The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-08-13
PERCRAL ". CLEMENT. A CAN.
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many htAfAfN AN~N@A% ~ ft''tsfN FANN
been suggested as a candidate fol
governor Of Vermont. II nominated
by the republican party, should like
to make the campaign.
In a republican form Of government
political parties are necessary to /
good administration Of public affairs
A non-partisan candidate is like {
privateer in time of war. Response
bic to no party and therefore not to be
relied upon 10 assist in constructive
legislation-fo that is the work Of
parties, not Of individuals--he must
remain a political privateer until
some party is developed to fit his prin-
ciples, or until he can adapt his prin-
ciples to some effective political or
ganization.
The executive head Of a state should
have the support Of dominant party
and be accountable to that party for
his DhtAhi dCASs III tiJH way why tdAt
responsible public government be es-
tabished.
In times past | have made some
proposals for changes in state govern
ment and public policies which have
been adopted, and among them a
proper system of accounting. Under
the direction Of the auditor of ac-
counts we now have complete state
ment Of the state receipts from taxes
and its expenses, but we fail to make
the best use Of the knowledge we
have at hand We ought to get this
information to the attention Of the
legislators before they convene to take
action upon the state business.
Our legislators are honest men, thor
oughly imbued with the Importance
Of the work they have undertaken,
but for the most part they are mex
perienced in legislation, and conse-
quently the first part of each session
is occupied in getting acquainted with
the needs of the state, and the real
legislative action is crowded into the
last days of the session when the vot-
ers are calling for adjournment. When
sessions have been prolonged it has
been because the Legislators, through
being unacquainted with measures
proposed, have been at loss to know
what should be done, and not, SO far
as | know, because the members are
inclined to spin out the time of the
session for the per diem cempensa-
ton.
A budget should be prepared from
the auditors accounts, showing on one
side the income of the state from all
sources and upon the other the expen-
ses which must be pet, such as court
expenses, the cost of the state hospi-
tai, prisons, etc., and in addition the
expenses Of schools, highways, ETC.,
which are somewhat more open to leg
islative action, and lastly the bal
ance Of income which is at the dis
posal of the incoming legislation.
If such q budget were properly pre-
pared and places in the hands of the
Legislators 30 days before the Legis-
lature convenes, the members could
inform themselves upon the general
business of the state and be prepar-
ed in the early days of the session.
| believe such plan would be well
coined by the legislators themselves,
and such a budget would aid in cut
ting down state expenses, which have
reached a formidable sum.
In 1903 the general expenses of the
state government were S567 900; in
1905, $3.50, 900; in 1907, 100000; in
1909, $4,000; in 1911, SLUT, 900; in
1913, 81, 5000. These were all
legislative years, and do not include
the cost of the administration of JUS
tiee-the courts.
The expenses of the courts show a
steady increase also. 1903 the
courts cost $23s,0O0; and in 1913,
S333,000. The salaries of the judges
have been properly increased, but that
will not account for the increased an
nual cost of S1d5,000 court expenses
with litigation remaining about the
same.
1t is apparent that Notwithstanding
the high character of the judges the
present system Of Supreme, Superior,
and Justice courts has be-
come somewhat costly and complex,
and it should be scruntinized with a
view to more simplicity and economy.
The steadily mounting total of state
expense should also be carefully re-
viewed, especially in the departments
of legislative expense, the administra
ton Of justice and the conduct of the
various state commissions, depart
ments and institutions, with view to
correcting extravaganza, so that
more money may be had for those en-
terprises which bring a substantial
return to all of US, such as schools,
good roads and the reforestation Of
our waste lands.
With a Legislature thoroughly in