Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-14
MESSAGE TAKES
UP FOUR TOPICS
Public Education, State Bureau
of Information, Finance and
Criminal Courts.

Montpelier. Nov s.--Governor Fletcher
sent the following message to the House
Of Representatives to-day:
Il desire to submit for your considera-
ton certain suggestions, which. II they
meet with your approval hope will be
beneficial to the State
I'm view of the fact that the super
intendents and principals responsible for
the direction of the elementary and sec
ondary schools of the State have proposed
legislation for the Improvement of our
common schools, II would seem wise to
proceed still further Our institu-
lions of higher learning. with each
returning biennial session Of the General
Assembly, are requesting larger ap-
propriations for support and maintenance
and II is important that the status OF
these Institutions In their relations to the
State should be clearly and speedily estab-
lished
II therefore recommend that an edu-
cational commission be created whose
duty II shall be TO inquire into the sub
ect of public education in Vermont l
further recommend that this commits
sion report at the earliest possible date
on the several necessities of the Uni
versity OF Vermont and State Agricu-
tural College Mddlebury College and
Norwich University with such recon-
mendatons as will prevent unnecessary
duplication.
'As soon as practicable after making
report on the institutions of higher
/ learning the commission should recon-
mend. by bill or otherwise such reor-
ganization Of the elementary and sec
ondary public schools of the State. In
adjustment to the entire educational sys-
TEN of the state. as will promote the
ends of economy, harmony and unity.
BUREAU OF INFORMATION.
by No 10 Of the laws of 1910, the sum
Of five thousand dollars was appropriated
to establish in the Office of the secretary
| Of state a bureau of information to pro-
mote further development of the natural
resources of the State by the publication
81 reliable information and statistics. The
returns from this work have been striking
and / recommend larger appropriation
| for the carrying on OF this department
This work has been added to the already
| arduous duties of the secretary of state
without any increase of remuneration to
that official and | am of the opinion that
| the present salary of that officer Is not
commensurate with the service rendered.
I'm order that economy and uniformity
| OF service may be promoted in the pur-
| chasing departments, | suggest that some
general method of purchasing fuel for the
State House, jas and all the State insti-
tutions should he adopted
That the people may lnow the amount
| invested in carrying on the business of
the State 1t might be we'll to require.
hiennially a report by heads OF State In
| situations and departments to the auditor
of list and value of all state property
These reports should be made a part OF
the auditors report.
1T should he possible to make an &C
curate comparison of the expense of de-
partments and institutions receiving APP
propriations. And with this in view, ap'
propriations should in general he made
to take effect at the beginning of th'
fiscal year next after passing.
CRIMINAL COURTS.
whenever a jury is empaneled IN
a city or municipal court to try a
criminal case. II should be common
law jury of twelve men. And excep'
lions as to questions of law should be
allowed direct to the supreme court
There should be no appeal to the
county courts from the ju igment oil
q city or municipal court in a crimina
cause within the jurisdiction of suci
court to try and determine. By MAX
ing these provisions and by enlarg'nf
the Jurisdiction of these courts. prob
ably so per cent Of the criminal case!
could be disposed Of speelil and a
less expense. both to the responder
and to the state
"I nave the honor to be your Uoedi
ent servant,
"ALLEN NJ. FLETCHER
"GOvsrpOr"