Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-14

Montpelier, Jan. The Valedictory
message of Governor Fletcher overshad-
| owed the other events of the day in hold
| ing the popular interest on inauguration
! day. The floor and gallery of the House
were packed with spectators and all
gave the closest attention to the message
for an hour. He defended at length his
position in appointing the supreme court
| judges, giving a record of the events
which shaped his decision and action.
| The several references topersons concern
ed were quiet departure from the obi
nary farewell message. He also present.
ed a series of changes which, he said,
would save the State $4,000 annually
This amount, he stated, could be saved
/ by adding two justices to the supreme
court and abolishng the superior court,
by abolishng the office Of attorney-gen-
cral, and by consolidating into one COM
mission the board for Predetermined, the
boar for the insane, the penal board and
the office of the sergeant-at-arms making
the Governor the purchasing agent ex-
otiicio. He called attention to the fact
that the administration of justice cost
$500 900 biennialy, while education re-
ceivod only 100000.
EDUCATIONAL EXPEN
He noted the duplication of effort and
large appropriations to higher education.
The duty of the State to her common
schools IL paramount. he said. If the
state has sufficient means to go beyond
the common schools and the Legislature
is prepared to accept the University Of
Vermont as a State institution. then"
he said, lit becomes your duty to stop
the duplication"
Governor Fletcher advocated increased
agricultural appropriations, an insurance
| department, control of the state library
by the supreme court. an adoption Of
workmen's compensation mea sures, a d.
rect primary. action on an institution for
the predetermined, and a continuance Of
the present direct taxation Of public serv-
ice corporations.
THE SUPREME COURT ISSUE.
The supreme court justiceship question
was the last point touched upon. The
present difficulty. he asserted. rested pri-
marily on the Senate of 1910. which killed
the amendment taking the time lock on
the constitution so it could be amended
at any time. but proposing all the other
amendments although he was willing to
, bear his part OF the responsibility as a
member OF the commission.
Judge Rowell and the supreme court,
his statutory advisers, were unanimously
of the opinion that 1t was his duty to ap-
point on December for two years. Justice
Rowell did not announce any change Of
his mind on this point until after the ap-
pointments were made Had the ex-1us-
tlce done so, Mr.. Fletcher said that. he
would have again referred the matter to
the supreme court. The Governor told
the Legislature that the responsibility
for a dual court broil would rest upon
their shoulders, should they attempt to
name another court,
GOV. FLETCHER'S ADDRESS.
Governor Fletcher said:
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:
In accordance with that section of the
constitution which provides that the Gov
ernor may bring to the attention of the
Joint assembly such recommendations as
appear to him proper and necessary. | now
direct your attention
First: To the policy Of the State rela-
, tive to agriculture, The present appro-
priatlon for the department of agriculture
Is wholly insufficient for the work, and
entirely out Of proportion to the appro-
priation for other Departments Of tha