The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-04-14
FRANK E. HOWE, Editor and Publ
THE ARMoRY' RUMPUs


by towns, voting money for militia
armories, could secure state aid the
recent Vermont legislature neglected
to provide the money from which state
aid could be doled out to the towns so
voting. IL was estimated that $4,000
would be sufficient, and it is said that
bill was drafted; but where it went
to is another story. Attorney General
Sargent does the best he can in ex-
planning by the following letter to the
chairman OF the Bellows Falls armory
committee which was to have charge
of the building in that village: THE
attorney general has advised the
board Of armory commissioners that
by reason of the fact that no separate
appropriation was made for the mill
tary department by the legislature,
there is no money available for the
construction of armories at the pres
ent time. The appropriation for the
military department which was in
cluded in the general appropriation
measure as originally drawn by the
auditor was striker out late on the
last day of the session without my
knowledge" The decision OF the at
torney general will probably make it
impossible to begin the construction
of armories until after the next SEES
sion of the legislature. 1t was an
oversight which ought to be looked af-
ter at the earliest moment when the
next legislature convenes.-Barre
Times.
1t looks more and more as though
t. la L., Oh
this armory matter that needs investi-
cation and as the Times is on the
ground where the records and officials
are available, The Banner and doubt
less the other state papers would be
glad to have the Times look up the
facts in the case
1t was stated over and over again
around the statehouse and in debate
on the floor of the House when the
armory bill was up for consideration
that no special appropriation was or
would be asked for, that the money
proposed to be put into armories
would be taken from the annual APP
preparation for the support of the
militia. The bill was passed in the
House with that understanding, as we
remember it,
Nevertheless when the bill for the
support of government came along in
regular form at the end of the session
it carried a section appropriating
$4,000 a year for two years for the
military department. The bill in this
form was drawn by the committee on
appropriations and passed the House
without question Probably only
very few Of the more experienced
members noted the change in the BIZ
ennial appropriation bill. The writer
asked member of the appropriation
committee why the variation from the
regular form and was told that the
variation was one af form and not
plan to render more money available.
In this connection it should be borne
in mind that the committee on appro-
priations is compelled to take the
figures of the several state depart
ments the heads of which are the on
ly ones having knowledge in detail.
When the budget went to the Sen
ate, however, the Senate very wisely
looked into the matter and found that
while the $4,000 was added as
special appropriation it was not taken
out of the appropriation for the exc
cutive department where it had in the
past been included. Under the cir
cumstances the Senate knocked out
the $4,000 clause, and its action in so
doing was most commendable. The
House agreed to the change without a
dissenting vote.
The situation as it stands today in
the military department will get for
its support $4,000 annually from the
executive department appropriation.
The appropriation for the executive
department was increased by $4,000
year so there ought to be FUNDS
available and there can be no question
but there is.
If, as was claimed during the de-
bate, the regular appropriation for
the military department viii allow
the building of one armory a year
there is no reason why an armory
should not be built for the armory bill
distinctly authorizes the spending OF
twelve thousand dollars a year for
that purpose.
These statements are according to
our best understanding and recollec'
ton. If they are wrong in any par
ticular we should be glad to be cor
rected. And If there was anything
concealed or attempted under cover,
,,,btcn xua do pOt ha1iava that ghOuld