The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-01-11


the state treasury without beini
charged with the expense of supervi
sion The savings banks and trus
companies should no longer be assess
ed with the expense Of supervision.
Commissioner of Taxes.--The sal
! ary Of this official should be 100000
His duties should be the same as a
present. The should also look after
the licenses of peddlers, auctioneers
foreign corporations and fourth-class
Iliquor licenses. In fact he should be
the sole licensing authority except for
the licensing Of motor vehicles.
Purchasing Agent.--The results OF
the conduct Of this Office show con-
clusively that it has worked consid-
cradle saving to the state. When the
bill establishing this Office was origin
ally introduced, it was proposed that
the purchasing agent approve all tho
bills for material bought and forward
them to the auditor for audit and pay
ment AS it was uncertain just how
the plan would work, it was thought
best in the final analysis to permit the
purchasing agent to draw on the
treasury, pay the bills direct and re-
turn the rcceipted bills us vouchers for
| the money drawn. ] now recommend
that this practice be discontinued and
that the purchasing agent approve all
bills for material purchased and for
ward them to the auditor of accounts
for audit and payment.
Director of State Institutions.
This officer should exercise all the
functions Of the board Of penal insti
tutions, trustees of the state hospital,
trustees of the state school for feeble
minded children, and act as member
of the board of control.
Commissioner Of Agriculture and
Forestry.-This officer should perform
the duties now performed by the board
of agriculture and forestry, the com
missioner of agriculture, the state for
ester, the livestock commissioner and
the state ornithologist, and he should
be director of the state schools of ag
riculture and should be member of
the board Of control.
estate Highway Commissioner. -
The duties of this official should be the
same as at present. He should have
for assistants proper number of dis
trict highway commissioners at an an
nual salary of $1,000.0O each.
Director of Public Hcalth.-This
officer should exercise all the duties of
the board of health, be ex-officio chief
of the state laboratory, chief of the
tuberculosis commission ard with two
physicians duly appointed, sit as a
board of health to issue orders on oc-
casions of public peril, discharge in
mates from the state hospital, Brattle-
boro retreat and school for feeble
minded children, and have the power
of visitation at all penal and reforma-
tory institutions and at all institutions
where the insane arc confined. If this
is adopted, the super
visors of the insane will not be needed.
commissioner of Industries.-This
officer should perform all the duties
now performed by the industrial acci-
dent board and the factory inspector
and should look after the enforcement
of the child labor laws and the laws
governing the employment of women
and the weekly payment of wages.
"Fish and Game COMMISSIONER
The salary of this official should be
100000. His duties, the same as at
present; but he should not be permit
ted to establish new hatcheries or
rearing stations, game refugees or
game wardens' quarters without the
approval of the board of control.
"State Geologist-The salary of
this official should be S1,500.00. His
iuties, the same as at present; but he
should no longer act as curator Of the
,abinet, but with the president of the
Vermont Historical Society nominate
% the board of control for appoint
nent curator Of the cabinet and the
collection of the historical society, who
should be paid by the state.
"State Engineer.-The state en-
,loys civil engineers in connection
With the work of the public service ;
commission, highway commissioner, ,
'oard of health and attorney general. h
Moneys so expended are amply sufiic-
ent to employ an engineer and to pro- :
-ide for his necessary office assistance, Z
md believe that we should establish ,
he Office of state engineer. This officer /
hould take charge Of all the engineer |
ng problems arising in all state de- Z
Iartments except such as can be d
andled by the district highway com i
lissioners in the highway department,
ct as boundary line commissioner a