Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-05
PROTECTION OF STATE PROPERTY.


The slight loss sustained by the tax
payers Of Vermont through the destruc-
ton by fire of part of the buildings Of
the Industrial school at Vergennes shows
that while fires are often accidental
guarding against fire and loss through
that clement Is usually the result of
careful thought and Of prudence on the
part Of somebody, either the owner or an
other working in the interest OF the
owner.
The total insurance on the buildings Of
the Industrial school at the beginning Of
the year, 1910, was only $4,000, and if
the policy then in operation in connec-
State buildings had continued until the
present time, the loss sustained by the
commonwealth at Vergennes would have
been large
In State Auditor Horace F. Graham's
report for 1909-lO a recommendation was
made to the effect that it would he good
! business poHCS LOT tHe Stdte 10 put MI
its insurance on it's property in one set
OF policies, and thus secure not only a
lower rate with a consequent saving in
premium but also gain a more uniform
valuation
In accordance with this recommended
ton the Legislature passed bill in 1910
embodying provisions to this end, and
Governor Mead appointed l.. s. Hayes of
Bellows Falls commissioner to put the
provisions in effect All of the State s
property including buildings and con-
tents, was appraised under direction Of
Mr.. Hayes and the entire insurance was
placed in one set of policies at one rate,
no matter where situated. These police.
expire at the rate Of one-fourth each year
and are renewed quadrennlally, thus ap-
portioning the expense
Following the passage OF the act in
question in 1910 insurance to the amount
ings at Vergennes with little Increased
expense for the state, and after the cree
ton of two new buildings In 1918 the
hospital and the new boys dormitory,
the total insurance carried on the plant
was increased to s1l1,sOO and all loss up
TO this aggregate would be paid to the
state.
In cases like that involving the destruc-
don Of state structures the question used
to be what will the State do as regards
funds for new structures but after the
blanket policies act had been passed the
damages to one OF the States buildings
at Waterbury In 1910 led to the formula
ton Of measure In the State auditor s
office, which also passed providing that
whenever any building or property OF
any State institution Is damaged or de-
stroyed by fire or other casualty the trus'
tees or board Of penal institutions, with
may use any monies received from In
surarce on such buildings or property
for the purpose OF replacing, repairing
or rebuilding the same and the governor
and State treasurer may borrow on the
credit Of the State such further sums
as may he necessary to repair, rebuild
or replace such buildings or property. All
sums of money used under the provisions
of this act are hereby appropriated for
the purposes herein mentioned" thus
meeting that provision OF the constitu'
tion, which says that no money shall be
used from the State treasury unless ap-
propriated by the Legislature,
During the last session OF the Legtsla.
ture State Auditor Graham prepared what
became No. II of the public acts author
iznr the governor to employ such ex-
pert assistance as in his Judgment 1:
necessary to supervise the Insurance Of
State property, and Mr.. Hayes has beer
| employed whenever necessary.
, We are thus able to see how It came Il
/ pass that the states buildings have beer
faithfully cared for and how II will b
possible for the authorities to proceed
with the work of replacing burned struo,
lures without unnecessary delay.