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

Montpelier, Jan. 9.-with the gallery
Of the House filled with expectnnt faces
and every entrance packed with eager
spectators to-day the retiring Governor
of the State of Vermont, Horace French
Graham of Craftsbury, came in and de-
livered his last message as Governor to
the General Assembly and departed. Not
a single wink Of an eyelash indicated
that there was anything unusual about
this t~ime-honored proceeding. In fact,
it was an afternoon which the Governor
should be able to remember with pleas
ant recollections, for he was given a
degree of spontaneous applause at the
close of his message as surprised many
of those who had looked for another sort
of reception. 1t sounded, as it rose and
fell, and then rose again In volume as
though the assembly of both branches
of the Legislature and the spectators
were forgetting for the moment every
thing else, forbidding 'god-speed' to
Gov. Horace +. Fraham.
There was nothing in the message as
delivered by the retiring Governor which
touched in the least upon the unhappy
situation surrounding the chief execu-
tive Of the State during the last few
months. One reference to the subject
was when he referred to a commission
provided for by the Legislature of 1906
to examine the accounting system. The
Governor laid
9TH commission made a full report
to the Governor, stating quite fully the
conclusions reached. l suggest that
you examine this report with care. should
you determine that present conditions
demand a change in the system. l,
has seemed to me that 1t would be en-
tirely out of keeping with my present
office to make any explanation of my
official acts as auditor"
The Governor did have something tc
say on the subject of making advances
to State departments, the executive
bringing the matter to the LEGISLATURE
attention in commenting on the law re
curing bonds from all State officials a!
follows:
1.-THE last Legislature also passed al
act requiring bonds from all State Off
Gals, to whom money is advanced TO
conducting their departments. The prac
tice Of making advances is followed II
most of the States under similar restric
tons. officials required to disburse larg'
sums of money for the business of thu
State cannot be expected and certainl,
cannot afford to isburse these fund
from private means. This practice o
making advances has existed since tn
late E. Henry Powell was auditor, fror
1873 to 1892, and has been continued t
the present time"
Governor Graham's message in full
will be oun on page y.
JOHN BARRETT INVITED
Shortly after the converting of tn
House at two o'clock this afternoon. MI
Belknap of Rockingham introduced a join
resolution to invite the Hon. John Bar
rett, DIRECTOR general Of the Pan-Ameri
can Union, and a noted son of Vermont
to address the Legislature during tn
present session. This resolution wa
adopted on the part of the House.
AT promptly 2:15 o'clock, the House an
Senate met in joint session, and on tn
motion of enator Rowland of Washing
ton county a committee Of two senator
and three representatives was appointe
to wait upon the Governor and infori
him that the joint assembly was read
to receive his message.
Lieut.-Gov. Roger Hurlburd, presiding
named as members of this committe
Senators Rowland of Washington count
and Root of Bennington county an
Representatives Sawyer Of Craftsbur.
Reed of South Hero and Slayton of MOI
rlstown, who Immediately waited upo
the retiring Governor and escorted hi
to the chair of the presiding officer ami
profound silence in the House.
: Although 1t has been reported tn;
! Mr.. Graham has not been well for som
, time, and it Is said that he came direct
from his bed to deliver his retiring me: