The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-01-16
GOV. FLETcHER's MESSAGE
Strong Statements Made BY the Re.
tirng Governor.

Inere has Deen SO Uucn ulScuSSlOl
over the retiring message of Governor
Fletcher that The Banner has secur
ed a complete copy of the document
1t is as follows;
Gentlemen of the Joint Assembly:
In accordance with that section OF
the constitution which provides that
the Governor may bring TO the atten
tion of the joint assembly such
recommendation as appear to him
proper and necessary, ! now direct
your attention.
First To the policy of the State
relative to agriculture. The present
appropriation for the department OF
agriculture is wholly insufficient for
the work, and entirely out of proper
tion to the appropriation for other
departments OF the State government.
1t should be materially increased
| Authority should be given the com
missioner OF agriculture to make and
enforce such regulations as may bS
necessary to protect the State from
| invasion OF insect life and plant
disease: to enforce reasonable and
sanitary regulations, and to control
the standard OF the various agricul-
tuTal products of the State. How
can the commissioner of agriculture
without necessary funds establish
bureau in Boston or New York
through which our farmers without
middlemen can reach their market?
| How can the commissioner of agricul-
ture help the farmer by bringing i'm
migrant labor into the State, unless
the State furnish him the means to
! establish bureau for that purpose?
In other words how can he material
ly advance the interests of the State,
from business standpoint, without
the necessary resources?
Second. To the policy of the State
relative to conservation of forests,
water power and other natural re-
sources The policy adopted by the
last Legislature should be maintained
Any further attempt to exploit the
States credit in such a manner as
to result largely in the ultimate bene-
fit of certain private or corporate in
terests, such as that outlined in the
plan of 1912 to bond the State for con.
struction OF reservoirs, should be alb
solutely defeated. Such a scheme
should have no part in our general
State policy | recommend TO you
the adoption Of such legislation as
wall compel corporations organized
under the laws OF other States to
agree. before being allowed to do
business in the State of Vermont. to
comply with all the laws of the State
of Vermont and be subject to the pub
lie service commission control. With
in the last two years. or since the
adoption of the general policy I have
referred to, you have seen transmits
sion lines for high pressure connect
ed up all through the State to differ
ent plants, upon the general theory,
so far as the public understood ii. of
betterment of conditions; but the
legislation l suggest is to control
those better conditions so that we do
not awake to find ourselves in the
hands of corporations organized un-
der the laws of the State of Massa-
chuetts. Maine and other States, and
the interest of interstate commerce
presenting itself. we will have per-
haps if we are not careful THAT |
proposition of whether we have any
control whatever over our natural re-
sources This subject is worthy of |
your serious attention.
Third To the bond of the State |
treasurer which is now 100000; it |
should be increased to 5000, 900 The |
present bond is wholly inadequate for |
the purpose
Fourth. To the department of in
surance There should be created an
insurance department with distinct |
head appointed by the Governor and |
responsible to him There should be |
no division of authority as now exists |
under the present law which provides |
for two insurance commissioners, one !
the State treasurer, constitutional |
officer, and the other the secretary of |
State, also a constitutional officer, |
each holding two Offices, the one con- |
stitutional and the other statutory. |
The State should so legislate as TO |
prevent either the existence, or the |
suspicion of existence, of an insur- !
ance ring. Now and for all times an |
end should be put to the possibility of |
such conditions again arising as re-
Gently surrounded the State treasur |
er's bond, which make it possible for |
State treasurer to pass upon the |
condition of an insurance company |
whose bond he may later present to |
the Governor as surety for the faithful |
performance of the duties of his Of |
fee. The state is, and should be, en-
titled at all times to good and suf !
ficient bond. This subject ought not |
to be even debatable II has been |
truthfully said that it is in the stag |
nation and procrastination of com
missioners, and divided authority, |
that evils and abuses are generated. |
1t may be asked What were the con |
ditions that surrounded this subject |
at the time the last State treasurer's |
bond was given? The bond was in |
"a onnouanv that nt that time had "A |