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

Montpelier, Jam. 9.-The complete text
OF the retiring message of Governor
Horace F. Graham delivered before the
Vermont Legislature in join session to-
day Is as follows:
Gentlement of the Senate and House of
Representatives:
Very little attention is paid to the retir-
ing message of the chief executive. 1t
must of necessity treat of work lone and
policies already fixed. Man, while in
terested 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
agricultural and forestry interests in
Guiding suppression of insect pests, test
ing cattle for tuberculosis and the dis
position of those found to be infected.
An examination of the report of this de-
partment will give an insight into the
workings of this law / am confident
that the results attained are more salts
factory and of greater value than those
accomplished by four departments,
operating separately. l recommend that
further aid be extended to agriculture
and forestry and to the farm bureaus of
countries or proper districts. The past
two years demonstrated the advantage
of availing ourselves of Federal aid for
agriculture and forestry and proved that
our previous arrangements lacked good
business foresight. The scarcity of farm
labor will continue for some time, and
only up-to date methods ought to be
used in Vermont's greatest industry.
Scientific agriculture will 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, contri-
butte annually we'll towards two hundred
thousand dollars of our revenue and are
entitled to a State department.
BONDS FOR STATE OFFICIALS
The last legislature also passed an act
requiring bonds from all State officials
to whom money is advanced for con.
Quoting their departments. The practice
VI iiiihliiS van Is lOllOWeu III IlOSl
of the States under similar restrictions
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 pri
vate means. This practice of makinf
dvances has existed since the late +
Henry Powell was auditor from 1878 t.
1899 and has been continued to tn,
present time.
CHARITIES AND PROBATION
The board of charities and probation
brought into being by act of 1917, l com
NIT to your careful consideration. 1t hai
done excellent work. The budget com
mittee, believing that the department
vas engaged Upon new work. did no
recommend as large an increase in tn
appropriation as the department desires
but left it at the modest sum OF ffteel
thousand dollars. I recommend that 70,
carefully go over the work lone and APP
propriate a larger sum for this work
Twenty-Five hundred dollars has alread,
been donated by charitable citizens 70
the treatment of defective children an,
is being expended by a special committee
Doubtless the secretary Of the board wi
explain this to you fully.
DIRECTOR OF STATE INSTITUTION
The office of director of State institu
ions was established and the genera
management of our five institution
brought under one head. This official
a member of the board of control an
has the advice and assistance of tina
board in all important matters. / be
lieve this is "A better and more business
like way of conducting our institution
than the f rmer plan of having two G
three separate boards. Although tn
war has increased the rate of wages an
the cost of all materials and supplies, tn
institutions have been able to live fc
substantially what they did during tn
preceding biennium. For details of a6
ministration, your attention is invited
the report of the director.
A forward step was taken in connectio
with this department in the establish
ment of detention farms, where me
under sentence are employed. ia
prisoners and persons serving sentence
at the State prison and house of CO
rection have already done much wor
upon State forest lands, State farms ar
State highways. This is a strong arg
ment In favor of the continuance of Il
detention plan.
BOARD OF CONTROL
The board of control was created. r
working Of this board and the resui
1t has accomplished are soon to be su
mitted to you in it's report. 1t has be
urged by some that this board Is a us
less appendage and has accomplished
good. Criticism comes largely fro
those who are wholly unfamiliar with Il
results attained. ] ask you to read 4
act creating the board and it's report
things done. 1t is for you and for {
Incoming executive to decide whether I
board shall be continued.
nave thus briefly touched upon b
a portion of the legislation passed at (
last session. It's continuance, it's amen
ment, it's repeal rest with you. You "
examine into all of 1t carefully and, q
sure, adopt the course best for the Sta
as a whole.
STATE INSTITUTIONS
Your committees. who visit the st;
institutions will, I think, find them In {
cellent condition. For the past two yes
the director has aimed to increase
production of foodstuffs and has succeed
ed remarkably we'll. At the State prts,
the barn was destroyed by hre and a n
one has been built. At the Verne
State school for feeble-minded child
at Brandon. temporary quarters ha
been provided for fifty children. II,
Dr. It. J. Allen has succeeded DIR. Russ
rs superintendent. At tho Vermont
lduytrial school. n IRE loss has b,
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