Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-01-05
SWEEPING CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY GOVERNOR GRAHAM


clerk to be handed to the auditor Of
accounts. No bellman or janitor SER
vice should be allowed in any county
where the state pays part of the JAM
tor service.
l also recommend that in those
counties which now contain two pro.
bate districts, with perhaps the ex-
ception of Windsor and Orange,
the probate districts be consolidated
into one district for each county.
Parole System.-I have given consid-
cradle care to an investigation of our
parole and probation system and be-
lieve our present plan can be i'm
proved by statewide plan in the
hands of those who are in full
sympathy with the work and who
believe it better for the state
to endeavor to prevent crime rather
than to await its commission and then
punish the offender. We now spend
about $4,000 biennally on this branch
of the criminal administration, and
this sum l believe would be sufficient
to establish q state probation and pa
role board.
Power should be vested in the execu-
tive to transfer from one institution
to another and from one Jail to an
other and to the detention farm if
ono is created, all persons under SEN
tencc.
l further recommend that you take
some action looking toward the cstab-
lishment of state detention farms, where
long term prisoners may be employed,
but ] would not recommend that this
be adopted as fixed policy by the
state until an opportunity has been
given to try out the plan on reasona
bic basis near to those counties which
usually have the largest Jail populations.
L recommend an appropriation of at
least $4,000 for further construction at
the industrial school. --...,.,.
We should also consider the construc
ton at one of our institutions of q
woman s ward or prison to which in
stitution all female prisoners should be
sent, including those who may be con-
fined in Jail, or held for want of bail
for trial.
There should be further appropria-
ton for the construction of new build
ings for the Vermont state school for
feeble minded children, at Brandon.
The expense of the appraisal of the
lands and property in the unorganized
towns and cores should be paid from
the taxes therein collected under the
provisions of the Act of 1912.
| Some fixed rule should be provided
by statute for the use by state Off
cial of his own automobile when en-
gagged upon the states business.
Seine legislation has been prepared
/ 70 i,,fA nff e
recommendations and this will be sub
mitted to you for your consideration
within few days by the gentlemen
who have had this preparation in
charge. Whatever action you may de-
eide to take with reference to the
recommendation I have made, I know
will be the result of your careful de-
liberation and honest Judgment. 1 shall
be glad at any time to discuss with you
individually or in such way as you may
deem best my reasons for the faith that
is in me. In making them am prompt
cd by one motive. only-a better Yer
mont. By tatta6g IL > few dollars here
and few dollars there, no considerable
saving will be effected but by united
effort, by team work, by supervision and
careful scrutiny of the work of each
department. as 1T proceeds and the re-
suits accomplished therein from month
to month, many dollars may be saved
both for the taxpayer and for use where
most needed. Duplication of effort will
be avoided and in a short time each de-
partment of state will be able to show q
more efficient management and greater
results than we can possibly expect UNI
der our present system.
The bright light of publicity, the
spur of competition with proper super.
vision and the advice of a general
board will soon place our government
al activities upon business basis
We shall thus be able to set side by
side from day to day our wants and oul
means and be thus better able to de
termine those wants that are necessary
and when properly met, will make fol
a better government.