St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-08-12
CLEMENT In FIELD
Announces Platform On Which He
Seeks the GOvernorship of
Vermont.

vermont.
To the Republicans of Vermont
Through the newspapers and in
many private letters my name has
been suggested as candidate for
governor of Vermont If nominated
by the republican party, 1 should
! like to make the campaign.
In a republican form of govern
ment political parties are necessary
to a good administration of public
affairs.
A non-partisan candidate is like
la privateer in time of war. Re-
sponsible to no party and therefore
not to be relied upon to assist in
constructive legislation-for that is
the work of parties, not of individu-
als-he must remain a political
privateer until some party is devel-
oped to fit his principles, or until
he can adapt his principles to some
effective political organization.
The executive head of state
should have the support of a domi-
nant party and be accountable to
that party for his official acts. In
this way only can responsible pub
lie government be established.
III llul66 past i nave L4d0C SOAAC
proposals for changes in state gov
eminent and public policies which
have been adopted, and among them
a proper system of accounting. Tn
der the direction of the auditor of
accounts we now have a complete
statement of the state receipts from
taxes and it's expenses, but we fail
to make the best use of the know
ledge we have at hand. We ought
to get this information to the at
tention of the legislators before they
convene to take action upon the
state business.
Our legislators are honest men,
thoroughly imbued with the i'm
portance of the work they have I'M
dertaken, but for the most part they
are inexperienced in legislation, and
consequently the first part of each
session is occupied in getting ac-
quainteG with the needs of the state,
and the real legislative action is
crowded into the last days of the ses-
sion when the voters are calling for
adjournment. When sessions have
been prolonged it has been because
the legislators, through being unac-
Quainted with measures proposed,
have been at a loss to know what
should be done, and not, so far as
l know, because the members are
inclined to spin out the time of the
session for the per diem compensa-
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
expenses which must be met, such as
court expenses, the cost of the state
hospital, prisons, ETC., and in addi-
ton the expenses of schools, high
ways, ETC., which are somewhat
more open to legislative action, and
lastly the balance of income which
is at the disposal of the incoming
legislation.
If such a budget were properly
prepared and placed in the hands
of the legislators 80 days before the
Legislature convenes, the members
could inform themselves upon the |
general business of the state and be !
prepared for action in the early days |
of the session.
/ believe such a plan would be I
welcomed by the legislators them
selves, and such a budget would aid |
in cutting down state expenses, |
which have reached a formidable |
sum.
In 1908 the general expenses of
the state government were 1857, 900; /
in 1905, $5SO,OOO; in 1907, $685.
900; in 1909, $4,000: in 1911,
5 ,O77, 900; in 1913, Slab, 000-
These were all legislative years, and
do not include the cost of the adj
of justice-the courts.
The expenses of the courts show
a steady increase also. In 1908 the
courts cost $23S,OOO; and in 1913,
$3.50, 600. The salaries of the judges
have been properly increased, but
hat will not account for the increas-
I'd annual cost of $145,0OO court ex-
,enses with litigation remaining
lbout the same.
1t is apparent that notwithstand-
ng the high character of the judges
he present system of Supreme, Su-
,erior, Municipal and Justice courts
las become somewhat costly and
complex, and it should be scrutiniz- ,
ID with a view to more simplicity i
nd economy. :
The steadily mounting total of T
tate expenses should also be care :
ully reviewed, especially in the de-
artments of legislative expense, the +
administration of justice and the +
Onduct of the various state commits 7
ions, departments and institutions, Z
nth a view to correcting extrava- :
ance, so that more money may be +
ad for those enterprises which
ring a substantial return to all of
s, such as schools, good roads and
he reforestation of our waste lands.
With a Legislature thoroughly in
ormed in regard to the needs of the Z
tate, and executive authority prop s