Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-17
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.
Looks Some Like Cold Feet.

Looks Some Like Cold Feet.
The Waterbury Record calls on
Carroll s. Page to make ''ringing
announcement" that he will be can.
didate to succeed himself as junior
United States senator from Vermont.
The Record is of the opinion that
DELAYED announcements indicate cold
feet, and give opportunity for booming
the candidates. of other ambitious
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Reformer.
Every Fisherman Has a Duty.
Those fishermen of Vermont who do
nothing toward restocking the streams
and lakes. but simply take out fish,
have no legitimate cause of complaint
if perchance they find fishing poor.
The real sportsman fisherman is the one
who is interested in protecting and
propagating fish as well as taking
them out of the waters. Fish do not
come from the water or from the soil
or from the air. If fish are caught
somebody must see to it that they are
planted and grown News.
Exit Governor Johnson.
Every politician has his day. For
several years Gov. Hiram johnson has
held California in the hollow of his
hand. He was big Progressive-the
running mate of Roosevelt four years
ago-and California was the most radi-
cal state in the union. 1t even ruled
the Taft electors off the official ballot,
the Progressives having stolen the
Republican party name. In conse
quence Taft got but a beggarly 5000
votes in the whole state, which gave
it's electoral votes to Roosevelt. John
son was the whole cheese then and for
a year or two later. But his star has
been descending of late and the pri-
maries last week threw it into absolute
eclipse. He organized so-called
United Republican movement in the
interest of Roosevelt's candidacy, but
it was soundly beaten by the regular
Republicans, who seem to have come
back in California, as they have in
most parts of the country. CALIFORNIA;
delegation to Chicago goes unpledged.
Randolph Herald and News.
Governor Fletcher's Offences.
The st. Adams Messenger, COM
menting on an editorial paragraph in
the Brattleboro Reformer with refer
ence to the administration of Governor
Allen M. Fletcher, INDUCES in a sum-
mary of his offenses; but it has gener-
ously omitted those of greatest enor-
nifty IN its eyes, as the mouthpiece of
the Central Vermont railway, Let US
see what some of these offences were.
committed by the governor in question ::
Governor Fletcher's chief offence
was pushing through the legislature
acts forcing the railroads to bear a
fairer share of the burden of taxation.
Nxrc %a 10 q
basis of taxation of the gross income,
which could be shifted to roads outside
the state controlling those in the state
The taxpayers of Vermont now receive
| from this source S240, 900 more revenue
| in every biennial period than before.
| The taxes of the express and. telephone
companies were also increased by
S25, 900, and the American Express
company was compelled to pay its
taxes, although it induced the last
legislature to make a slight reduction
in the tax.
Another offence of Governor Fetch
er, in the eyes of those whom the
Messenger represents, was his insis-
tence that railroad lobbyists should
cease trying with greater or less sue
cess to dominate legislation, especially
through the senate.
Another offence was Governor
Fletcher's service in promoting legisla-
ton regarding demurrage in freight,
for the benefit of the shipping public
Another offence Of Governor Fetch
er was his determination that the office
of attorney general should cease to be
Used as buffer between the railroads
and other public service corporations
and the public; and that the abuse of
the detective fund should stop. His
course has been indicated by the re-
duction of detective expenses from
$40, 900 biennially to $40, 000 and that
the state has not suffered from this
reduction is shown in the large per
cent of convictions in criminal cases
secured by Attorney-ge general Barber.
Another offence of Governor Fetch
err was his response to complaints as to
telephone conditions in Vermont. The
prompt elimination of the charge fol-
calls not answered by the party sough
has more than compensated patrons fol
the expense of the investigation.
Governor Fletcher's action also stopped
the promiscuous "watering' of tele
phone stock for the promotion of mo-
nopoly and resulted in an order for the
reduction of certain excessive rates
That this matter has not been pushed
TO 1ult reaJlZaClOn Tor patrons is no
the fault of Governor Fletcher, nor i:
he responsible for the fact that the
order for such reduction has all thi.
time been held up indefinitely in the
courts.
Another offence of Governor FLETCHER
,, was pushing Legislation for a state
purchasing agent, with the result @
saving taxpayers thousands of dollar
as compared with the old system of pur
chasing by favor from privileged par
ties.
| Another offence of Governor Fletche
was his interference with existing con
ditions by demanding better schoo
facilities for the youth Of Vermont.
Another offence of Governor Fletche
: was his determination that acts of tn
legislature to provide Vermont with
real public service commission sue