Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-10
GOVERNOR MEAD'S MESSAGE
s,N RETIRING FROM OFFICE
Increase of Legislative Expense Of Nearly $50
per Cent, in My Judgment, an Extrava-
gance without Excuse.

Moctpelier. oct. 3.--Therc was q smaller
attendance than usual to listen to the
message of the retiring Governor this
morning All the senators and most OF
the representatives We're in their seats
when the joint assembly opened at io:io
but there were not more than dozen
people in the House gallery and not all
the front seats on the House floor were
occupied. Governor Mead's message was
of about the customary length and con-
taned some new ideas that may he con-
kdered with profit. The message follows
In full:
GOVERNOR MEAD's MESSAGE
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives.:
II has been the custom of my predeces-
sors for many years at the close OF cach
administration to present an account Oh
the conduct of the executive department
for tho two preceding years to the JOINT
Assembly, also to suggest such changes
in the laws of our Commonwealth ana
such new legislation as would be deemed
advisable This duty is attended with
many regrets that 1 could not nave had
that experience and wisdom which would
have enabled me during my term of serv-
ice to accomplish more for the happiness
and uplift of our people, and also with
Measure when ! realize that n higher
standard has been attained in our educa-
tional and agricultural life, and mark
ed Improvement in our highways.
In this my retiring message | wish
TO state that | have carefully considered
the various subjects which l have treat
cd. with those officials most conversant
with the same md have drawn largely
from them for expert knowledge, often
times the result Of long experience. and
have quoted freely from suggestions
made by said officials
In my message of two years ago.
urged the General Assembly to carefully
consider few subjects of vital impor-
lance and not attempt to correct all
the errors Of past Legislatures or 10
enact all the wise legislation which the
present and the future may require. ana
thus with defined policy presented
feel that most satisfactory results as TO
educational and agricultural life and the
betterment of our roads has been attain
ed and It is with pleasure that l shall
refer briefly to what has been accom-
plished In these vital departments OF our
State life, hoping that you will continue
the progressive work so well begun.
EDUCATION.
Not only has Vermont been blest dur
ing the past two years with great ma
terial improvements such as permanent
highways and public buildings; not only
has the State made worthy advance So
cially and civcally. as is indicated by the
deep interest Of the people in the States
welfare and their sincere desire to work
unitedly for the States advancement
but probably in no respect has the State
made greater progress than along edu
cational lines.
This has been due chiefly to the stron.
aud progressive measures passed by thu
General Assembly of 1910. Among thes
certain ones might be considered of
minor character, as they were simpl,
moGificatio of existing laws and pro
vided for an expansion of the free ad
vanced instruction law; the raising o
the school age to sixteen years. tn,
strengthening of the child labor law. ant
The making of the school attendance
laws more operative.
Also, in the minor enactments may b,