Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-02-16

paragraph Is going the rounds Of the
weekly press:
THE total expense to the State Of
the session of the Legislature that
closed Sunday morning was about
$4,000. The members drew for
mileage and debentures for 81 days
S130,s75.6o, which Is $1,000 more than
was paid on this account two years
ago. The salaries OF those who re-
ceved their pay through the State
auditor are about $4,000 in excess OF
this"
The expenditures of the Legislature
outside of It's own expenses were also
enormous. Representative Justus
Dart Of Springfield has contributed
to the columns Of the Reporter his
estimate Of this situation as follows:
1T was undoubtedly the determined
and fixed purpose of the executive de-
partment inaugurated last october to
give to the State a thoroughly eco
nomical and business-like administra-
ton for the two years ensuing. Ex-
penditures were to he limited and APP
pr opriations to be closely guarded.
The auditor OF accounts. commission
err OF taxes and the state treasurer
were called in council. The condition
OF the treasury, the prospective rev
sented were carefully considered, and
the amount available for extra an
preparations was as carefully est
mated Three objects Of legislation
were, at least, tacitly agreed upon.
First as most important, the i'm
provement of educational facilities,
especially in the rural schools
Second. the conservation of the
natural and material resources of the
state.
Third the Improvement Of the
highways.
gan, and from this time the demands
for appropriations from the State
treasury increased in geometrical ratio.
First came the call for two hundred
thousand dollars for road-buildinR.
Many thought this too much and hest
tated TO indorse It and the highway
commissioner did not ask it. But the
demand grew more urgent, and the
commissioner was persuaded to favor
II 1t was rumored that there were
threats OF 1lhusterinR against all
other appropriations unless ths was
granted At length a compromise on
one hundred and nifty thousand was
agreed upon. This gives something
over one million dollars in all. an
nually, for the highways. The door
now being wide open there was y
claim for 40 appropriation for almost
every conceivable object, and claims
that were somewhat modest at frs,
at once took on larger proportions
and the advocates of doubtful propo
s!tions now became confident of secur-
ing whatever they wished. II is not
possible to enumerate or name from
memory this mass of appropriations
but the people will soon have oppor-
tunity to consider them.
ITO some Of us who earn our living
| by the sweat Of the brow and support
our families by the daily work # our
hands on the farm and in the shop
and who have hard work to make the
expenses and income balance at the
ond Of the year. TO us these large APP
preparations seem excessive. For we
are not ignorant OF the fact, that. in
whatever way the revenue OF the state
is raised, whether by taxes on cor
porations, or by license fees, or by
direct taxes on polls and property
| in whatever way and by whatever
ished, in the end 1t all comes out OF
the people of the State who are the
taxpayers. and very largely from the
working and middle classes, those liv-
ing on farms and those owning othe,
real estate. whose property is visible
| and cannot be hidden"
The Rutland Herald in commentinq
on Mr.. DARTS sentiments says:
"The Hon. Justus Dartt criticize.
what he regards as the excessive APP.
propriations voted during the recen
session. Mr. Dart was one of the
ablest and most conscientious mem
bers of tho General Assembly. and hi.
! general conservatism on all question!
was allied with senslbly liberia
spirit in the treatment OF every meas
ure coming before the House VIVA
he has to say. indicating his eviden
posed to be extravagant, derives ad
ditional weight from the fact tina
DARTS votes upon all questions in,
volving expenditures, proved that
while he regarded IT az essential Il
allow the principle of true econom,
to rule, he was not disposed toward
a policy that might correctly be re
garded as niggerly,"
Representative II, S. Peek OF Bur
ling'ton bears testimony similar t,
that of Mr.. Dart al to the manner u
which the hoodgates were opened.