The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-27
DE WITT CONDEMNS
EXTRAVAGANCE
Windham County Senator Thinks Legis.
lature Started Wrong-Approves
Board of Control Bill.
MONTPELIER, VT, March %, 1911;

NUN I ELLEN, ", March 70, l9l I.
Editor of The Reformer:-
Those legislators who were nominal
cd and elected upon platform promis-
ing to use their votes and influence In
an effort to bring about a more econom-
zeal and business-like administration of
state affairs will return home after final
adjournment sometime in April, accom-,
panied by the humiliating recollection
that the session of 1917Swas the most
extravagant in the history Of the state.
and there is really no occasion for sur
prise, when the system in vogue is
considered-revenue adjusted to appro-
priations instead of expenditures based
on the state S income.
The budget committee report a def
icit of over $l,000,000, which will. of
course, have to be met with a state
tax of no mean proportion.
The legislature started off wrong, if
the policy was to be one of economy.
for, at practically the very first Jump
| out of the box bill was rushed
through under suspension of the rules
appropriating $4,000 to complete the
state house annex, which had already
cost the state $150,00O, appropriated
by the legislature of 1915, following a
| referendum by which the people had
voted against the proposition by sub
stantial majority. The $4,000 addi-
| tional did not include any furnishings
for the building, the cost of which will
probably run up into five figures; and
late in the session, there has drifted
in bill carrying an appropriation of
| $4,000 more to make over the old Ii
brary into committee rooms, as soon as
! Librarian Wing and his staff can move
down into the new building.
Another measure of questionable de
STABILITY, considering our financial con
dition, is the bill which carries with If
an appropriation of 100000 to build a
highway through Smugglers Notch, for
about the first thought that suggests
| itself is that if the state has that
amount of extra funds to put into high
ways. it should be expended where it
would serve a greater number of PEG
| pie and be of more commercial value
! Everyone realizes that one of Yer
mont 5 greatest assets is its scenic
beauty, and that we do not exploit this
resource as it deserves, but we can
hardly afford a Vermont Mohawk trail.
and no one is so simple,minded as to
suppose that this $4,000 asked for now
would complete the work, or that there
would be any other result than that a
| similar bill for care, repair and main
/ tenance would bob up, like Banquo 5
ghost to plague us at each succeeding
biennial session.
The Mohawk trail over Hoosac noun
tain in Massachusetts. although moth
| ing but an ordinary dirt road, has al
ready cost that state $350,000
| Agreeably to the governor 5 recon-
mendation, bills have been introduced
placing most of the principal state of
| fieials on a uniform salary basis. the
Largument being, that with these officers
preceiving salaries alike in amount, no
one of them could easily obtain an in
crease unless all the others were treated
| likewise, which latter proposition is
considered a very remote probability
The ways and means committee of
the house have been trying to evolve
some scheme which would furnish add
tlonal revenue, and their efforts finally
resulted in house bill No. 43l. taxing
direct lnheritances, and which every
one who has given the matter any
thought knew would have to come soon
er or later. This measure will cventu-
ally furnish the state with a steady,
additional income, and will reach the
state treasurer with but little com
plant from the heirs. since il will come
out of the estates before being paid
to the legatees, who will therefore new
er miss it.
The most constructive piece of legis
lation. from an economic point Of view.
is the board Of control bill, now law,
and the practical operation of which
viii put the affairs of the state on a
business basis. which Will be in pleas
ing contrast with the haphazard, happy
eo-lucky, irresponsible method which
has been the practice M to the present
, timcs The passage of this bill is dis
tinct personal triumph for the Gov.
ern0r embodying recommendations
based upon his intimate knowledge of
the state s affairs, recommendations
based not only on his practical know
ledge, but his technical knowledge as
we'll
There is one appropriation, however
and large one which meets with uni
versal approval, the war emergency ap-
preparation of $4,000. Without dis
sent. the legislature would cheerfully
appropriate twice, yes, three times that
amount. in fact, any sum necessary tc
equal Vermont 5 proportion of the
sinews of war required to protect
the flag we all love so well
Yours truly,
FRANK A. DEWITT.