The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-24
ADVERTISEMENT.
ALLEN M. FLETCHER'S "OFFENSES"
AGAINST VT. SPECIAL INTERESTS
Two State Newspapers Anayze Alleged Transgressons Of
Former Governor Against Railroads
and Corporations

The st. Adams Messenger, commenting
on an editorial paragraph in the Brat
tleboro Reformer with reference to tn
administration of Governor Allen NJ
Fletcher, INDUCES in summary OF hi
offenses; but it has generously omitted
those of greatest enormity in its eyes
as the mouthpiece of the Central Yer
mont railway.
Let us see what some Of these offense;
were, committed by the governor in ques
ton;
| Governor F1etcher's chief offense was
pushing through the legislature acts fore
| ing the railroads to bear a fairer share
of the burden of taxation. This was
done by stopping the use as basis of
taxation of the gross income. which could
be shifted to roads outside the state con-
trolling those in the state. The ,taxpay
ers of Vermont now receive from this
source $4,000 more revenue in every
biennial period than before. The taxes
of the express and telephone companies
were also increased by 81, 900, and the
American Express company was COM
PEELED to pay its taxes, although it in
duced the last legislature to make a
slight reduction in the tax.
Opposed the Lobbyists.
Another offense of Governor Fletcher,
in the eyes of those whom The Messenger
represents, was his insistence that rail-
road lobbyists should cease trying with
greater or less success to dominate legis-
lation, especially through the Senate.
Arn bn,s eft 4oh
er's service in promoting legislation re-
garding demurrage in freight, for the
benefit Of the shipping public
Another offense of Governor Fletcher
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 detec-
tive fund should stop. His course has
been indicated by the reduction of detec-
tive expenses from $4,000 biennially to
$4,000; and that the state has not suf-
fered from this reduction is shown in the
cases secured by Attorney General Bar
ber
Justifes Telephone Investigations.
Another offense of Governor Fletcher
was his response to complaints as to tel
ephone conditions in Vermont. The
prompt elimination of the charge for
rails not answered by the party sought
has more than compensated patrons for
the expense of the investigation. Gov
ernor Fletcher's action also stopped the |
watering" of telephone |
stock for the promotion of monopoly, |
md resulted in an order for the reduction |
If certain excessive rates. That this /
natter has not been pushed to a full
ealization for patrons is not the fault
If Governor Fletcher, nor is he respon-
ible for the fact that the order for such
has all this time been held up
Indefinitely in the courts.
Insisted on State Purchasing Agent.
Another offense of Governor Fletcher
vas pushing legislation for state pur-
hasing agent, with the result of saving
axpayers thousands of dollars as COM
AIRED with the old system of purchasing I
" favor from privileged parties.
Another offense of Governor Fletcher
ras his interference with existing condi-
ions BY demanding better school fscili-
les for the youth of Vermont.
Another offense of Governor Fletcher '
-as his determination that acts of the
,gislature to provide Vermont with a {
eal public service commission such as {
e now have should not be invalidated Y
r neutralized by reactionary judges, !
nd that the people of Vermont should b