Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1914-08-14

governorship:
| have been asked and urged by
many people to become a candidate for
the governorship this year. have also
been advised by few to keep ont Of
the contest. Frankly, / should like TO
be governor and should esteem it high
honor to be chosen as the Republican
standard bearer in order to do all in
my power in support of certain princil
pies believe to be essential to the adj
vance and prosperity of the state of
Vermont.
Particularly / should like to be the
candidate this year when there is no
cut and dried routine of political result
and when patriotic effort toward better
things and improved public service
should occupy so large a place in the
campaign.
There are numerous issues under dis
cussion but many of them are details to
be worked out by the legislature and
success in this direction will be measur-
ed almost entirely by the character,
ability, experience and fitness of the
men whom the people choose to repre-
sent them in the House and Senate.
The duties of a governor lie chiefly
in consecrating his counsel and in
tluence toward solving the problems of
the state He should have Judgment
and courage in the use of his now en-
larged veto power in curtailing schemes
of selfish interest and to guard against
the excuses of the visionary and in.
competent.
In this connection it seems to me
well to consider few of the real issues
hot GOO 20 ed,
the remedies proposed.
These issues are those which affect
the prosperity, efficiency, character, in
telligence, and welfare of our people.
| have put prosperity first, as the high
er standards are seldom reached unless
nurtured by ut least a fair degree of
prosperity.
The great need of Vermont at the
present time is greater efficiency in
state and local government. The state
and the several towns are increasing
their tax and debt burdens too rapidly
and without getting adequate return
for the money spent. The fact that
this money is raised and expended in
an honest attempt to advance should
spur us to achieve better results. The
state can aid itself and the towns by
legislatng toward efficiency. The state
and the towns raise money enough now
to meet all their needs if it were wisely
and prudently expended.
To promote Il higher degree of eff
cheney in town and city government
suggest the following legislation:
Q) Forbid the towns to assume
bonded Indebtedness except by two
thirds vote at a meeting or election at
which at lease 20 per cent of the voters
are present.
(2) Permit the towns and cities at
their own option to secure local eflii-
cheney, by putting their business affairs
in the hands of Il business manager I'M
der the supervision of a small commits
sion elected by the voters of the town.
CD Provide a uniform system of
town accounting and permit towns to
cooperate when they desire in securing
competent road builders or in other i'm
pOrtant public work.
To increase the efficiency and econo-
my of state government "a few import
ant measures are most essential though
many lesser ones are desirable.
O Make no appropriations, except
in case of emergency, unless the income
of the state will meet the appropriation
without any new tax levy and without
going into debt. In other words, ma Ike
the state live within its income.
(2) Fix fiat sum payment to
members of the legislature. This can
be done only by the voters positively
instructing their representatives and
senators. Then dilatory methods and
delay will not add to the state burden
(O Simplify court practice and re
duce court expenses by following tho
suggestions of Chief Justice Powers
Aid the course of justice by giving tho
supreme court power to order terms OF
court held when the business of 6
county demands such term. Provide
that two or three of the Junior justices
of the supreme court shall assist in the
circuit work of the county courts. Re
duce the number of superior judges tC
three, not by removing any now in ser
vice, but by filling no vacancies unit
the superior bench shall consist of but
three Judges.
az Prepare to amend the constitu
tiOn in 1920 so that the legislator,
shall consist of only the House of Rep
resentatives. No business, corporation
or organization could prosper with TIVE
boards of directors, each having powel
to veto the action of the other ant
often jealous and suspicious of eacl
other. The legislative system of TIVE
houses is tremendously expensive anC
the experience of other countries hal
proved it to be less efficient than a sin
gle house system. Such a change woul,
obviate the necessity of "A new state
building that will cost the people OF
Vermont from Il quarter to IA half mil
lion dollars.
To increase the prosperity of thu
state and people l suggest few thing
that seem to me desirable.
(D Agriculture in Vermont should
support fully hundred thousand PEG
pie more than it now supports. Thu
state has the available farm land in tn,
market at less than actual value. Pro
vide a system of rural credit whicl
will enable the purchase of this lane
on credit terms as favorable as is giveI
Bucklen 8 Arnica Salve for Piles.f