Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-05-21

The object of legitimate newspaper discussion of any
subject regarding the public welfare like the large
in State expenses to the adoption of to
stop the abuse The personal equation enters into
situation OF this kind, for it not nfrequently happens
that the newspaper writer while he would personal
friends must hew to the line for regards
real interests of the public Waste of State funds often
from nexpeence careessness rather than from
wlfu intent and it is usually sufficient to point out the
situation to ensure remedy.
The large increase State expenses is in part The lec
innate price of progress development but the Other pa
is not excusabe account of the legitimate expenditures
The first point to be determined whether any part e
expenditures reasonably be avoided the ques
ton is if so, how saving be effected?
AS regards the question whether of the State ex-
penses can be avoided to the witness stand
experienced and unquestioned authority Lieutenant
Governor Frank E. Howe who speaker the
we'll presiding officer in the Senate and who there
fore speak with certain degree of authority and advisedy
On this point Mr. Howe says the Bennington Banner
There immense expenses which not justified,
particularly the great in the department of justice
and in the of sessions Of the Legislature Large
amounts in the aggregate also frered away in small
appropriations from which the gets adequate
turn.
"For the legislative expense the people at home
mainly responsible in sending inexperienced and often in
competent to Montpelier and also in keeping up double
house system with 275 members when single body of f
teen to thirty members would better at quarter of
the expense.
"For the failure reform the court system the public
of the State the Judges lawyers EDITORS legislators
sponsbiity which has been put upon them.
There is probably State expense of $150000 year
that might be cut off turned into channels where would
do the State good Let the people of Vermont
trate the abuses that be corrected instead of merely
condemnng the aggregate"
These suggestions worth consideration particularly
at this time and in all human probability Of them will
be adopted when the Legislature has opportunity to act
Governor Allen M. Fletcher given the subject
of increased State considerable attention. thinks
that material revision Of our judicial system would afford
simple and direct justice and at the time
He believes present judicial machinery is too
cumbersome and ponderous and expensive for little
State and that may we'll seriously consider the abolish
ing of the office of aoneygenera and the readopon of
the material portion of the judicial system which prevailed
before the change with the possible addition OF one or two
judges to the original number.
In his estimation all the municipal courts which in
instances have jurisdiction beyond the towns in
which they located could try many in territory
tributary to those centers involving comparatively small
which into the county courts with large panel
of jurors and all the parapheaa of court officers and other
of large and thus make handsome saving
for the State the time really facilitate Justice
These of the in which he believes the tax
of Vermont have the benefit of material reduc
ton in State expenses.
State Auditor Graham it is to crtcse and to
point faults and abuses in State systems but he be-
ieves would tend toward plan of
priations radically changed He makes the following
Let appropriations be made to take effect the be-
ginning the fiscal year after the adjournment of the Gen.
era Assembly except in such extraordinary require
the appropriation to become Immediately available.
Let appropriation be made for longer period than
two years
If these principles followed each Legislature
much has been appropriated for the expenses
of the State for the and will be response
BILE for the cost of for that biennial period The
appropriation year and the fiscal year will coincide and
nothing will to be carried into the next period
The committee finance in the Senate, and the commit
tees and and appropriations in the House.
then inegenty recommend the most deserving subjects
for appropriations and be able to limit the of
the probable of the State for the coming
biennial period each period will stand by itself far
revenue and appropriations concerned,
1t is noted however, that regards all these
concentrations the initiative must be taken by the voters
through their political organizations 1t would naturally
fall the republicans the party to start this re-
form and insist upon greatest degree Of
ssten progress and the adoption OF such change
will bring economy without mparng the efficiency of the
public service.