Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-01-05
MONTPELIER, Jan. 4.


Legislature today, contains suggestions
for more sweeping changes in the
state s governmental machinery than
ever have been contemplated at one
time before. The wholesale abolish
ment of useless commissions and radi-
cal change in the judiciary system arc
among the more important recommended
tions contained i'll the message, which
held the closest attention of the law
makers. Governor Graham made no at
tempt at oratory, but there was back
of his suggestions CONTINGENCIES due
to the simple fact that he knew from
years of experience just what he was
talking about. The substance of the
message follows:
/ am not here this afternoon to give
an account of n stewardship. | am here
to perform n duty imposed upon me by
the constitution. Before ] bring to
your attention those recommendations
l have in mind, / wish to offer n 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 present
themselves, and having given heed to
those matters that require your attcn-
ton, adjourn.
Second, before YOU introduce n meas
IRE be certain in your own mind that a
proper enforcement of the law as it now
stands or u new endcavor of govern
ment requires it and that it is not
urged by some personal interest.
Third, before you send to the gov
ernor measure for his approval, first
ascertain if the public good or the pro-
lection of private right really calls
for its enactment. We already have
too many laws more honorcd in the
breach than the observance. Let us
not at this session continue to fill the
statutes with further useless and I'M
necessary legislation.
When this nation and this state were
founded the wants and needs of the peo-
pie were few and simple. As population
and wealth increased and ways of COM
munication became more general, our
constantly changing and advancing civ
ilization demanded that the general gov
eminent of the nation and of the state
take on new activities.
The form of the legislative depart
ment of government has remained sub
stantiallv unchanged, likewise the
judicial department, but the executive
department has continued from decade
to decade to increase in the number of
departments and officials. Executive Of
ticers, some appointed by and response
Bile to the chief executive, others APP
I,
emily thereafter responsible to no one,
all exercising extensive functions of
government, some similar and some
conflicting in character, have been
created, until today the problem con
fronting not only Vermont but her sis
ter states, is how best to re-arrange
these different officers, boards and com
missions so as to give at once n simple,
an efficient and an economical admin
istration.
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 hayward and
her unfortunate people. She must look
to her financial institutions, the proper
collection and expenditure of her reve
nues, the encouragement of agriculture,
the advertising of her resources and
the preservation to her people of those
natural resources that belong to the
people as a whole. These and like mat
tiers concern you. and the ways and
means by which these things shall be
done, are for you to plan and work
out
recommendations Result of Experience.
The recommendations / shall make
are not based on theory or hcarsay but
are conclusions ] have reached by 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 be-
cause of the united efforts of q number
of persons, each of whom is held re-
sponsiblc for some phase of the cor
poration S activities. An individual,
not a group of employees, must render
account and pay the penalty if his
stewardship is not satisfactory. The
modern state is a business corporation
and should be run as such. Individ-
uals, not boards or commissions, should
be held to account by the taxpayers.
By imposing upon one officer duties
now being performed by one or more
boards or commissions, such an officer
will require assistance, but each officer
much be held responsible for the acts
of the states employees under him.
AS the heads of the numerous de-
partmcnts of a private corporation are
advised and directed by its president
and directorate, the heads of state de-
partments should be under the exccu-
tive and board to advise and act with
him.
Board of State Control
/ am of the opinion that in addition
to the six elective state officers, con-
stitutional and statutory, the central
executive authority should be vested
in board of state control, composed
of the governor, the commissioner of
agriculture and forestry, the director
of state institutions, the purchasing
agent and the state engineer, the gov
enor acting as chairman of the board
and his secretary of civil and military