The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-24
STATE PAYS THE BILLS


There is something very queer
about the law enacted by the last
legislature under which the taxpay-
ers Of Vermont have just learned
that the state treasury has been call
ed upon to meet a bill of S1,414.79 in
payment for bills of expenses pres
ented by some OF the delegates to
outside conventions, conferences, etc.
The legislature enacted the law
not In the form of statute, but of
a joint resolution. This joint reso-
luton carried no appropriation and
on its face subjected the state to no
expense. 1t appeared to be wholly
innocuous. 1t ran as follows:
when it shall seem to the COVER
nor to be for the best interests of
the state to appoint a delegate to
attend any convention, conference or
meeting without the state as repres-
entative OF the state or any depart
ment of it, he may appoint such del
egate."
This seems not only wholly in
nocuous as we said but entirely I'M
necessary. for governors of Vermont
had been appointing such delegates
for many years. But things are not
always what they seem. Some OF
Governor Mead's delegates presented
bills for their expenses to the state
auditor and he referred the matter to
the attorney general who ruled that
the resolution given above and Sec
ton Ala of the Public Statutes made
1t necessary for him to allow such
bills.
Section Ala thus referred to also
seems to have nothing revolutionary
about It, but Section Ala and the
Joint resolution together furnish the
combination which unlocks the
states safe. The section in question
runs as follows:
Sec. Ala. Adjustment Of claims.
Said auditor shall examine and ad-
just all claims against the state not
otherwise especially provided for by
law, in favor of persons acting un-
der the authority of the state or OF
the executive. including military ac-
counts referred to him by the gov
ernor and allow such sums as he
finds justly due and draw orders
therefor"
II looks very much like scheme
to procure by indirection what might
not easily be obtained by straight
forward means.
When one undertakes to run the
scheme down to its origin, one en-
counters difficulties that might call
for Sherlock Holmes inductive tai
emit. In the Senate journal for the
last session, the joint resolution ap
pears in the index, and reference tc
the body OF the volume shows that
1t was passed promptly as it was
adopted by the House with no de
bate whatever; but there is nothing
to show its origin or purpose
In the House journal, the joint
resolution does not appear In the
index nor in the list OF Joint resolu
tons, and the number given In the
Senate journal is given to a who'll!
different measure.
II would seem that an explanation
Is due from an official source.
The Banner is inclined TO thinl
that no serious harm has been don'
and that none will be done in the fu
ture, now that the responsibility o
the governor In the matter is clearl,
understood. II the resolution remain
in force. II can go only as far as tn
state executive permits 1t to go.
There are certain conventions
gatherings and councils on importan
matters in which Vermont is inter
ested at which Vermont ought to b
represented and II the delegates Civ
their time 1t is right and proper tina
the state should pay their actual eS
penses. 1t is a question for the gov
ernor to decide and he must take tn
responsibility.
The past year should hardly be "a
ken as a criterion. for II is TO be pr,
sumed that the governor has name
delegates to various convention
more freely than he would. had
been understood that the state woul
have the bill TO pay.
The only seriously regretable poin
in connection with the matter is tina
II should have been brought abou
under cover and not In an oper
straightforward way. II may tur
out, however that this was uninter
tional, and that the actual intent G
the resolution was merely that deli
gates when they did 90, should b
officially accredited by the state an
not 20 without any authorization o
standing.
The Banner does not know and ha
no means Of knowing what was bacI
of the resolution The editor OF Tn
Banner has no recollection OF th
matter being discussed in the Hous
OF Representative In any way.
was introduced there by member 9
the highest standing and above re
proach in every way Most of thes
Joint resolutions come into the leg
islature through the request OF pei
sons outside the legislative body.
In the House Of Representatives,
ia customary to act Immediately o
Joint resolutions unless they carry
direct appropriation. This one al