The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-01-11
HORACE y. GRAHAM
fNAUGURATED GOVERNOR
Message Delivered Before the Legis-
lature One Covering Broad Range
and with Sneening Suggestions.

ana Win CNftFlhk F1ugEFsttoNs.
January fourth was inauguration
day Ut Montpelier, Gov. elect Horace
r. Graham of Craftsbury taking the
Office Of governor and Roger ". HUI
burd Of Hyde Park that Of lieutenant
governor, the former succeeding
Charles w Gates Of Franklin and the
latter succeeding Hale X. Darling Of
Chelsea Two joint sessions Of the
House and Senate were hold, the first
being in the forenoon TO receive the
message Of tho retiring governor and
the other in the afternoon to listen TO
the recommendation Of the incoming
executive.
On the conyening Of the joint
assembly the following committee Of
two senators and three representatives
were appointed TO escort Governor
Gates, Senators Fairchild Of Franklin
and Taylor Of Windsor county, repre-
sentatives Gates Of Franklin town,
Durham Of Brattleboro and Brooks Of
Montpelier Governor Gates was re-
ceiyed with hearty applause as he
arose TO deliver his address. The re-
tiring executive concluded his address
shortly before noon and then the two
houses adjourned for the noon recess.
Shortly after they convened in the
afternoon they again went into joint
assembly TO hear the message of the
incoming executive, Horace f. Gra-
ham. The address was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
Of Representatives
IL am not here this afternoon to
give an account Of a stewardship. /
am here to perform a duty imposed
upon me by the constitution. Before
bring to your attention those recon-
mendations ! have in mind, ! wish to
offer n word of advice that will apply
TO all of US.
First, do not begin to worry as to
whether this session will be long or
short Set yourselevs resolutely to
the solving of the problems as they
present themselves, and having given
heed TO those matters that require
your attention, adjourn.
Second, before you introduce
measure be certain in your own mind |
that proper enforcement of the law
10 81 &c |
government requires it and that it is |
not urged by some personal interest |
Third, before you send to the gov
ernor measure for his approval, first
ascertain if the public good or the pro-
lection of private right really calls
for its enactment. We already have
too many laws more honored in the
breach than in the observance. Let us
not at this session continue to fill the
statutes with further useless and un-
necessary legislation.
"When this nation and this state
were founded the wants and needs of
the people were few and simple AS
population and wealth Increased and
ways of communication became more
general, our constantly changing and
advancing civilization demanded that
the general government of the nation
and of the state take on new activities.
"The form of the legislative depart
ment of government has remained {
substantially unchanged, likewise the
judicial department, but the executive
department has continued from decade
TO decade TO increase in number of de-
partments and officials. Executive Of
fcers, some appointed by and respon
sible TO the chief executive, others APP I
pointed in the same manner but appar
emily thereafter responsible to no one,
all exercising extensive functions OF !
government, some similar and some $
conflicting in character, have been ere l
ated; until to-day the problem con-
fronting not only Vermont but her G
sister states is how best TO rearrange a
these different officers, boards and :
commissions so as to give at once i
simple, an efficient and an economical \
administration. S
"We cannot return to the simplicity v
of the fathers If we would, therefore t
We must try to set our house in order a
10 meet existing conditions. b
To-day the state must certainly
provide for the education Of her youth, I
the construction Of her highways, the r
care Of her criminal, her insane, her l
fecble-minded and her wayward and n
her unfortunate people. She must b
look 10 her financial institutions, the a
proper collection and expenditure OF p
her revenues, the encouragement Of ag
riculture, the advertising Of her re- Il
sources and the preservation TO her d
people Of those natural resources that e
belong to the people as q whole. These c.
and like matters concern you, ard the v
ways and means by which these things b