The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-11-24
REFORMS VERMONT NEEDS


list of the reforms which the Re-
porter considers needed in Vermont
The list is an excellent one, though
the editor of the Reporter, being COM
paratively new in Vermont, has
omitted some and has also included
as desirable several things that have
already been accomplished and more
effectively than in any other state.
For instance Vermont has the best
forestry law in the union and probab-
ly as good as is possible until the
state can spend more money toward
creating state forest reserves and
toward preventing forest fires. Also
Vermont has more completely done
away with the fee system than any
other state. 1t is not possible to do
away with II entirely. A justice, who
may not be called on to try more
than one case a year, cannot be paid
salary but must get fee. For
some years the fee abuse has been
cut out as fast as brought to atten-
ton and if there are any more cases
probably all that is necessary is to
make them public.
Likewise the Vermont highway law
is quite bi. ahead Of most of the
states and is making real progress ex-
cept in those towns which elect Of
ficials who nullify the efforts of the
state commissioner When in 1908
the writer introduced a bill in the
Vermont legislature, bill carrying
an annual direct appropriation of
$3.50, 900 for road building in addition
to the other moneys available, even
the friends of the good roads move
ment shook their heads and said 1t
couldn't be done-that the state
wouldn't stand for it. Yet in 1910
the bill carrying the same appropri-
alton and also the other principal
features OF the 1908 bill, merely lit
tie more automatically worded
went through by vote of three to
one and seems TO meet the approval
of the state. Relative TO the survey
and listing of water powers, the ad
vertising of state resources, and the
appointment of a state tax commits
sion with some powers and ample au-
thority TO investigate and report
Vermont has already made a definite
start and one that can be improved
and added to as opportunity admits
The fact, however, that Vermont
has already taken up some of the ad.
vanced things advocated by the Re
porter should make the state all the
more ready to take up others and the
Reporter has proposed some very ex-
cellent things. To this list The Ban
ner would like TO add a few more in
the line OF suggestion and in the hope
that they may be discussed seriously
and earnestly by the press and people
of Vermont.
First and foremost, some intelligent
effort to improve, develop and put
new life into the rural communities
of Vermont. The lifeblood of these
communities has been sucked out by
forty years OF emigration and, not all,
but scores of these communities are
today suffering from decay and, in
too many cases, moral, mental and
physical weakness tending toward
degeneracy. This is the greatest
problem that confronts Vermont to-
day. These isolated communities
and men and women raised under
these conditions often even in the
larger towns are the ones who are
making the record Of serious crime in
Vermont so long these days. The
matter should be taken UP by the gov
ernor and legislature at the first
possible opportunity.
Second and on par with the first
is the failure of Vermont to provide a
home for its unfortunate orphan
children AS the choice now lies It
is the poor-house, the reform school
or the gutter, and most often the gut
ter until the child commits some mis-
demeanor and then, but not till then,
the child gets chance in Vermont's
splendid Industrial school, the best
and most criditable of vermont's
state institutions where all are good.
Our system OF failure TO take care Of
orphaned or worse than orphaned
children is damnable and n disgrace
to alleged civilization. Private chart
ty does what II can but, as we have
had brought home to us here In Ben
nington recently, II is in no way
adequate. Every Vermonter ought to
hang his head In shame until the
state provides (. method to give these
poor little uniortunates a fair chance
In life.
Third and OF less, but still great
Importance is our system OF taking