The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-01-19

the sum of $S5O,OOO for the expense
Of the courts this year which termi-
mates on the first of July next, our
system being to appropriate two
years in advance, and for the first
half of that year the courts have
cost us $4,000 or basis of 100000
above the appropriation of two years
ago. 1t is for you to determine, gent
lemen. whether or no this is a prop
err expenditure for this State
Fifteenth. To taxation and ways
and means. The revenues of the
state and the expenditures of the
state have doubled within the last ten
years Until two years ago the en-
tire system of raising the revenue
was that of indirect taxation. That
system has been carried as far as it
could be with safety The last Legis
lature changed the. laws relative 10
taxing public service corporations in
directly from percentage of gross
revenue to direct valuation. or taxing
them on the same principle as the in
dividual This became necessary by
reason of conditions which had arisen
leading to the ownership OF our pub
lie service corporations by other cor
porations outside of the state. The
change Is right in principal and be-
came an absolute necessity in fact,
and under no conditions whatever
should the principle involved be
changed. It matters not. for example,
what corporation inside of this
state earns as a public carrier il ii be
connected with a corporation outside
of the State. if that corporation out
side of the State owns a majority or
all of the stock of the corporation in
side The old law was purely a legal
invitation to the outside corporation
TO so run the corporation inside the
state of Vermont that IL need not
necessarily make any money at all,
the money being made by the corpor.
alton outside OF the State. That is
principle. gentlemen, which once
adopted by Vermont the new princi-
pie never should be given up under
any preteXt whatever. know of no
further means of increasing the
States revenue other than an in.
crease of the present direct State tax.
That can aud should be avoided and
the sum OF nearly 100000 saved TO
the State first, by the adjustment OF
the attorney generals office; second,
by a change in our court system, and
third, by consolidation of a number
of our commissioners in one commits.
sion in a way which recognizes that
in the final analysis the executive is
held responsible for the efficiency of
the commissions and as he can only
do the best that he can with the ma
terial that he has to do with the pow
er should be his to enforce results.
This involves no experience but simp-
ly putting into force good business
management. thoroughly realize
that in such effort as you may make
to reduce expenses along the lines
herein indicated you will be at once
faced with a powerful lobby, the
friend of those whose interests are
directly involved. but to my mind
your duty is plain and there is no es-
cape from it. The suggestions that
have thus far emanated from mem
bers of the bar aud which on their
face meant real economy and general
betterment, have absolutely failed in
their general effect and the State
may now well say to these and to fur
Their propositions of the sort: From
all such things. good Lord. believer
MS" We wish to go back to that
which is within our means and adapt
ed to the requirement of IA State of
this size from the money thus saved
to the State more liberal sum
should be given to the agricultural
department provision should be made
for the general growth of the other
State departments for the creation OF
an institution for the feeble-minded
and for a State orphanage where the
homeless children of Vermont can ne
given a chance to grow up under de
cent conditions. 1t will cost some
money, but it will be cheaper in the
long run to educate them to be good
citizens than to care for some Of
them later in other institutions as
wards Of the State.
now call your attention to the APP
pointment OF judges. II is for you to
pass upon the quality of citizenshipfI
(COntiuued on Page 6)