The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-01-06

can. however, make progress in eliminat-
ing to some extent the present evils OF
unequal assessment.
There is no provision in our law for an
appeal from the local assessment by any
one other than the landowner himself. or
by the town agent under certain circunl-
stances. The commissioner of taxes should
be given the right of appeal, either from
the valuation as generally made through
out the town or from any individual as
Sessment. He should also be required to
Investigate with respect to any particular
appraisal. upon the written complaint of
any reasonable number of other taxpayers
in such town. The present method of APP
peal requires the commissioner of taxes
to appoint appraisers. With the right of
appeal given to the commissioners. this
provision should be eliminated, and the
governor should appoint biennially a state
board of three members who should con-
atitutc an equalization board, or board for
re assessment, to whom such appeals
should be taken, whether by an interested
land owner. the town agent or the com
IuisSIoncT of taxes. Such board should
not be paid a stated salary. but should
receive "A reasonable per diem and neces-
Sary expenses when actually serving in its
tofhcial capacity.
National Guard and ArmOrieS.
Upon the return of the soldiers to civil
life the Vermont Volunteer Militia. which
had been organized and maintained dur
ing the war aS an emergency force. was
demOhihzed and the reorganization of the
National Guard under the National De
Tense Act was begun at once. In this
work Vermont has maintained q steady,
healthy growth until we now have a force
FOf over 600, men fully organized. armed
and equipped. all the line troops being
Officered by eX-Service men. In reorgan-
ization of the National Guard Vermont
has at all times been wei in the lead of
the other states. 1t is the pol
icy of Vermont 10 establish armorieS in
towns where companies of the National
Guard are maintained. The amount of
the Appropriation for an armOry. SO, 900.
Is too small to build an armory in these
times. That appropriation should be in
creased to $4,000.
House of Correction.
] recommended to the last legislature
consolidation of the house of correction
and the state prison, at Windsor. in order
to bring the two institutions under one
management. This was done. and the di-
rector of state institutions informs me
that an annual saving to the state of from
$4,000 to $4,000 will be made.
Education
Important among the questions which
Will engage your attention il our school
system. Such action rs YOU may see fit
to take should not be the result of passion
or prejudice, but should come only after
the most exhaustive study and careful
elaboration. 1t should be constructive
rather than destructive, and should be
taken in the interests of the whole state,
rather than for n particular locality.
One of the fundamental difficulties
with the whole matter of education is the
Iinadequacy of salaries paid to our teach
ers in rural and elementary schools. 1t
is self-evident that we cannot obtain the
services of the most competent teachers
unless we are ready to offer them compeu-
satiOn equivalent to that which they can
receive in other lines of endeavor.
/ urge. generous. whole hearted meas
ures for the training of teachers. The
( teacher. training courses in our larger
schools are performing Invaluable service
along this line. They should be encouF-
aged and. a. fast AZ possible extended.
/ Properly fostered. these courses will go
far in solving the problem in the rural
school.
! / believe in the policy of extensive i'm
pr5vement in the rural schools and of in
crcaSlng their attractiveneSS in the local
communities and, further, in system
which enables the rural student to acquire
in his own neighborhOod the education
suitable for his needs. And. in connection
with the agitation for the return of the
little red schoolhOuSe," | would call at
tcntion t. Section 1872 of the General
Laws. which provides that six or more
residents of any community having eight
or more pupils who desire an elementary
school IN that community may petition the
selectmen of town, who shall call Spe
cial district meeting; and the question of
establishing such a school shall be decided
/ by majority of the voters at such meet
! ing. Any town can have as many of the
SO-called red SchOOlhOuseS as the voters
! of the town, or school district. may see fit
: to establish
! The normal school question will come
/ before you; and. in that connection, let
me suggest that it is wholly mp to the
| legislature to determine the number and
character of normal schools which the
state shall establish. Ny own
notion is that one central normal school.
/ independent Of any other institution.
equipped to prepare teachers for the ele-
mentary and rural schools, is the greatest
need at the present time and is the school
/ that Will give the state as a whole the
greatest benefit.
Agricultural Schools
| Two years ago l suggested to the gen
eral assembly that it consolidate the agri-
cultural schools. During the session. a
committee of the legislature took this
matter under consideration. visited both
schools and, as a result of their recon-
mendauons. the Legislature felt that it
was unwise to take such action at that
time. Since then, every one having any
knowledge of conditions with respect to
the agricultural schools, except. possibly.
those who have some peculiar interest in
one or the other. has come to the conclu-
sion that it is extremely unwise and mex
tpedient to continue both institutions. /
would. therefore. call your attention to
this question with the recommendation
that the operation of the Vail school
should be discontinued unless we are
prepared to expend an amount of money
that is entirely beyond the value of the
institution to the state.
.. Agriculture.
| A comprehensive program has been
undertaken blythe agricultural department
for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis
from the herds of the state. As. a basis
for this program, the laws relating to live
stock were revised by the last legislature
i Applications for tests have been so numer-
/ Gus that the appropriation available is in
sufficient and the department is now n
lyear behind in meeting the demands made
upon 1t. If the state is to spend
the enormous amount of money which will
be necessary to eradicate the disease, it
fshould control the care and housing of