The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-01-04
GOVERNOR ADVISES
CONSOLIDATION
OF OFFICIALS
SWae. ing Recommendations By
New Chltf Executive
WOULD ABOLISH SUPERIOR COURT
inaugural Address Delivered in Joint
Assembly Calls for Radical
Reforms.

Montpelier, Jan. 4-Governor
Gates farewell address delivered in
Joint assembly this forenoon was we'll
received. In the message the COVER
nor commended the various state de-
partments and officials of his admins
tration He calls attention TO the con-
venience afforded Vermont citizens
by having the governors office at
the state house opened continuously.
He advised an added appropriation
for the new state building, that the
interior finish may be in keeping with
for other buildings.
Under insurance there Is recon-
mendation that the state assume a
portion OF its insurance premiums on
state buildings and deposit the saw
ing in sinking fund.
The state prison administration is
praised for its humanitarian treat
ment of inmates. The Industrial
School at Vergennes is also the re-
cipient of generous praise.
The industrial accident board In Is
months has handled 9.7S1 cases and
only two cases have been taken into
court. Had two per cent of these
cases been taken into court the cost
to the state would have been $4,000
while the administration of the Work
mems Compensation Law by the
board has been $S,765.75, the COVER
nor states.
AS to highways the governors
speciality he commends the present
system Of avoiding bonded indebted
ness. He advocates increased road
appropriations by towns also that a
sum of money be set apart from the
Maintenance Fund" and made
available to towns under restrictions
to aid in keeping up town roads.
The joint assembly reconvened in
the afternoon when the inaugural ad-
dress of the in coming governor,
Horace F. Graham of Chaftsbury.
Governor Graham's message was
concise. In his introduction he eau
toned the members of the legislature
against the tendency to introduce
measures which are not necessary to
the enforcement of the laws of which
we already have too many. The great
problem which, in his opinion, con
fronts the state is the re-arrangement
of the executive department of the
state and it was along this line that
the most of his recommendations
were made.
The central executive authority,
said the new governor. should be in
vested in board of state control, com
posed of the governor. the commits
sioner of agriculture, the director of
state institutions, the purchasing
agent and the state engineer, the
governor acting as chairman of the
board and his secretary Of civil and
military affairs as its secretary and
recording officer.
This board of control the governor
recommends, should perform the du-
ties now imposed on the budget COM
mittee should assume the duties OF
the board of public printing, and
those of the board of visitors to pub
lie institutions. 1t should also have
oversight of the expenditures for the
conduct of these institutions with
power to suspend payments if, in its
Judgment, such expenses became ex
cessive.
The governor recommends that the
purchasing agent approve bills and
forward them to the auditor and that
the agent no longer be permitted to
draw directly against the state treas
ury.
The governor recommends that the
Office of commissioner of agriculture,
the state forest, the live stock COM
missioner and the state ornithologist
be combined.
He recommends the creation of the
Office of state engineer and that an in
surance department should be Great
ed.
An increase of the appropriation
for the support of highways to S225,-
600 is recommended as is also con-
tinuation of the present educational
system.
The appointment OF a trial Justice
in each town is recommended. The
Justice should have authority to bind
up to proper courts and should be
paid by fees. A reorganization OF the
municipal courts into twelve district
courts is recommended as is also the
abolition of the superior court and
that the number of the supreme JUS
tices be increased to nine.
The establishment OF state parole
board is recommended and the gov
ernor also suggests that action be
taken toward the establishment of
state detention farms.
In conclusion the governor says:
"The bright light of publicity, the
spur of competition and the advise of
general board will soon place our
governmental activities upon bust.