The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-04
GRAHAM MAKES
SOLQNS SIT UP
Inaugural Message Contains
Many Startling Rec
concentrations
WOULD ABOLISH ALL
USELESS BOARDS
And Have States Business Conducted
Like That of Any Private Corpora
ments of Court System
Especial to The Reformer)


Especial to The Reformer.)
MONTPELIER, Jan. /.
Public interest here today centered on
the farewell message OF Charles w Gates,
retiring governor and the inaugural adj
dress Of Vermont new executive, Horace
f. Graham. the first given at a joint ses-
sion OF the legislature this morning and the
second at this afternoons session.
Contrary TO conditions in 1918, when
Gov ~ NJ Fletchers valedictory was the
allabsorbing topic, most people today
were chiefly concerned with the sugges
tions by Governor Graham
1t had been hinted IN many quarters
that his message would contain many radi
cal recommendations and tor that reason
there were on hand 10 hear it an un-
usually large number of ofce-holders and
others connected with the states govern
mental machinery
Governor Grahams message left nothing
to be desired in the way of thrills The
recommendation it made were not based
on theory, bu; to use the new executives
own words, on experience gained by daily
contact Of over II years with the business
OF the state" 1t contemplate, the elimi-
nation Of many boards and commissions
which Governor Graham is convinced are
useless, radical rearrangement of the
Judiciary system, and the conduct Of the
states business along the same lines that
a successful private corporation would fol
low.
That Governor Graham has on his hands
a mans job l. acknowledged even by those
who are most heartily in sympathy with
his plan, but IN spite Of indications of
opposition from many lawyers and Office
holders the feeling is that the majority OF
the lawmakers viii be found on the side
OF the man who has just taken his seat
in the executive chamber
Governor Gates was well received when
he appeared before the legislature this
morning to read his retiring message, but
there was nothing about the document
which aroused more than polite attention
A summary OF both messages viii be
found on pages 6 and : of this issue.
Yesterday S sessions OF the legisla
ture were attended by an unusually
large number of prominent Vermont
ers, many being here primarily 70 at
tend the annual meeting Of the Yer
mont Bar association, others to attend
the business session Of the Inter-churcE
federation and Vet others hayiuo
iourneyed to the snowbound city fol
, the sole purpose of witnessing tht
opening of the 24th biennial session
OF the general assembly.
The house and senate held a joint
Z session yesterday afternoon to lister
5 to the report Of the committee appoint
l. ed to canvass the vote for United
, States senator and state officers. Speak
, cr Wilson appointed as committee OF
rules f. f.. Moore of Ludlow, Parl
II. Pollard of Gavendish and b. y!
, Phelps of Fair Haven. This committee
, will probably report today and tn,
! general opinion is that the house com
mittees will not be appointed until al
: ter the rules have been adopted.
The event of last evening was tn
! reception given by the retiring Cover
: nor to his successor in office. In the r.
: ceivIng line We're Gov. Charles "
: Gates and daughter, Miss Edith Gate
i Gov.-elect Horace +. Graham and Mis-
Graham. Leut-Gov and Mrs. II. 4
Darling, Lieut.. Gov -elcct and Mr..
Roger f. Hulburd, Ex-Gov. and Mr.
". w. Stickney and Ex.-Gov. and Mr.
n Samuel Pingree.