The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-04-05
Vermont State Officials May
Be Asked to Curtail
Their Reports
CONFERENCE HELD
ON THE SUBJECT
Gov. Gates Declared That
the Reports Should Be
Made Satisfactory

The state board of public printing,
composed Of Governor Gates, Auditor II.
F. Graham and Treasurer Walter +.
Scott, created by an act of the 1915 gen
eral assembly, met yesterday afternoon
in the executive chamber at Montpelier
with officials and heads of the different
state departments, and for nearly two
hours an informal talk ensucd relative
to the printing OF the biennial reports to
the legislature. The board il authorized
to decide upon the size of the reports,
the binding and the number to be print
ed; and the purpose of the meeting yes
terday afternoon was to gain nforma-
tion whereby duplication might be elim-
mated and saving to the state had by
curtailing the size of reports. consider
ing, also, the efficiency OF the same.
/ Governor Gates, who presided, said dur
ing the course OF the discussion, that
while ii was the object of the board to
avoid duplication in reports, it was also
desired to cover the ground satisfactorily
and as result some reports may of me-
cessity be enlarged
| The meeting adjourned without any
uCklpU bit tIE Will plOpAbiA adoFb
suggestion made by Secretary of State
Bailey and who was agreed with by sew
eral Others present, namely, to consider
the reports made a year ago and by let
ter make recommendations to those re-
sponsible for the reports. The matter
of getting the copy in early was also EN-
phasized, it being shown that as the re-
ports are bound in one volume, the tardi |
ness Of one department holds up all the
others.
Listening to the discussion, one would
have gathered the belief that during the
past few years much has been done to-
ward making the biennial reports much
smaller in size, thus lessening the cost,
while in not a single instance was there
any fault found. all being Of the opinion
that the ground was covered satisfactor-
lily, although in few instances officials
voiced the belief that changes would be
beneficial
Insurance Commissioner Guy w. Bail
ey explained that the report of the com
missioners was cut down about one half
year ago and an effort will be made at
the next legislative session to have a
statute passed allowing Vermont TO 60,
operate with Maine and New Hampshire
in publishing single report.
Chairman Bacon of the public service
commission said the report is reduced to
the minimum size, statutes defining very
closely what shall be printed. Bank
F. c. Williams was in
similar circumstance and DIR. Holton of
the state board of health, DIR. W. s. May
of the board of medical registration and
others believed their respective reports
were only fair to the departments they
Miss Rebecca Wright of the
free public library commission estimated
that saving of nearly one half might
be made in her report by leaving large
number of maps out and generalizing
more than at present.
John Avery of the reference bureau
suggested that summaries of the 20 odd
reports be printed and sent to the press
IF the state. believing that they would
De received as news and at the same time
he people of the state would gain bet
er idea of the work being accomplished
md the legislators would have time to
liRest the same before coming to Mont
,elier. He believed the present reports
we're too formal proba bly, because of ira
Iition. The text should come first and
he statistics and tables later on in the
eports, making the reports more inter
sting, read more widely and, therefore,
ecome more valuable. :
Others who spoke during the session
rere DR.. Grout Of the state hospital for Y
he insane, Superintendents Barss OF the
ldustrial school Loukes and Walker OF
he states prison and house of correc
ion, Fish and Game Commissioner Tit
omb, who outlined plans which he hoped
D follows; Chairman John E. Weeks Of Br
be penal board President Benton OF the
University of Vermont, Professor Hills
the agricultural college, State Geolo-
list Perkins, Commissioner of Agricul-
are L. $. Brigham. Commissioner Of
ducation Mason S. Stone.