The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-01-07

expenditures of the state have doubled
within the last ten years Until two
years ago, the entire 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 legislature
changed the laws relative to taxing public
service corporations indirectly from per
centage OF gross revenue TO direct valua-
ton, or taxing them on the same princi-
pie the individual This became neces-
saIy by reason of conditions which had
arisen leading to the ownership of our
public service corporations by other cor
poratIoDs outside of the state. The change
Is right IN principle and became an abso-
lutte necessity IN fact and under no condi-
tions whatever should the principle in
volyed be changed | know of no further
means Of increasing the states revenue
other than an increase OF the present ai-
rect state tax. That can and should be
avoided and the sum OF nearly $500 COO be
saved to the state First, by the abolish
ment OF the Attorney Generals Office;
second, by change in our Court system,
and third by consolidating a number of
our commissions in one commission in n
way which recognizes that in the final
analysis the executive is held responsible
for the efficiency of the commission. and
as he can only do the best that he can
with the material that he has To do with
the power should be his To enforce re-
suits. This involves no experiment but
simply putting into force good business
management. L thoroughly realize that IN
such effort as You may make to reduce ex-
penses along the lines herein indicated.
you will be at once faced with n powerful
lobby, the friends of those whose interests
are directly involved, but to my mind
your duty is plain and there is no escape
from it. The suggestions that have thus
far emanatcd from members of the bar
and which on their face meant economy
and general betterment, have absolutely
failed in their general effect and the state
may now wei say to these and to further
: propositions of the sort Prom all such
; things good Lord deliver us We wish
t to go back to that which is within our
: means and adapted To the requirement OF
a state of this size. From the money thus
t saved TO the state a more liberal sum
: should be given to the Agricultural De
r partment, provision should be made foI
the general growth OF the other state de
r partments. for the creation of an institu
: tion for the feeble minded and for a STATE
= orphanage where the homeless children
e of Vermont can be given a chance 10 grow
e up under decent conditions. 1t will COS
some money, out IL VIII DE cheaper In tn
J long run to educate them to good citizen
than to care for some of them later il
$ other institutions as wards of the state
:, Finally, my experience leads me to tn
h conclusion that the state would be bene
e fitted not so much by the passage of to
: many new laws but rather ny the correC
e ton or the elimination Of some that "
} now have and by the honest. forceful an
a fearless administration of those that W
:, may retain.
1t | have made certain suggestions to yo
for your consideration feeling that you
d final conclusions relative to the same wi
lie be for the best interest of the state