The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-27

message delivered before the joint
assembly this afternoon Governor Ora
ham recommends that the legislature
continue its sittings until after the
opening of the special session of con-
gress called by President Wilson and
that it appropriate s1,00O,0OO for ma
tional defence. This is the amount
recommended in the resolution
adopted last evening at the meeting of
the executive committee of the Yer
mont committee of public safety.
The message follows.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Joint Assembly:
AS we shall soon reach the time for
final adjournment, it has seemed best
to me 20 call your attention to few
matters that ought to receive your
consideration.
Final Adjournment: While you
probably could complete the busi-
ness of the session and adjourn this
week, the fact that the President has
seen fit TO call special session of
Congress for April 2. Notwithstanding
he had determined to call it together
April 16, would make it seem proper
that you remain in session until April
second, as the President may bring
to the attention OF the country at
that time matters that require further
legislative action upon your part. No
doubt a final adjournment can be
taken by the fifth or sixth Of the com
ing month. iH
II. c. Copeland Gift.--I first desire
to call your attention to an offer
which has been made by Mr.. II. c..
Copeland of the City of New York.
This gentleman has advised me that
he desires TO give to the State Ger
tain lands and buildings in the town
of Middletown Springs. to be used as
a home for destitute children. / sug-
gest that you look into this carefully
and take proper action thereon.
Budget.-The Legislature of 1916
enacted what is known as the Budget
Law. This act requires all appropri
ations to be made for the biennial
period and to be brought in to you in
one bill The committee known as
the budget committee, consisting of
the governor, state treasurer, auditor
of accounts, chairman of the finance
committee Of the Senate and chair
men Of the ways and means commit
tee and committee on appropriations
of the House, have given the subject
of what the appropriations ought to
be very careful and painstaking con-
sideration. The committee have
drafted and will report bill which
will be submitted to you at once. The
estimate of the different departments
of government and the special appro-
priations asked for as originally filed
with the committee called for some
100000 dollars for the coming bi-
ennial period. After several days and
nights spent in examining these esti
mates. the committee have been able
without injury to the public service
as they believe. TO scale these figures
down to substantially 4.7U0.000 dollars
and allow in this amount contingent
and deficiency appropriations of 100,-
600 dollars per year. should the esti-
mates prove inadequate. Our assured
revenue, above the revenue pledged to
certain purposes, such as automobile
license fees and the income of the
permanent school fund, is in round
numbers $4000,000. This leaves to be
provided for by direct taxation some
100000 dollars, exclusive Of the two
contingent appropriations above re-
ferred to. This will require an an
nual direct tax for the years 1918 and
1919 OF ten per cent each year. The
committee feel that with this tax the
expenses of the State can be met and
that by rigid economy in the several
departments of government during
the coming biennial period, no deficit
will be incurred. These figures do not
include any extraordinary expense
the State may be put to because of
the approaching war with the central
powers of Europe. ] ask your full
consideration of this condition.
Legislation: suggest to you
the enactment of law giving police
officers full authority whenever a
state of war exists to arrest, without
warrant, and take before court of
competent jurisdiction all persons sus
pected of being engaged in any way
in giving aid and comfort to our en-
emies.
The military department has taken
a careful inventory of our equipment
on hand. | have been informed by
| the national government that it prob
/ ably will be unable to furnish for the