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

proved bv the governor and by the state
engineer. so that projects are located by
the highway commissioner, approved by
the governor and by the state engineer
and then submitted to the federal govern
ment for approval.
Under the federal road act, the state
of Vermont has been allotted 81 ~, 1881
for the FIVE years. ending Iune 80 1871
This matched by an equal amount oy the
state made s. Isl. 207 .46 available for
actual construction work. Although this
five-yeai. period ends June 20, 1921, the
federal appropriation Will be available Tor
all pro ectS which are. surveyed, approved
and contracted for during the year end
ing June 80. 1922; and locations have
been agreed upon for the expenditure of
the whole of the federal appropriation.
/ believe that the salary of the state
highway commissioner should be increased
substantially. In addition to the district
commissioners who are doing good work,
sisted by deputies qualified by training
and experience to take charge of new CON
StruCtion and maintenance, respectively.
| endeavGred to employ such deputies, but
was unable to do so because did not wish
to pay a deputy a higher salary than the
commissioner himself receives. 1t such
DEPUTIES are employed, the responsibility,
but not the whole burden, of the highway
department would rest upon one person.
With the vast amount of work for the
highway department to carry on. contin-
uitv of service should be provided for in
competent personnel. At present, the i'll
ness or temporary absence of the commits
siOner would seriously handicap the work
of the department.
Public Service Commission.
There has been in recent years large ex-
panSion of the So-called public utility com
panieS manufacturing and distributing
heat light and power; and, in order to
foster this development aS a benefit 10 the
industries of the state. these companies
have been granted privileges far beyond
those enjoyed by the ordinary business
corporation. In return for these priv
leges, the people of Vermont. are entitled
to be furnished with adequate service at a
reasonable charge. OF late there has been
considerable complaint that the people are
not receiving these benefits.
While the power of fixing rates and of
requiring adequate service a we'll as the
duty of passing upon the character and
amount of the securities issued by these
companies rests with the public service
commission. the commission Is very much
handicapped from lack of authority and
funds to investigate such matters prop
erly To the end that the people of Yer
mont may be fully protected in all re
spects. the public service commission
4 should be given authority To investigate.
on its own behalf. such matters a. come
| before it, including rates charged for
power generated in this state, whether
sold within or without the state. and the
commission should be provided with ueces-
sary funds to conduct such investigation.
/ Board of Control.
! The board of control has thoroughly
justified the wisdom of the action of the
legislature in creating it. 1t has been a
potent force in keeping the business of
the state well in hand at all times, and
the co-operation between the various de
hos, in, ta
expenses as we'll a. c0-ordinating the vari-
, Gus state activities.
Salaries.
! Imitation of the currency OF the United
States and, consequently, the decrease in
the purchasing power of the dollar is pri-
marily responsible for the increase in
, wages in this country We are now fac
bng an increase in the value of the dollar,
measured by commodities and. conse-
Quently. n decrease in wages. This.
therefore. may not be an opportunc time
for suggesting increases III salaries of
state officials. Nevertheless, ! wish to call
your attention to the salaries paid to
many of our state department heads. and
to our superior and supreme court judges.
If we are to maintain the high
standard of our judiciary, of which we
/ have always been SO proud, we must make
suitable provisions, not only for adequate
compensation for their services, but also
for proper pension when time or circum-
stances force them to retire.
/ We are often inclined to economic in
small matters which frequently work
against the best interest OF the state and
to be lavish in appropriations for private
or quasi-pubic enterprises sometimes of
questionable value. which Gould with all
prOpriety be eliminated as state activities.
/ believe that substantial increase in the
salaries of state officials could be made at
an annual expense not to exceed $50 900
M M MT Il oil ha off ~
by eliminating unnecessary appropria-
tiOnS.
Fish and Game.
The fish and game department under the
direction of the present commissioner has
become a strong factor in making Vermont
an attractive place in which to live.
Through his wise and efficient manage
ment. spirit of cooperation has been
brought about between the department
and the people of the state This depart
ment is self-sustaining and is worthy of
the support of every member of the legis-
lature.
The chief things accomplished by the
department during the last two years are
First, the purchase of a substantial par
eel of land near the Sand Bar bridge in
Milton for the establishment of migra-
tory wild fowl sanctuary. BY this pur-
chase, Vermont is the first eastern state
to join the nationwide movement for wild
life conservation.
Second. the establishment of open zones
around apple orchards where wild deer
may be legally hunted and killed at all
times. 49,
Third, the extension of fish cultural
work. @+'s.s = ...-.-...
Vermont stands without a rival in the
beauty and grandeur of her mountains
in her wonderful lakes and clear running
streams. These natural attractions would
be robbed of more than half their rec
reational value if the wild life of our
fields and streams were seriously depleted.
Such resources should be carefully con,
served.
Equalization Board.
I All citizens should bear their fair share
of the burden of government. All prop
erty, therefore, should be assessed fairly
and taxed proportionately once; and no
property should be taxed more than once
in the same levy. ri. s-,.-<- ---.e--
With the state school and highway
taxes and the present direct state tax, We
are faced with condition which always
exists under a system of general property
. taxation. that Is the 1iSnnSitinn of snml