Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-03-13
RAID ON STATE TREASURY
Representatives Asked to Explain Ger
tain Expenditures for Outside
Attaches.
OFrom the Rutland Herald)

|
THAT the lcgislators-at least a majority
not only countcnanced but aided and
abetted an attack upon the State treasury
IN the closing hours of the recent ses-
sion of the General Assembly is Il matter
not only of common report but OF record.
Not satisfied with following the tlme-hon-
ored custom of making pork barrel of
the States strong box by voting gratui-
ties to various legislative employees. in
addition to the salary provided for statute
the lawmakers deliberately introduced
Joint resolution and rushed It through both
branches providing for the same per diem
and mileage for certain persons, employ
cd entirely outside of the Legislature. as
paid members.
A Montpelier dispatch to the Herald, ap-
pearng in Tuesdays paper. tells In detail
Of the success of those behind the move
men; to sperd The states money in Dlak-
ing gifts to men and women calculated to
be OF use in furthering the political as
piratiors of certain members OF the as
sembly. The simple truth is that the only
reason for making presents of money to
we'll paid employees Is to make political
| friends
| who Is responsible7 On the afternoon
OF February ~ Representative Ferrin OF
Essex introduced a joint resolution pro.
| viding that
/ Thu StenoSrapher in the office Of the !
State library commission, the stenograph- |
ers and engrossing clerk In the office OF !
the secretary Of state and the steno- |
, graphcr and clerk in the office of the !
auditor of accounts shall each receive tho
same per diem and mileage as members
OF the General Assembly.
what prompted Representative Ferrn to
inrcduc" the resolution and by what an
| thority did lac include in its, provisions .or
instance the stenoerapher to the State IL
brarv commission? POSSIBLY the veteran
practition"r Of medicine thought the STATE.
treasury needed hlood-lctting treatment
If that was his reason for introduciug
the resolution. he ran ccrtaiQ1v take 20
himself the credit Of performing the most
artistic job Of financial surgery ever att
tempted on the treasury % Vermont
Does MI Fcrrin intend to have his col
leagues OF the House Of Representatives.
infer that the several persons mentioned
in his resolution sought his assistance and
urged this dolbara attack uron the
treasury? fle would hardy care l. do
that, especially in connection with the
first criployc h mentions In the resolu-
ton, for no less responsible person thar
the president Of tn" state library commits
sior has written this paper that the gratu-
itv voted the commissions stenographrr
was without the knowledSc, request or
consent of the commission" President
Benton Of the commission writes to the
Herald concerning This matter. stating
that the salary paid the commissions
Ster ographar was adequate Vet some
one. thought IT ought 90 be raised
While the Herald IS proroundinr qucs-
tons. lot us know what Inc of reason
ing prompted REPRESENTATIVE RYDER of
Rockingham, Repro, ata:iye Billings Of
Woodstock, Representative Adams of
Chelsea and others to so valiantly sup
port the resolution? Lot the answer he
{ politics" Politics, pure and simple and
the STATE of Vermont paid the bills
Without thought Of placing Representa-
tive Hapgood upon a pedestal tho Herald
= credits the member from Peru with pos
b. srssng. to marked degree, one of the
D characteristics Of the men of Green Noun
? tain fame-honesty. When the committee
on state and court expenses. consisting
d OF Mr. Adams If Chelsea. Mr. Eaton OF
I Hancock. Mr. Lathe Of Craftshury. Mr.
lHolndS OF Snchlon ana MI Fcrrin or
= ESSEX. reported III" resolution favorably
the member from Peru objected but the
4 "loquencc Of his colleagues from Rock,
inGnam, chelsea, Woodstock AMI Ess,.>.
coupled with a Gecp-seatcd prejudice
AGAINST tlr IlapGood upon the part Of
e scores OF his fellow members made the
+ appeal OF the member from Peru Of little
Z consequen when the vote was taken.
r On the following day Mr. Hapgood
n aroused III, ire Of his colleagues by in
! PRODUCING resolution requesting tho at
tornoy-cen"ral to serve an Injunction up-
on the state treasurer against paving any
OF the employees of the House, Assembly
or state House any per diem sum above
tina already provided by the statutes -
Tn" sp aker ruled that the resolution
e was out of order as It could not be car
q RED into Effect. Mr.. Hapgood appeal ed
S from the speakers ruling and dema nded
n that yea and may" vote be taken
- 1t was during his support OF his resolu.
e ton that ne characterized his colleagues
II as thieves" If they supported the resolu.
IN ton providing for the mileage erab and
- salary steal.
~ The members of the House of Represen.
tatlves who voted TO pay persons in n,
X way connected with the Iegjslatura IN,
N same salary and mileage as paid member,
IT, cannot plead ignorance in the case.