The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-01-07
GOV. C.. W. GATES'S SALUTATORY
Warns Legislators Against Too Great Parental Control
on the Part of the State-Urges Rigid Economy and
Elimination of Unnecessary Legislation -

Our Constitution provides for govern
ment of three OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
executive and judicial-with functions sep
arate and distinct, and. yet, the depart
ments are so related that they are depend
ent upon each other. Especially is this
true of the legislative and executive de-
partments which we today represent in
this JOINT assembly convened according TO
our Constitution and time-honored Gus
tom.
In exercising the privilege of addressing
you today, | shall be very brief, and shall
only in a general way refer To the work
that is before ms. Let me at the outset
emphasize the Importance of our keeping
constantly in mind the fact that we have
been elected by the people whose servants
we are and by whom our acts will be
Judged While our election by the people
for this purpose Is an honor rightly TO be
appreciated. yet. nothing short of a full
Irealixation of our responsibility To them.
and the conscientious discharge of our
/ duty viii hiring us an honorable acluittal
at their hands. TO this end our best
/ thought and application i essential
Never before have the voters of the
state taken more active notice of the acts
OF ATS public servants than at the present
tl,,e, Increased publicity of all matters
relating 10 legislative and executive action
tesvateS familiarity with state problems,
and gbsS in turn results in decided opin,
ianS opinions VARYING widely on aEmeSi
aeHoFv question Of Importance. which often
smakeS the discovery IT the proper solts
tfon a very difficult task difficult because
aftsime~ opinions most vigorously *
pressed maN lead rs a~tray, IL Is some
TIMES e0r highest duty 10 oppose whai
might SeeA overwhelming public opinion
We are hspe 81 deliberate. 30 weigh IN,
facts, - le4sSlate wisely, We must ais,
take nate account the rapid change tina
has occurred in business. Saclal. and paRtS
Zeal ideas. ~ rapid has keen tins chang,
that some haSse principles are in DANCE
of being swept aside 20 satisfy the popula
will. tine et the most evident manifesto
tions Of this ehange is the tendency I,
place upon the central government man,
varied powers and Responsibilities tina
heretofore rested With the people them
, selves. just how far Ne. as a state
| should so towards parental government
! will be the question often 70 be consid
cred in our deliberations, and our deter
limitations viii require our wisest jude
ment.
BY such government. some things ca
economically than by the people, or town
2 direct We find by experience that tn
= state should take charge. in very larg
measure, of our public safety, of on
0 courts, and police powers, and of our pub
lie health, and to certain degree, of ,ou
I schools, and state highways
T On the other hand, / believe we will a
d agree that it would be most unfortunat
n to have our people entirely relieved of tn
/ active responsibilities of citizenship, wit
n the exception of the election of the nece,
sary officials Such a condition, it seem
y to me, would destroy the greatest SAT,
|. guard we have to our body politie-ind
Y Ividual activity, responsibility and ind,
d Ipendence. Vermont has not gone ia
I astray in this matter, and has wisely chol
II en- a course between the two extremes
e To emphasize this point by way of illustrI