The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-03-07
A Raid on the State Treasury.

haiu on tne otdte TedSuTy'
That the legislators-at least a ma
jority-not only countenanced but
aided and abetted an attack upon the
state treasury in the closing hours of
the recent session of the General AS
sembly is a matter not only of com
mon report but of record. Not salts
fed with following the time-honored
custom of making a pork barrel of
the states strong box by voting gra-
tuities to various legislative employ
es, in addition to the salary provided
by statute, the lawmakers deliberate
ly introduced joint resolution and
rushed it through both branches pro-
viding for the same per diem and mil
cage for certain persons, employed
entirely outside of the Legislature,
as paid members
A Montpelier dispatch to The Her
aid, appearing in Tuesdays paper,
tells in detail of the success Of those
behind the movement to spend the
states money in making gifts to men
and women calculated to be of use in
furthering the political aspirations of
certain members of the Assembly.
The simple truth is that the only
reason for making presents of money
to well paid employees is to make po-
litical friends
Who is responsible? On the after
noon of February 10 Representative
Ferrin of Essex introduced a Joint
resolution providing that:
The stenographer in the office of
I
stenographer and engrossng clerk in
the Office Of the secretary of state
and the stenographer and clerk in
the office of the auditor of accounts
shall each receive the same per diem
and mileage as members of the Gen
eral Assembly.
What prompted Representative
Ferrin to introduce the resolution
and by what authority did he include
in its provisions, for instance, the
stenographer to the State Library
Commission? Possibly the veteran
practitioner of medicine thought the
state treasury needed blood-letting
treatment If that was his reason
for introducing the resolution, he
can certainly take to himself the
credit of performing the most ar
tistic job of financial surgery ever
attempted on the treasury of Yer
mont
Does DR. Ferrin intend to have his
colleagues of the House of Represen-
tatives infer that the several per
sons mentioned in his resolution
sought his assistance and urged this
deliberate attack upon the treasury?
He would hardly care to do that, es-
pecially in connection with the first
employe he mentions in the resolu-
ton, for a no less responsible person
than the president of the State Ii
brary Commission has written this
paper that the gratuity voted the
commissions stenographer "was
without the knowledge, request or
consent of the commission" Presi-
dent Benton OF the Commission
writes to The Herald concerning this
matter, stating that the salary paid
the commissions stenographer was
adequate" Yet some one. thought
IL ought to be raised.
While The Herald is propounding
questions, let us know what line of
reasoning prompted Representative
Ryder of Rockingham. Representa-
tive Billings OF Woodstock, Repre-
sentative Adams Of Chelsea and
others to so valiantly support the
resolution? Let the answer be
politics" Politics. pure and simple.
and the state of Vermont paid the
bills.
Without thought of placing Repre-
sentative Hapgood upon a pedestal.
The Herald credits the member from
Peru with possessing, to marked
degree, one OF the characteristics of
the men of Green Mountain fame
honesty. When the committee on
state and court expenses, consisting
of Mr. Adams OF Chelsea, Mr.. Eaton
OF Hancock, Mr.. Lathe of Craftsbury
Mr.. Thomas of Sheldon and Mr.. Fer
rim of Essex, reported the resolution
favorably the member from Peru OBJ
lected. but the eloquence of his col
leagues from Rockingham, Chelsea.
Woodstock and Essex, coupled with
deep seated prejudice against Mr..
Hapgood upon the part of scores OF
MS fellow members, made the appeal
OF the member from Peru of little con.
sequence when the vote was taken.
On the following day Mr.. Hapgood
aroused the ire Of his colleagues bv
introducing a resolution requesting
the encouragement to serve an in
junction upon the state treasurer
against paying any Of the employees
OF the House. Assembly or State
House any per diem sum above that
already provided by the statutes. /"
The speaker ruled that the resolu-
ton was out Of order as it could not
be carried into effect Mr.. Hapgood
appealed from the speakers ruling
and demanded that yea" and
nay vote be taken. Il was during
his support Of his resolution that he
characterized his colleagues as