St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-08-12
HOWE FOR GOVERNOR
Would Like To Be Republican
Standard Bearer---Statement
of Principles.

Lieutenant Governor Frank E.
Howe of Bennington has given out
the following statement of his at
titude toward the Republican nomi-
nation for the governorship:
l have been asked and urged by
many people to become a candidate
for the governorship this year.
have also been advised by a few to
Izeep out of the contest. Frankly,
should like to be governor and should
esteem it a high honor to be chosen
as the Republican standard bearer in
order to do all in my power in sup
port of certain principles / believe to
! be essential to the advance and pros
perity 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 tow
ard better things and improved pub
lie service should occupy so large a
place in the campaign.
There are numerous issues under
discussion but many of them are de-
tails to be worked out by the legisla-
ture and success in this direction will
be measured almost entirely by the
character, ability, experience and fit
ness of the men whom the people
choose to represent them in the
House and Senate.
The duties of a governor lie chiefly
in consecrating his counsel and in
fiuence toward solving the problems
fof the state. He should have judg-
ment and courage in the use of his
now enlarged veto power in curtail-
| ing schemes of selfish interests and to
guard against the excesses of the Wis
ionary and incompetent.
IN this connection it seems to me
we'll to consider a few of the real
issues that Vermont must face and
to study the remedies proposed.
These issues are those which af-
feet the prosperity, efficiency char
acter, intelligence, and welfare of
our people. 1 have put prosperity
first, as the higher standards are
seldom reached unless nurtured by at
least 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 in
creasing their tax and debt burdens
700 rapidly and without getting ade-
IGIuIA IOI I4G uOnGE SDCAL.
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 Iegislating
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 Efficiency.
To promote a higher degree of ef-
ficiency in town and city government
| suggest the following legislation:
(1) Forbid the towns to assume
bonded Indebtedness except by two
thirds vote at meeting or election
at which at least 20 per cent of the
voters are present.
(2) Permit the towns and cities
at their own option to secure local eff
fciency, by putting their business af-
fairs in the hands of business man
ager under the supervision of a small
commission elected by the voters of
the town.
CD Provide a uniform system of
town accounting and permit towns to
cooperate when they desire in secur-
ing competent road builders or in
other important public works.
Keep Within Income.
To increase the efficiency and
economy of state goernment a few
important measures are most essen
tial though many lesser ones are de-
sirable:
I'D Make no appropriations, ex-
cept in case of emergency, unless the
income of the state will meet the ap-
preparation without any new tax-levy
and without going into debt. In
other words, make the state live
witnIn It's income.
CD Fix fiat sum payment to
members of the legislature. This
can be done only by the voters posi-
lively instructing their representa-
tlVes and senators. Then dilatory
methods and delay will not add to
the state burden.
I'D Simplify court practice and
reduce court expense by following |
the suggestions of Chief Justice
Powers. Aid the course of justice by I
Giving the supreme court power to /
order terms of court held when the
business of a county demands such a /
term. Provide that two or three of I
the junior justices of the supreme I
court shall assist in the circuit work /
of Superior judges to three,
not by removing any now in service
but by filing no vacancies until the
Superior bench shall consist of but
thI ee judges
(4l Prepared to amend the Con-
stitution in 1920 so that the legisla-
ture shall consist of only the House
Of Representatives. No business, cor
poration, or organization could pros
per with two boards of directors,
each having power to veto the action
Of the other, and often jealoSs and
suspicious Of each other. The legis-
Eative system Of two houses ifs tre-
@-endOusIy expensive and the expert
snce OF other countries has proved it
10 be less efficient than a. single
house system. Such a change would
Dbviate the necessity of a new state
btll ding Thai wial ceat hes aQnIe C
YerA .azia
million dollars.