Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-16
GOV. CLEMENTS MESSAGE

C0ut SuIloct |
GOV. CLEMENTS MESSAGE
Governor Clement Of Vermont does not
profess to have a panacea for all the Ills
Of thsb body polite. The remedies he has
are not patented, nor is any formula copy
sighted. He announces no new and Won
derful discovery Of a hitherto unknown
scientific principle or new tangled medical
treatment for men in their political ca
Spacity or for States. He simply goes back
to a vigorous insistence upon first princi-
pies.
Governor Clements combination for
Vermont is applied common sense. the
adaptation Of common business principles
70 the business Of our commonwealth, and
the use by public servants Of the same
degree Of these two considerations and
THE same care, as one would naturally
,apply to the affairs in hand, were they our
private matters and not Of the people in
general.
That really sums up the fundamental
principles enunciated in Governor Glenn
ent's inaugural message delivered to the
Vermont Legislature Friday afternoon.
When he had finished presenting his ideas
to the Legislators, you felt here is a man
who is tSlking about practical things in a
Ipescti9Al way. 1t ought to be the easiest
~ in the world to 90 the things for
State development in an economical
y he outlined.
Seed practically was the keynote of
Message to the people Of Vermont
gh their representatives. in making
cation of the general fundamentals
I'D to specific cases and individual
ftments. When he asked why the
/ State should in effect have two State pris-
ons, one at Rutland and the other at
Windsor, you felt the absurdity Of the
duplication Of expense and effort and
overhead charges. when one institution
would do the work Of both.
It is equally absurd and e~xtravagant
as Governor Clement indicated, to main
balm two agricultural schools, one at Lyn-
donville. the other at Randolph, to say
nothing Of the State agricultural college,
supported in part by federal aid: two nor
rnal schools. one at Castleton. the other
at Randolph; two schools of pedagogy,
One at the University of Vermont. the
other at Middlebury. He inquired wheth-
,er II we were conducting State enterprises
on strictly business principles we would
have 16 municipal courts, fourteen county
courts, twenty probate courts in addition
TO our supreme court and scatter our bust
mess over the entire State. He realized
that opposition to concentration would
come from communities and individuals
affected. but that did not change the pri-
fcipal at stake. He did not urge legisla-
don. He merely called attention to ex-
.jsting condition, leaving the whole matter
20 the wisdom Of the lawmakers.
" This paragraph epitomizes one of the
.etriking sections of Governor Clements
and profitable, II at this time We sum.
Amarize the outstanding features of the
document. reserving extended considera-
bkion Of each recommendation by itself as
occasion arises.
Much Of the $500. 2Os.N of which the
aetate's share was sso.47.2l. paid during
Hthe past year alone for the transportation
ut children to town schools would under
leor building and repair Of rural schools
transportation should be made optional
nth the school directors. subject to ap'
peal to the proper authorities. The State
10 cooperate with the towns in planning
:tspairing and building rural schools
There should be more rural schools near
Ar the farming communities.
We now have over so State activities a.
source Of expense as against 80 in 1901
We have all the machinery to run a grea'
State like Massachusetts, or New York
Our entire States population is about lik'
that of Buffalo. Minneapolis. Washing
ton. that w a number Of times tn,
I1etal wealth of Vermont. Our expens
YaAs has arisen to 81, 225. 900 per year. Gu
tAAngible property has not increased sine
MOI. We nave reached the limit Of taxa
Sion Of corporations and savings institu
lions. We had a direct tax of 20 cents /
s1G7. II We increased activities. we mus
Ave a greater direct tax.
Tho auditors ONCE should be an ofic
Nof record. The auditor should merely aud
fAnd handle vouchers for expenses. A
smonsy should be paid out by the Stat
1rsasurer alone, and only upon the pre-
tGSntation Of the proper vouchers. tn
Stfeasury records should show the State
cash on hand and the actual condition Q,
listing svery night. Instead Of examini
lions by the bank commissioner who's
time Is wholly needed otherwise. thel
should be stated examinations by expe
accountants Of all the finances of ii
STATE.
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