The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-12-28
THURSDAY. DECEMBER -, 1922.
STATE EXPENSES.

The Burlington Free Press has had
reporter investigating the states fl
nances, and he makes the somewhat
startling statement (Which he claims the
state auditor has admitted is correct)
that al the close of the next fiscal year
ending June, 1923, Vermont will find it.
self facing q deficit of approximately
$2T5,0O0, the equivalent of a direct tax
Of - cents. In order to keep going, this
investigator asserts, the state is Dor
rowing from the unexpended balance of
a S1,J00,000 loan authorized by the legis
lature of 1919 for payments to soldiers
of the World war
In these state financial problems The
Reformer finds itself in the same boat
with the St. Adams Messenger. which
confesses that it cannot keep pace with
the varying reports that come out of
Montpelier relative to money matters.
First we are told that there is a surplus;
then we are Informed that the surplus
was merely a combination of unexpended
balances; still later the surplus is turned
into deficit, and the only definite thing
about the whole proposition is that taxes
steadily increase.
In connection with its expose The
. Free Press makes some interesting state
ments anent the practice of certain state
officials who have Offices in Montpelier.
We quote as followss
The law provides that state officials
shall be recompenSed for their expenses
when away from "home" The intent OF
the statute would seem to be- clear. BY
implication it would be Il reasonable con
| clusion that home would be a place OF
residence where an official would be rea-
/ sonably near his office or principal place
| OF business. 1t would seem that the
| Journeys away from home under con
| temptation. would be exceptional and
! not regular journeys.
The attOrney-ge secretary of
/ state, commissioner of agriculture. com
| missioner of industries, state treasurer
/ and banking commissioner live at the ex-
Fense of the state when in Montpelier
| They get mileage allowance when they
| journey to and from the capital.
Secretary of State Harry \. Black OBJ
| viously. if he is to properly perform his
! duties. must spend considerable part of
| his time in Montpelier. He retains a
| home in Newport His salary is $3,-
| 800 = year. 1t cost the state during the
! last fiscal year 81 ,329.91 TO pay for his
| travelling expenses and hotel bills lie
| was also furnished with an official
| automobile ut an operating cost OF ST.
| 939.5T.
Attorney General Frank c. Archibald
| has Il home in Manchester. He has an
| Office with q clerk or stenographer in
the state house annex. The assistant
lives in, or near. Montpelier When the
| encouragement has a job of typewritins
| to be done, he summons his assistant t.
| Manchester and the state pays travel and
| hotel bills.
Commissioner of Industries John s.
| Buttles stands out in bold contrast
among his associates as having a sensi-
| tive regard for spending taxpayers
money. His home" is in Brandon.
During his days in Montpelier he does
| not appear around the corridors of the
most expensive hotel. He makes his
headquarters in 2 modest room, the rent
i Of which is low, and he dimes frugally
at an inconSpicuous eating house II is
suggested that Commissioner Buttles de,
serves at least a rising vote of thanks
and recognition from the coming econ
omy' legislature-if economy doesn't dis
| appear into the background before the
session has long been under way
In conclusion it may be said that it is
. not a matter Of common observation that
the state employees around Montpelier are
overworked. From appearances. in some
/ offices. the art of killing time has reached
/ q more or less high stage of development.
T ReceSSes for gossip and the feminine &C
cupation of manicuring seem not to be in
frequent. The suggestion might, there
fore, be offered that the legislators soon