The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-01-26
ENDORSING
RETRENCHMENT
STATE EXPENSES
Town Treas. Braley Has
Received Numerous
Favorable Letters

lOWu IIedSuIcI, has IcCcINcu llloil
letters commenting favorably upon
his circular sent to he town
clerks of Vermont regarding his
suggestion to reduce state eXpen-
ses. The state press has also en-
dorscd the idea and it is receiving
considerable attention cditorially
Here are a few of the letters that
Mr.. Braley has receive:
Hon. Frederick H. Babbitt OF
Bellows Falls write 81 am glad to
associate myself with any move
ment Of this kind toward retrench-
ment in state expenses, and par
ticularly a more economical and
more efficient administration of
our state affairs.
81 realize, from a somewhat in
innate knowledge of conditions,
what we are up against, and | serv
cd for some years in legislatures
where a direct state tax not only
was unknown, but abhorred. 1t
does seem to me, however, that
the form of resolution is too mild
in its wording and not direct
enough in the things which it sets
out to accomplish. 1t seems to me
that every town in Vermont should
20 on record as not only inflcXibly
opposed ito ifu:.her extrtNagant
appropriations, but should also be
insistent on the cancellation of the
o-called continuing appropria-
tions" which lays at the root of
our whole trouble, and take, out
OF the pockets of our people over
a million dollars a year. Every
Legislature should WASH its own
linen and be responsible for its
own appropriations, and neither
ihcrit trouble from previous leg
iSlaturcs or unload trouble onto
legislatures that are to follow
them"
Carl C. Fletcher, we'll rcmcm-
bcrcd in ST Johnsbury and now
owner of d large farm in Shell
burne, writes,
Il am not able to agree with
many of the conclusions you draw
in this letter.
"ln the first place | object to
your inclusion Of farming in the
wealth producing activities Of the
state. If your other standards are
as far from facts as this they de-
serve no consideration.
"Thc So that our state tax
takes from every inhabitant seems
to look large to you, No, my
dear sir, while know nothing of
your personal habits | venture to
say that you spend each year, or
would if you could, much more
than 50 in ways that are of no
benefit to you, your town, or your
state Personal economy, sir. IS
my answer to YOUR idea of the
cruel pressure Of three small dol
lars year.
81 rejoice that our grad and
beloved state has at last escap-
ed from the Victory bog of stag
nation into which it was plunged
for so many years; that it is
spending it, money freely and lib
orally, 80 that in time we can ac-
cumulate u respectable state debt
that will place US on par with our
sister states in this glorious Union.
"What matters it that the priv
ilcged industries, such as town
clerking, whine. Our feet are on
the road of progress and we must
progress.
Former Licut.-Gov. Frank f.
Howe, editor Of the Bennington
Banner, writes,
81 have printed your article and
have also heard favorable COM
ment on your propos al. Public
pressure where emphatic can al
ways get what it wants, but j.
often expressed so weakly that no
one knows how the public really
feels. Your plan would at least
have a tendency TO emphasize u
real demand, and have no doubt
the real demand exists and waits
only the effort OF make it, cfTcc-
tive"
Licut.-Gov. Abram W. l'ootc
writes,
81 heartily endorse the rc-olu-
tions suggested by you in the cir
cular letter of the 10th instant. !
suggested the same idea in my
platform two years ago"