appropriations. providing for two do
mitories at the Industrial school an
a. criminal ward at the state insan
hospital. and taking steps to get IN
benefit Of the Austine fund az Bra
ueboro 50 that our defective childre
may be cared Tor near home.
The bin permitting a qualified vel
dict IN murder cases IL an lmportan
InTA nwH A. a. 4.