The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-09
He Made Only Slight Allu-
sion to His Own Diff
iculties
URGED CONTINUATION
OF RECENT CHANGES
Outlined Work Which Had
Been Accomplished
in Two Years

accomplished, asked for the continuation
of the consolidated office of director Of
state institutions and of the board Of
control, recommended a large appropria-
tion for the state board of charities and
probation and for fighting tuberculosis,
expressed doubt whether any more mon
ey should be appropriated for highway
construction, urged legislation to fill va
cancies in the House OF Representatives
and asserted that the state has about
reached the limit of revenue from indi-
rect taxation.
The only statement which could be
construed as having any reference to the
charges against himself which are to be
tried within short time, are contained
in the section devoted to the centraliza-
tion of state offices at Montpelier, in
which he says: Il hope, whatever good
or IN the future may hold in store for
me, that ! have helped to some slight de-
gree in this advancement; and again in
the section devoted to bonds for state
officials, in which he says: "The prac-
tice Of making advances is followed in
most OF the state under similar restric
tions. Officials required to disburse large
sums Of money for the business Of the
state cannot be expected and certainly
cannot afford to disburse these funds
from private means. The practice of
making advances has existed since the
late Z. Henry Powell was auditor, from
1878 to 1892, and has been continued to
the present time
The complete message is as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives;
Very little attention is paid to the re-
tiring message of the chief executive. It
must of necessity treat Of work done
and policies already fixed. Man, while
interested during leisure moments in his
tory, prefers to learn and to engage in
problems yet to be solved Especially is
this true if he is to be one of the active
participants in their solution,
Legislation of the Session of 1917.
Among the important acts Of the ses-
sion Of 1917 Is the one consolidating and
bringing into one department all the az
ricultural and forestry interests, includ-
ing suppression of insect pests, testing
cattle for tuberculosis and the disposi.
tion Of those found to be infected. An
examination Of the report Of this depart
ment will give an insight into the work.
Hgs of this law. | am confident that the
results attained are more satisfactory
and Of greater value than those accom-.
plished by four departments, operating
separately. / recommend that further
aid be extended TO agriculture and for
estry and TO the farm bureaus of counties
or proper districts The past two years
demonstrated the advantage of ayailing
ourselves of federal aid for agriculture
and forestry and proved that our pre-
vious arrangements lacked good business
foresight The scarcity of farm labor
win continue for some time, and only up.
to-date methods ought TO be used in Yer
mont's greatest industry. Scientific ag
riculture viii offset to a great degree the
shortage of labor
Insurance.
The office of insurance commissioner
was established and the commissioner
made fire warden. ! believe this law
gives general satisfaction. Insurance
companies, foreign and domestic contrib
ute annually well towards 100000 of our
revenue and are entitled to state de-
partment
Bonds for State Officials.
The last legislature also passed an act
requiring bonds from all state officials,
to whom money is advanced for conduct.
ing their departments. The practice of
making advances is followed in most Of
the states under similar restrictions. Of
ficials required to disburse large sums of
money for the business of the state can
not be expected and certainly cannot af-
ford to disburse these funds from private
means. This practice of making ad-
vances has existed since the late T.. Hen.
ry Powell was auditor from 1878 to 1892
aud has been continued to the present
time.
Charities and Probation.
The board of charities and probation,
brought into being by act of 1917. / com
nit to your careful consideration. 1t has
done excellent work The budget com
mittee, believing that the department
was engaged upon new work, did not
Recommend as lhIBe an increase IN J0e
appropriation as the department desires,
but left it at the modest sum of $4,000
I recommend that you carefully go over
the work done and appropriate a larger
sum for this work. twenty-five hundred
dollars has already been donated by char
liable citizens for the treatment of de-
fective children and is being expended by
q special committee. Doubtless the sec
retary of the board will explain this to
you fully.
Director of State Institutions.
The office of director of state institu-
tions was established and the general
management of our five institutions
brought under one head. This official ia
a member of the board of control and has
the advice and assistance of that board
in all important matters. ] believe this
is a better and more business-like way
of conducting our institutions than the
former plan of having two or three sep
arate boards. Although the war has in
creased the rate of wages and the cost Of
all materials and supplies, the institu-
tions have been able to live for substan-
italy what they did during the preceding
biennium. For details of administration,
your attention is invited to the report of
the director.
A forward step was taken in conuec-
tion with this department in the estab-