St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-05-20

expenses of the state of Vermont as
shown in the comparative statement
issued by State Auditor Graham. We
find these items in the expenses for
the year 1913 that were not begun
in 1901. Commissioner of weights
and measures .$14, O46.63; expenses
of delegates to various conventions,
81, 540.S5; for elimination of grade
crossings, $12.921.35; for state
forestry, $13,196.51 1--WE think this
includes the purchasing of some land
for forestry operations); appropria-
ton to the state fair, $5,12S.9O; ap-
preparation for other Vermont fairs,
$4,000; for tuberculosis commission,
$2,SS1.26. These items total $54,-
1880.
Here are the items of state ex-
penses in the educational department
installed since 1901. Higher instruc-
ton, $29,991.S9; transportation of
pupils, $4,000; union superinten-
dents of schools $55, OLA; state school
of Agriculture, s13,264.27; trustees
of School of Agriculture, $1,226.9O;
manual training, $1,000; educa-
tional commission, $1,576.33; state
aid in teachers training courses, So
745. The total of these items is
$13O,818.39.
Here are the expenses in the state
highway department for 1913 that
were nothing in 1901. For high
way supervisor, $14,844.23; for
permanent road work, $16O,458.57;
for maintenance of improved roads,
$9O,175.74. The total of these items
is 265,458.54.
The total of all these new expenses
is $45O,99O.43. There are some of
the smaller items in this total that
could be pruned out without serious
damage to the state. But we think
the great majority of these expenses
will be approved by the people.
We now give the Increase in GER
tain departments of government and
state aid from 1901 to 1913. The di-
rect appropriation for the University
of Vermont increased from $4,000 to
$4,000, for Norwich University
from $4,000 to $1,000, for Middle
bury College from $4,000 to &c.
900. The total increase for the three
institutions is $4,000. The ex-
penses of the governor and his clerks
have increased $3,95O.77; the legisla-
tive expenses, q $12S, 597.29; the sec
rotary of state, $13,7O5.79 (this is
largely the cost of the publicity de-
partment); the auditor of accounts, |
$S,318.85; commissioner of taxes, |
sergeant at arms, So |
06O.31. There has been a total in
crease in the expenses of the differ
ent departments mentioned of $214,-
464.S9 per year.
Some of these increases are the
result Of increased work in the de-
partment but many of them are not.
In a few cases it is probable that a
change in officials would result in
some saving. We believe that
great saving in the legislative ex-
penses might be made by returning
more men with legislative experience
70 the legislature. Men who are IA
miliar with the ways in which too
LIBERAL appropriations have been made
in the past could guard against such
mistakes in the future. They also
could consider more quickly the
vast amount of legislation that
Is proposed every time the legis-
allure meets. Some advise a
change of political parties to
bring about economies but that
would prove no remedy. A new and
lot of men, no matter
what political party they represent,
cannot compete in business with ex-
Deriehced and efficient men. Ex-
1erienced men, honest and charged
With full responsibility for business
could do more than
anyone else in relieving the state of
ONE of these unreasonable expenses
# recent years.