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

penses. One-half Is being paid during
the present biennum and one-half is to
be paid, IL you so vote, during the next
biennium.
STATE BARGE TERMINAL
The subject Of water transportation for
inland has been receiving in |
creased attention from shippers, COM
mercial bodies and legislators throughout
the country. The war activities of the
nation showed an immediate need for
additional facilities for freight trans
portation. This need will continue with
the demand for cheaper freight rates.
which it Is expected will be obtained by
means of water transport. Several States
are constructing canals, improving
natural water courses and building
terminal facilities.
In May last, New York State opened
to traffic the enlarged barge canal sys-
tenn, now operated by the United States
government. These canals by connection
| with Lake Champlain and having state
terminals at all cities from New York to
Buffalo and at ports on Lake Champlain.
offer Vermont a free water route to the
sea, to the Great Lakes and to the coal
regions of Pennsylvania.
The subject of building and operating
a State terminal as a means to induce
| GNU hi'i' ~
cost for the benefit Of our people. should
have your most careful consideration.
In connection with highway Improvement
l call to your attention the report of the
state barge tcrmina commission favor
ing such a project.
ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
During the prediction campaigns of
1902 and 1905. considerable criticism was
made of the methods employed in
handling State accounts and the results
attained by the system then in use by the
auditor of accounts. The legislature of
1906 provided for n commission to examine
into the matter. Pursuant thereto Gov
crnor Fletcher ID. Proctor appointed
Joseph A.. DeBoer, then president Of the
National Life Insurance company and
Olin Merrill. These gentlement with the
then auditor, very carefully xamine
the office, its books and accounts and on
May /, 1908. established and put into
force the present system. The commits
sion made a full report to the governor.
stating quite fully the conclusions
reached. / suggest that you examine
this report with care, should you deter
mine that present conditions demand a
change in the system. 1t has seemed to
me that it would be entirely out of my
official acts as auditor.
WAR
In referring to the part Vermont had
in the great war, l shall say but little,
as the subject is fresh in your minds
To MANY of you II has come home in the
; loss of some dear one killed in action,
missing or dead from wounds or disease.
, Many will return incapaciated by wounds
1 or disease for their former activities in
civil life. To these you will in the years
I to come extend a helping hand. Many
! more will return strengthened in health
. and character and with a broader view
of life. These will soon become the
rulers and guiders of the destiny OF TINS
\ republic and what they believe to be
D best for us will become the principles
i about which our governmental activities
n will center. In passing let me say thai
now Is the time when Verrhont's part II
the great struggle should be written by
e competent minds. l hope you VIII sec
to it tina provision is made for this be
fore you adjourn. 1t can best be don'
n now by those who have lived what they
would write. Some Vermont troops wer'
o called into service before war was
s actually declared and the balance fol
lowed directly. After encampment a
e Fort Ethan Allen. the regiment wa!
y ordered to Camp Bartlett at Westfeld
y Massachusetts, and when the Goth Divi
e sion was formed, Vermont troops wer'
used to make up the major part of tn
ammunition train and the machine gun
battallions of that division. In tn
early fall of 1917 this division, made u
entirely of New England National Guar
troops, went abroad. 1t was the frs
If national guard division to go oversee
d and the first to go into the trenches
The balance of the regiment. about tire
IS hundred In number, soon went south an
t. for a time. with many other Nationa
& Guard organizations, remained inactive
1t then became the 9th Pioneer lnfantr
and was used as a replacement regiment
IT Finally with many men from Tennessee
- this regiment went overseas in october
te 1918. On arrival in France the troop
n were used for replacement purposes an
many of the officers given other com
mands. l endeavored, without avail.
l. nave the regiment kept as a unit an
ID filed to modern war strength wit
lie volunteers and selective service mel
While many National Guard officers wer
ut discharged because oS physical or ments
Z? defects, not a National Guard office
lie from m has been found wanting
he all have remained in the service an
many have gone to higher and NOR
De active commands.
or The Vermont m of publ
ID safety was appointed in March. 1917 an
ye Immediately organized under the chair
W manship of Colonel Ira l.. Reeves an
H. the secretaryship of Fred A. Howlan'
of When Colonel Reeves was called int
service he was succeeded as chairman b
!, James HARNESS., who subsequently wa
- succeeded at his entrance upon speci;
war work at home and overseas. h
m Judge Leighton p. Slack. When NJ
s. Rowland entered upon the War Saving
er Stamp campaign. Joseph G. Brown b'
" came secretary of the committee. I'll
ne committee has been able. with the al
MS Of patriotic and liberal citizens,
IN finance its work without funds from II
a State and now has a balance in>the hant
TO of it's treasurer, Charles F. Lowe. Viii
III in some of our sister States, like eI
IS, penses have been paid from the publ
nd treasury, Vermonters nave perfornt
n this service as a patriotic duty.
ne Vermont Joined with the other Ne
as England States in furnishing sawmI
its units for use In England. When Il
h Vermont troops left Fort Ethan ALE
er one thousand dollars was placed In Il
he hands of Major j. NJ. Ashley to ASST
to any of the men. The district exemptic
rs. board was organized as prescribed by Il
Ity President, George o. Gridley represen
nd ing manufacturing Willis N. Cad
as farming. Alexander Ironside. labor,
q Tinkham. NJ. D., as the medical meI