The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-08-06
P.W.!C[EMENT NOW
CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR
Issues Letter To the Repub-
lican Voters
ON A BUSINESS PLATFORM
His Chief Issue is the Question Of
State Representatives,
the Democrats

To the Republicans of Vermont: :

To the Republicans of Vermont
Through the newspapers and in
many private letters my name has
been suggested as candidate for gov
e.nor of Vermont If nominated BY
the republican party, | should like to
make the campaign.
In a republican form of govern.
ment political parties are necessary
to a good administration OF public af-
fairs.
A non-partisan candidate is like a
privateer in time of war. Responsible
to no party and therefore not to be
relied upon to assist in constructive
legislaton-for that is the work OF
parties, not Of Individuals must
remain a political priyatecr until
some party is developed 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 domi-
nant party and be accountable to that
party for his official acts. In this way
only can responsible public govern
ment be established.
In times past have made some pro
posals for changes in state COVE n
ment and public policies which have
been adopted. and among them a pro
per system of accounting Under the
direction OF the auditor of accounts
we now have complete statement of
he state receipts from taxes and It's
expenses. but fail TO make the best
use of the knowledge we have at
hand. We ought 10 get this informa-
ton to the attention of the Legislators
before they convene to take action up
on the state business.
Our legislators are honest men.
thoroughly imbued with the impor.
lance of the work they have underiak
en-, but for the most part they arc in
experienced in legislation, and conse-
qucntly the first part of each session
10 OtiuHltu III ftAAiiH acquainted Win
the needs Of the state, and the real
legislative action is crowded into the
last days of the session when the yot-
ers are calling for adjournment. When
sessions have been prolonged il has
been because the legislators, through
being unacquainted with measures
proposed, have been at a loss to
know what should be done, and not
so far as know. because the mem
bers are inclined TO spin out the time
of the session fof the per diem com
pensation.
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 ex-
penses which must be met. such as
court expenses, the cost of the state
hospital, prisons, etc, and i'm addition
the expenses Of schools. highways.
etc. which are somewhat more open
to legislative action, and lastly the
balance of income which is at the dis
posal OF the incoming legislation.
II such a budget were properly pre-
pared and placed in the hands of the
legislators 80 days before the Legsla-
mre ccnvenes. the members could in
form themselves upon the general
business of the state and be prepared
for action in the early days OF the SEES
sion.
believe such a plan would be vel.
coined by the legislators themselves.
and such a budget would aid in cut
ting down state expenses, which have
reached formidable sum.
In 1903 the general expenses of the
state government were $4,000; in
1905. S5SO.O0O; in 1907. S676.oo0: in
1903, $4,000; in 1911, S1,077.0e0; IN
1913. S1.4g3,OO0. These were all legis-
lative years. and do not include
the cost of the administration OF JUS
tice-the courts.
The expenses Of the courts show a
steady increase also. In 1898 the
courts cost s23S.OOO; and in 1913.
S3S3.000. The salaries Of the judge
have been properly increased. but
that will not account for the increas-
ed annual cost Of si45.000 court cx-
penses with litigation remaining
about the same.
Il is apparent that notwithstanding
the high character of the judges the
present system OF Supreme. Superior.
Municipal and Justice courts hae be
come somewhat costly and complex.
and il should be scrutinized with a
view TO more simplicity and economy.