St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-01-10
GOV. CRAHAM'S
INAUGURAL
Makes Some Radical Recommenda-
tions To The Legislature OF
Vermont.
BOARD OF CONTROL
Would Have Central Board That
Would Do Away With Several
State BoardS-WantS Courts Re-
organized With Fewer Judges
Advances Some Salaries.

-4AuNStlICCS tSOItIS
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives
Il am not here this afternoon to give
an account OF Il stewardship. l am
mere to perform a duty imposed upon
me by the Constitution. Before |
bring to your attention those recon-
nendations l have in mind, I wish to
offer a word Of advice that will apply
to all Of us.
First, do not begin to worry as to
whether this session will be long or
short. Set yourselves rcsolutely to the
solving of the problems as they pre-
sent themselves. and having given
heed to those matters that require
your attention, adjourn.
Second, before you introduce 4
measure be certain in your mind that
a proper enforcement of the law as it
now stands or Il new cndeavor of
government requires it and that it is
not urged by some personal interest.
Third, before YOU send to the gov
ernor Il measure for his approval, first
ascertain il the public good or the
protection of a private right really
calls for it's enactment We already
have too many laws more honorcd in
the breach than in the observance.
Let us not at this session continue to
fill the statutes with further useless
and unnecessary legislation.
When this nation and this state
were founded the wants and needs
of the people were few and simple.
AS population and wealth increased
81
more general, our constantly chang
ing and advancing civilization de-
manded that the general government
of the nation and of the state take on
new activities.
The form of the legislative depart
mcnt fof government has remained
substantially unchangeU, likewise the
judicial department but the executive
department has continued from de-
cade to decade to increase in number
of departments and officials. Execu-
tive officers, some appointed by and
responsible to the chief executive,
others appointed in the same manner
but apparently thereafter responsible
to no one, all, exercising extensive
functions Of government, some sim
liar and some conflicting, in charac-
ter, have been created; until To-Day
the problem confronting not only Yer
mont but her sister states is how best
to re-arrangcs 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
n cpt hOnSO in ord
to meet existing conditions.
Today the state must certainly pro-
vide for the education of her youth,
care of her criminal, her insane, her
feeble minded land her wayward and
her unfortunate people. She must
look to her financial institutions. the
proper collection and expenditure of
her revenues, the encouragement Of
agriculture, the advertising of her re-
sources and the preservation to her
people of those natural resources that
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, arc for
you to plan and work out.
The recommendation [ shall make
are not based on theory or hearsay
but are conclusions I have reached by
daily contact of over IA years with
the business of the state.
Our large private corporations are
successful not because of the efforts
of some particular individual, but be
cause of the united efforts of a num-
Der of persons, each of whom is held
responsible for some phase of the
Corporations activities. An individ-
ual, not d group of employees. must
render account and pay the penalty il
his stewardship is not satisfactory
The modern state is a business cor
poration and should be run as such
Individuals, not boards or commits.
sions, should be held to account 10y
the taxpayers.
BY imposing upon one officer duties
now being performed by one or more
boards or commissions. such IAN Off
Ger will require assistance. but each
officer must be held responsible fol
the acts of the states employees un-
der him.
AS the heads of the numerous de.
partmcnts of a private corporation
are advised and directed by it's presi
Q6Ill anu uIISCLOl dtS, tliS IlEduS Vi
state departments should be under
the executive and a board to advise
and act with him.
am of the opinion that iI
addition to the six elective state
officers, constitutional and statu
tory. the central executive au
thority should be vested in a boart
of state control composed of the gov
ernor, the commissions of agricul
ture and forestry, the director of stat,
institutions, the purchasing agent ant
the state engineer. the governor act
ing as chairman of the board and hi
secretary of civil and military affairs
as its secretary and recording officer
Appointments made by the goyerno
! should be subject to the approval o
! the board Of control. except appoint