Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-10-04
VERMONT PHGNIx BRArrIEBoRo FRIDAY OCTOBER l. 1912
GOV. MEAp,s vALspIcroRY.

| Vermont has been blessed with great
| material improvements, such as perma-
nent highways and public buildings, but
| in no respect has the state made great
er progress than along educational lines.
| This has been due chiefly to progressive
measures enacted by the general as
| sembly of 1910, including the raising of
| the school age to 16 years. the strength
ening of the child labor law and the
making of school attendance laws more
| operative. He also refers to four meas
| ures that mark a new era ejucationally:
| The appropriation providing for the
| Austine Institution in Brattleboro; the
| changing of the school year from April
| | to July 1 so that all reports are now
made on uniform basis; the estab-
| lishment of a school of agriculture at
| Randolph Centre; the introduction or
the teacher training system into the
| schools, which has resulted in providing
| $50 well trained teachers who enter upon
services in the rural schools this sea-
son. Governor Mead says the chief edu-
| cational problem today is the develop
| ment of the country school and the re-
| Mobilization of the countryside Justice
demands that equality of educational
| advantages shall be afforded and that
| the country child be given the same
| school advantages as far as possible as
| the city child.
In considering the normal schools he
poihtS out tHdt local community inter-
| ests should not stand in the way of
general progress in the state. He is
| of the opinion that teachers could be
| better trained in the department of ped
| agogy in Middlebury college or in the
| University of Vermont tnan In the pre-
| sent normal schools. This could be done
at an expense of $4,000 annually in con-
trast to the present expense of $4,000.
He urges the legislators to give the
subject of the education of children
| thoughtful and earnest attention.
One chapter is devoted to fire nsur-
ance upon state property which has
| been changed through the work of L. S.
| Hayes of Bellows Falls, special COM
| missioner, assisted by H. r. Beckwth
of Claremont. an architect, who APP
praised all the state property. The in
| surance was formerly carried on $685.
| $40 of state property,-som to its full
value, some partially and a portion not
at all. In the revision the state property
| is valued at $2,O51, 500 of which 1884.
$40 is buildings, $656699 personal proper
ty Upon this insurance is now placed
| to the amount of $1,S5O,000 or about 80
per cent at uniform rate of s1.5S per
$1,000 for five years.
Gov Mead points out that Vermont
| Is not keeping abreast of other states
| in the problem of fire control. In 1901
| the losses by fire paid in the state were
&75,S6995, and these increased in 1910 to
| 1916, 122.77, not including the uninsured
| property or that only partially insured
The per capita loss in Vermont is 1885,
in the nation at large $2.93.
Gov. Mead takes an advanced position
on the unpleasant subject of degener-
ates. He discusses this problem at length
and urges restrictive legislation in re-
| gard to marriage, segregation of de-
| fectives, and the surgical operation
| known as vasectomy
The state Is now supporting outside
its borders in various institutions for
blind, deaf and feeble minded 81 children.
and most of these benefciaries will be
transferred to the Austne Institution
in Brattleboro.
GOV. Mead has paroled 43 prisoners
III from the state prison, ia from the
house of correction and % from county
jails He thinks the custom of paroline
at the expiration of the minimum SEN
tence where the prisoners conduct has
been good is an excellent one, and tina,
law should be enacted requiring ar
increase In the time between the min
imum and maximum sentences
The desirability of uniformity in state
laws is reviewed at length, and the re.
port is submitted of the Vermont com.
missioners who attended the conference
of commissioners from the variou.
states.
Under the heading "Our White Coal
the possibilities of building up indus.
tries through hydro electric develop.
ment Is interestingly discussed TIL,
state is now paying 100000 annually tc
coal producers of Pennsylvania and Ohio
and large part of this sum NIGH
be saved The power developments a.
Vernon and those now under way II
the Deerfield valley are described a
some length. While the enormous devel
opment has progressed farther in Wind
nam county than in any other part O.
the state, similar conditions though les,
in magnitude. are found in other coun
ties. Mr.. Mead says: IT would, there
fore, earnestly recommend such legisla
ton as will inure to further develop
ment of the natural wealth, realizin,
the immense benefits to be obtained 4
it is to be properly controlled and tn,
rights of the state protected" The de
velopment of storage reservoirs is alst
recommended as subject worthy o
consideration.
The progress in improved highways Il
noted with qualification. The number o
towns voting special appropriations t,
be matched dollar for dollar by tn,
state has increased year by year unit
last March 227 towns voted PRACTICAL,
100000 in addition to the regular appro
priations.
A revision of our present system o
taxation is urged, but no definite plal
for adoption is outlined.
Exemption from trustee process la
Dor legislation, prevention of strikes ant
direct primaries are subjects which ar
considered in a paragraph each. Som
simple. inexpensive method of primaries
that Will ensure full, free choice of cit
lzenship, and one adapted to the pecu
liar conditions that exist here is evil
IDENTIFY favored. Restriction of campaign
expenses TO certain limits, and publicit,
of amounts Is urged.
In conclusion Gov. Mead points on
that legislative expenses have in creas
ed from $61,979.S3 to about $l45,OOO, an,
urges economy this year.
He refers to the progressive spirit o
the day as manifested in the bettermen
OF school life, in agricultural condition.
and highways, in state control of cor
porate life, in the purity of the baIo
box, in endeavors for uniform laws. II
efforts to eliminate mental and mora
degenerates. and in short. along ever,
avenue which leads to the uplift of ou
citizens. and urges legislators I,
strengthen and maintain the advances
already made. ever keeping In mind tn
peculiar conditions of the state.