The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-01-05

GOV. oRAHAM's INAUGURAL
Text Of Message Delivered Before
joint Assembly Thursday Afternoon.

| Graham'S inaugural delivered befor
the joint assembly Thursday aftei
| noon:
Gentlemen Of fhe Senate and Hous'
of Represe sentatives: 4 5'lt
am mot here this afternoon to Civ,
an account of stewardship. | an
here to perform a duty imposed upoI
me by the Constitution. Before
bring to your attention those recon
mendations l have in mind, l wish to
offer a word Of advice that will apply
to all of us.
First, do not begin to worry as tC
whether this session will be long OF
short. Set yourselves 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 a
measure be certain in your own mind
that proper enforcement of the law
as it now stands or new endeavor of
government requires it and that 1t is
not urged by some personal interest.
Third, before you send to the gov
ernor a measure for his approval,
first ascertain If the public good or
the protection of private right real
ly calls for its enactment We al.
ready have too many laws more hon.
ored in the breach than in the obser-
vance. Let us not at this session
continue to fill the statutes with fur
ther useless and unnecessary legisla,
ton.
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 ana
advancing civilization demanded that
the general government of the nation
and of the state take on new activ.
tiles
The form of the legislature depart
ment of government has remained
substantially unchanged, likewise the
judicial department, but the execu
tive department has continued from
decade to decade to increase in mum.
Der of departments and officials. Ex
ecutive officers, some appointed by
and responsible to the chief execu-
tive, Others appointed in the same
manner but apparently thereafter res
ponsible to no one, all exercising ex
tensive functions of government
some conflicting in character, have
been created; until today the prob
lem confronting not only Vermont
out her sister states Is how beN tc
re-arrange these different officers,
boards and commissions so as to
give at once a simple an efficient
and an economical administration.
We cannot return to the simplicity
Of the fathers If we would, therefore
we must try to set our house in order
to meet existing conditions.
Today the state must certainly pro
vide for the education of her youth
the construction of her highways. the
care of her criminal, her insane, her
feeble minded and her wayward and
her unfortunate people. She must
ook to her financial institutions. the
proper collection and expenditure o
aer revenues, the announcement o
agriculture, the advertising of her re
sources and the preservation to he
people of those natural resources tha,
belong to the people as a whole
These and like matters concern you
and the ways and means by which
these things shall be done, are foI
you TO plan and work out.
The recommendation | shall make
are not based on theory or hearsay
out are conclusions | have reached
oy daily contact of over fourteen
years. with the business of the state.
Our large private corporations are
successful not because of the efforts
Of some particular individual, but
because of the united efforts of a
number of persons, each of whom is
held responsible for some phase OF
he corporations activities. An indi-
vidual, not a group of employees
must render account and pay the pen
llty if his stewardship Is not salts
factory. The modern state is a bust
less corporation and should be run
rs such individuals, not boards OF
commissions, should be held to ac
,ount by the taxpayers.
BY imposing upon one officer duties
now being performed by one or more
boards or commissions, such an Off
er will require assistance, but each
officer must be held responsible foi
he acts of the states employees un
Ter him.
AS the heads of the numerous de
partments of private corporation
are advised and directed by its pres
dent and directorate, the heads o.
state departments should be unde,
he executive and board to advise
md act with him.
Recommendations am of the
opinion that In addition to the six
elective state officers. constitutional
and statutory, the central executive
authority should be vested in board
Of state control, composed of the gov
ernor, the commissioners of agricul
ture and forestry, 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 ant
military affairs as its secretary anC
recording officer. Appointments made
by the governor should be subject t
the approval of the board of control
except appointments of members o