The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-02-28
How the LealsIature FuIf!lled PLEDGES

recently completed its work, was
guilty, like all of its predecessors, of
sins of omission as well as of COM
mission. 1t probably left undone
more things it ought to have done
than it did things 1t ought not to
have done, but 1t unquestionably full
filed more campaign pledges made
to the. people in its behalf than any
General Assembly within the memory
of the present generation.
In this connection We can reply to
an inquiry by the Rt. Rev Arthur c.
A. Han, bishop of Vermont, as to the
ultimate fate of various important
measures and at the same time afford
our readers in general an idea of the
way in which campaign pledges were
fulfilled.
The platform adopted at the State
republican convention in Burlington
in June incorporated in its deciara-
ton of principles in order more di-
rect system OF nomination OF candi-
dates for public office; publicity of
campaign expenses; equalization OF
general taxation; equalization OF
1.-THE tax individual lenders of money
and savings institutions; and as far
as possible that the ultimate benefit
of such lowered rate be assured the
| borrower" a uniform low rate OF tax
alton of money loans and credits as
means of increasing the public rev.
enues; factory inspection; working
mems compensation law; as soon as
| the constitution permits, a State
board of Cancellation. mediation or
| arbitration; modern reformatory
methods; more progressive education
in the public schools, enlarged high
way improvement; uplift or agricul-
ture through model farming and ex-
tension work; the promotion of fores-
try; the conservation OF natural re-
sources and the encouragement of
water power development; the re-
adoption by the Legislature of the
constitutional amendments and the
submission of the same TO the peo-
pie; legislation as to court procedure
to prevent unnecessary appeals and
to expedite final decisions.
Taking up the campaign pledges
fulfilled in order, We find that the
Legislature not only provided for
more direct expression of the popular
will, but it also adopted a referendum
whereby the people may choose at
the town meetings in March, 1914,
preceding the next State election be-
tween three distinct systems of poll
teal nominations.
At that time the voters may select
a preferential primary expressing a
m nrnfaranRn n ha narrind INF hu
representatives, or a direct primary
whereby the people may choose their
own candidates directly. or vote TO
retain the present system of caucus
es and conventions.
A belief that direct primaries
would initiate against the small
towns helped to prevent a conclusive
disposal of the problem without ref
erence to the people.
The inequalities of taxation to be
remedied embraced the extension
of Offset privileges to one class OF
taxpayers and not to others, the tax
alton of private money lenders at
full local rates and the collection OF
small taxes from the railroads based
upon gross earnings.
Governor Fletcher urged that both
the Offset inequality and the diffe.
enees between taxation of individuals
and the favoring of borrowers be
remedied by the simple expedient OF
exempting from taxation at per
cent or less loans to those paying
double taxation.
The Legislature equalized the bur
den by going in the other direction
and abolishing all Offsets. 1t also
went beyond the call of the platform
by exempting from taxation all loans
on both real estate and personal
property at a rate not to exceed five
per cent. a provision which, accord
ing to Attorney-Generai Brown, does
not relieve banks from the franchise
tax OF seven-tenths of one per cent
on deposits.
The Legislature abolished the tax
on gross receipts of railroads and
confined the tax to the appraised
value, which adds more than 100000
to the revenue of the State, but 1t re-
fused to raise the rate of such taxa
ton from IN per cent to ~ per
cent, a failure which Governor
Fletcher has sought to have remedi-
ed by appealing from the appraisal
by the commissioner of taxes.
AS shown by State Forester Halves
in his talk before the Brotherhood of
the First Church. the Legislature not
only made an increased appropriation
FOR general forestry purposes, but il
also exempted from taxation young
growing trees and made special pro.
visions as to taxation to encourage
the developing of land to forestry as
well as to orchards, one of the great.
est needs of the people OF Vermont.
The Legislature fulfilled the pledge
to provide for factory inspection as
well as improved heating and venti
lation OF factories. and Governor
Fletcher has appointed factory in
spector.
The Legislature also carried out a
plank accidentally omitted from. the
State platform by providing for the
exemption of wages from the trustee
process to the amount OF ten dollars
and provided for board of arbitra
ton and Cancellation.
The wage earners OF the State
were further benefited by the pass.
age OF law to limit the hours of Ia
Dor OF women and children.
The Legislature through the con.
stitutional amendments passed and
submitted to the people for their ap-
proval at the coming town meetings
in March has done its part toward
the fulfilling of the pledge toward a
workingmen's compensation system
State agricultural and scientific
training. promised by the platform.
have been promoted by appropria.
/ ffOnc for xsork IN, hrtl,.