The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-01-30
State Expenses Again.

''rhe standpat newspapers are just
beginning to realize that Vermonts
expenses have increased practically
three hundred per cent during the
past ten years, but there is no eXpla-
nation other than to state that the
cost of living has gone up. The ST.
Adams Messenge states that the rea
son is plain but fails to get down 10
tangible figures to show just where
all the money has gone. 1t Is such
a childish answer to so important a
question that the main part OF 1t Is
printed In another column. The Re
publican newspapers certainly have
4 difficult problem to show why the
state expenses should jump from ST.
3S4,292 in 1904 to $S,996,56S in 1872
Burlington Clipper
The Burlington Clipper in it's en-
thusiasm has made a false statement.
1t says that there is mo explanation
other than to state that the cost OF
living has gone up when The Mes
senge- in the editorial of which the
contemporary prints part careful
by leaving out two very important
paragraphs), said, Nor need the in
crease be based on the higher cost
Of living, although this is a factor
that must be reckoned with in any
detailed consideration of the sub
ject."
Now the Messenger confesses ig-
norance at this whiting as to the e.
act channels through which the IT.
ceasing app, opriations have flowed,
but that does not weaken a single
bit the general proposition THAI has
been set forth, namely that The
prime reason for the increase has
been the passing from the ide of in
dividualism TO that OF collectivism,
Of a vast amount OF social costs from
The individual to the public account.
In other words. Vermont has inc cas-
ed her activities for the benefit OF
the people II costs money to in
spect factories; it costs money to
have a weights and measure bureau;
it costs money 10 keep up state
laboratory by hygiene; it costs money
10 look out for the conservation OF
natural resources; it costs money to
conduct penal institutions on a high
plane; it costs money to control
public utilities; il costs money to es-
tablish a legislative referendum bu-
reau, it costs money TO advertise ,he
state it costs money 10 give more
attention 70 lettering agricultural
conditions In other words the ever
increasing social activities of the
commonwealth
II is a very simple proposition and
The Messenger has a higher opinion
Of The Clippers ability than to think
| that it's eyes a,e closed to these self
evident truths. The Clipper profess
es to stand for the people; would it
have the state return to the-deyil-
take.the hindermost policy? The
| contemporary also refuses to recog-
nize that Vermont does not stand
| alone in this matter. There is not a
state in the Union. the expenditures
OF which have not increased by leaps
and bounds since the advent Of the
new idea. and * is the experience in
all states that ,eformers have failed
to reduce expenses even when they
have been placed in authority
through Just such complaints as The
Clipper is now giving utteranoe to.
If this matter is looked at with the
proper perspective il will be seen
that there isn't much ground for com
plant in the upward trend of ex-
penses The Messenger does not
stand forth as saying thai there have
no. been uniwse appropriations. but
il does cffer for consideration the
statement THAI the bulk of the in
crease has been brought about by he
change in the view of the public as to
the states field of activity If The
CLIPPER viii look into the matter care
fully ii may come to the point where
it will admit that the childish" odi-
torial of The Messenger was finger
with the wisdom that the Bible says
sometimes falls from the mouths OF
babes and sucklinrs- St Albqns