St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-11-11

visibility of having the state help
the farming interests of the stat
because it was the largest single in
terest in Vermont and was not re-
ceiving a proportionate amount 0
assistance and development from
the state treasury. This leads us
to consider how the expenditures o.
the state are divided up among the
different int: ests and professions.
The figures following do not in
clude the whole expenditures of tho
state for the year 1913 which
amounted to $1,S77,4 O5.O7, but are
those readily grouped into the de-
partments named.
The most expensive department of
the state government is the depart
total $3S3,44O.46. Probably two
thirds of this amount goes to the
legal profession and represents what
the state government is paying them.
We would not suggest that the bulk
of these expenditures are illegitimate,
they are not, but there are many
items of expense that might be re
duced without injustice to any one.
This is a department that is sure to
receive serious consideration by the
incoming legislature.
Next in size is the expenditure for
roads, $276,2O5.12. This is a large
10 Il, L
it and it is generally believed it has
been wisely expended. Certain, it is
that no other department can show
greater results from the money ex
pended than Vermont's highway de-
partment.
Following this comes the depart
ment of education with an expend-
iture of $244,O89.S5. This expendi-
ture is largely for new work under
taken by the state instead of the
town, in the development of i'm
proved educational work. 1t is an
effort to equalize the burdens of ed
ucation so the children in the poorer
towns may receive as good an educa
ton as those living in the more
wealthy towns and cities. The woIl
of this depa. tment may be extensive
ly changed for the purpose of Sc
curing a better and more efhcien,
system of education, but its expense
are not likely to be decreased.
Next in size is the legislative ex
pense of $19O,577.l2, a greatly in
creased expense that can be regulated
only by the lawmakers themselves,
The people of the state justly fec
that they should be materially de
creased and if the next legislature
acts wisely a large sum OF mOIey
can be saved here and devoted Il
more constructive work that vii
benefit the whole state.
Next in size is the executive de
pa:tment, $164,76S.71. This does
not include the executive officers il
the departments that have alread.
been named, nor the managers
state institutions or several com
missions whose duties are confined to
a single department of work. 1t
a large sum and one that has beef
steadily increasing yet it can not b
claimed that Vermont is paying any
of its officers in this class exoI BIZ
tant salaries. However it seems liz
a large overhead expense for a stat
no larger than Vermont.
The next item is the care Of the
insane, $l51,930.65. This is the
gross expense and it is believed thai
the insane of the state are wei
cared for and the management OF
this department has always done its
business in an efficient and economi-
cal manner. There is little prospect
this expense can be reduced unless
the state stops some of the care
1t is now giving these unfortunates
Penal institutions are next in
line and their &. oss expense is given
$117,6S9.7S. This is a mighty bur-
den for $4,000 people but probabl
cannot be materially reduced unit
effective reform among the crimina
classes is brought about.
Here are expenses given withou
regard to their size: For miscella-
neous purposes such as special com
missions, delegates to conventions
monuments, ETC., $7,O74.77; III
military department including tn,