The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-06-14
The Legislature of 1912.
vermont Tribune.)

(Vermont Tribune.)
The list of the " offences of Hon.
Allen NJ. Fletcher during his admins
tration as governor, so generously
omitted in the St Adams Messenger 5
list Of that official : transgressions,
and supplied in the columns of tine
Tribune, has attracted the attention
Of the St. Johnsbury Caledonian, and
that esteemed contemporary has been
moved to make - uuconsciously, but
nevertheless appreciably-the greatest
tribute yet paid to Governor Flctch-
cr 5 service to the state. The Caledoa-
ian thinks the Legislature of 1912
should be given credit for the meas
urcs mentioned as having been pushed
through the legislature under the lead
ership of Mr.. Fletcher as governor.
And that is precisely the credit that
Mr.. Fletcher gives.
From the very outset Mr.. Fletcher
has pronounced the legislature of 1912
one Of the most efficient. constructive
and faithful general assemblies with
/ in the memory of the recent genera
| tiOn. and he will doubtless regard it as
! a high compliment that an opposing
paper should deem the offences
named deserving enough to be credit
ed 10 the legislature in question. He
! has been content to bear the d" kicks =
aimed at him by a few inspired news
papers, but he is generous enough to
give full credit to the lawmakers who
so faithfully co-operatcd to do what is
coming at this late day to be recog-
nizcd as a great service for the com
monwealth Indeed, the friends of
Governor Fletcher know that he is de
/ termined, no matter what else hap
! pens, that the legislature Of 1912 shall
receive the credit that it failed to re
!; ceive owing to a campaign of misrep-
resentation so vigorously waged
=, against his administration and all
having anything to do with it.
A brief summary of this service for
the benefit of the people of Vermont
; will be interesting and informing.
Measures to equaIize the burdens of
taxation.
Increasing the taxes of the rail
roads by the sum of $4,000 bienni
ally, and the taxes of the express
companies by $4,000.
Forcing the American Express com
pany to pay its taxes like other peo
, pie.
, Measures regarding freight dcmur
rage for the benefit Of the shipping
public
= RELOCATION of the railroad lobbyist,
who sought to dominate legislation
especially through the senate.
Steps to prevent the attorney-gen
eral from acting as a buffer between
= the railroads and the people.
o. Measures to force the attorney
! general to stop the inexcusable expen
diture of $37, 900 of the taxpayers
$ money bienniaIly for detective ex
c penses, compared to $4,000 a few
= years ago and $4,000 now.
y Forcing the telephone companies t.
abolish charges for unanswered calls
l. as in other states, and to stop "water
c ing stocks as a basis for increased
,. charges to patrons through absorption
: of rivals and monopoly.
Order for reduction in various ex
c cessive telephone rates, which 70
Il some mysterious reason has not bee
=. enforced. but has been allowed to re
main indefinitely in the courts.
Saving of thousands of dollar
e through state purchasing system.
II Steps to provide adequate schoo
j. facilities for Vermont youth.
! Provision for a real public servie
commission as at present, and pull
u lie service law with "teeth' in il
al to ensure better public service.
il Steps to prevent reaetionary judge
q from emasculating popular legislatio
: and to ensure more speedy justice an
- more economy in the courts.
lei Preparedness for defence throug
to provision for arnories for the use Q
j, the National Guard.
!, Legislation for factory inspection
= leading to improved sanitary cond