The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-15
BUT SMALL AMOUNT
FOR AGRICULTURE
Would Abolish Side Judges
and Consolidate County
and Municipal Courts -
Condemns Normal Schools
and CastletOn and john
son But Would Curtail
Education Appropriation

MONTPELIER, Feb. 10. - Recon-
mendations of sweeping changes in the
government of Vermont, the elimination
Of many state activities, the serious cur
failing of others, and a return to condi-
tions closely approximating those of
1901. when the total cost of government
was $9TO,47S32, instead of the $4,091,
679.OG now required are contained in a
special report of the board of control
made to the present legislature under the
terms of a joint resolution adopted by the
legislature of 1919 by which the board
was instructed to make study of state
expenses.
The members of the old board making
the re~ort were: Gov. L. W. Clement,
State treasurer Walter f. Scott. State
Auditor Benjamin Gates, Director of
| State Institutions, John E. Weeks, and
| Will ii. Davis, of Rutland, the appoint
| i've member who has been succeeded on
the board by Roland Stevens of White
| River Junction.
Among its recommendations concern
| ing general administration" the board
urges that the present appropriation for
| highways be reduced 30 per cent. The
! expenditures for highways in 1920
amounted t0 $f,U51 .0SO.Ol, or 81 per
| cent of the total state expenditures. In
| regard to highways the board also rec
ommends the reorganization of the high
way system and provides limited assist
ance to towns that have trunk lines to
| construct and maintain This would
| mean. of course, the withdrawal of state
aid for the back roads. for which purpose
| . ha,- s,1, " oil =
| about 20 per cent of what the board of
! control believes should be the proper to-
| tai highway appropriation.
Two Departments Too Expensive.
Just how ruthless the board would APP
ply the knife is to be found in a single
paragraph, which makes it plain that it
believes Vermont has gone altogether too
far in the support of agriculture, of ed
ucatiOn. and other kindred things. This
paragraph reads as follows
The repeal of all laws that support
activities that are paternalstic in their
nature, as forestry, agricultural fairs.
4 boards of examiners and regulation, as
sociationS that promote the special in
terests of the dairy. horticultural maple
sugar, poultry producers, experiment
I stations, fremen'S relief fund, gcolosiSt
free public library, investigation of water
resources, teachers retirement fund, top
ographic surveys and many functions OF
the agricultural department like bovine
= tuberculosis, market agencies, creamery
I inspection. COW testing associations and
dairy manufacturing specialists. There
1 might well be included i'll this class the
E large appropriations made TO the institu
tiOns of higher learning that are not j
- part of our public school system
L Moving on to the question of educa
= ton, the board stands for the moditca
= ton of our educational system by climi
,f
!, administration and supervision auC
" adopting a simple but efficient method o
!, development of rural schools, leaving the
larger places to look after their own in
| Stituti0uS.
: Further. the board. wants a return t.
: the old public health system. repeal th'
. laws which establish the insurance de
y paTtment and return this supervision t,
the treasurer and secretary Of state. Tn,
{ board also urges a return to the Old syS
: TEN of obliging the towns to care foI
their own unfOrtunatcE and thus reduce
! the costs Of our state in,titutions.'
Court Consultations.
:: Among the other recommendations o
! the board are:
2 Abolition of the Offices of assistant
: judges of the county courts
= Abolition of the municipal courts o
Fair Haven. Winooski and ESSc1
|. county.
Consolidation Of the Essex count,
|, court with the Caledonia county court.
Consolidation of the Grand Isl,
: county court with the Chittcndei
| county court.
, Reorganization of the system of pro
= bate courts on basis of one probat
court to q county.
The establishment of central norma
/ school which should Fundamentally b
an integral part of Vermont's system o
, education. That it should be the foun
tain head of our educational system fro