The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-02-21
BARBER POINTS TO
LEGISLATIVE ILLS
Suggests Change to Reduce
Cost of Running State
Government
MAKES A TALK TO
WHITE RIVER CLUB
Reiterates Claim That Executive Budget
Would Help - Thinks There Should
be a Consolidation of Commissions -
Defends Legislature.


Would Help - Thinks There Should
be a Consolidation of Commissions -
Defends Legislature.
Especial to The Reformer.5
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION.
February u.
In discussing the question of lcgisla-
ton before the Literary club and the
Loyal club here last evening. Represent
ativc Frank T.. Barber of Brattleboro
pointed cut some Of the evils that have
grown mp under the present system OF
legislation in Vermont and suggested
changes that would. in his opinion. rem
cdy those evils and effect a reduction in
state expenses. The propositions which
lac discussed were aS follows:
!. The necessity for an executive
budget providing for the necessary. cx-
Tenscs of the state. 81. -s.-sE W.
=. Consideration by the legislature of
this budget before passing appropria-
tionS for other purposes.
3. \ consolidation of commissions.
Continuing. he said in part.
Let uS consider some of the evils att
tending our present system of legisla-
The several committees of the legiSla-
turc, As soon as made up, are welcomed
To the department corresponding ID the
particular work which that committed
has in hand, which department from the
| head TO the tIncSSenger clerk extends cy-
cry courtesy possible to the members of
| that committee. 1t seems TO be the bust
ness of Che bead of every department To
magnify the importance of its own ac-
| tiyity; TO think primarily of It's own
work. and in many instances. with come
| pletc isolation from other departments.
working for the common good of the
whole
| With hundred or more of these de-
apartments and commissions operating
! independently upon the treasury. with
/ out considering i'm amy degree the rcve-
nuc of tic state. OF the relative value
which one activity. is doing as compared
/ with another is it any wonder that our
/ expenses have incrcaSedE- Also please
bear in mind tbat the heads of our de-
partmcntS arc usually meu thoroughly
acquainted with dc, work of a lcg~la-
bWc: men who hfFg had experience in
cxcrting and wieldns influence upon "A
| legislature made Np. ~ il is. of probably
lthr'c-UiUarterS Of the members without
/ prcyious legislative experience This
| lobbying aud influence is continually GO
Ing on from, the time the cE;slatur,
meets until after the special anpropria-
Etiou~ are passed upon when the work al
Faprrorriatin@ money for their needs i
considered. sF
In saving this do NOT wish TO be nm
flcrStood as casting any reflections what
| ever upon any of oar departments or
comm i Mons So Gar aS know they
larc all rendering honest, able and con
~tienti8us service and in the matter Of
securing 'pHf0Piota6ns are adopting a
| sy. tenn VtFHch fleg deem necessary and
| one which has Seen in practice in this
state for MANY years. Nevertheless. il
| is mentioned only for the purpose Of
showing the evils attendant upon such
| = system.
| The business of running Vermont
should be placed on strictly business
| methcdS. In any business, one never
heard of each separate department opeI<
ating indcpcnt' of the other. The ex-
| peuditurcs are regulated according to
| che amount of the income The neceS-
| sary overhead expenses are always con-
| sidercd and provided for before spending
money for other purposes No business
or industry could long survive under the
| states present system IL does not in-
/ vite economy. There is no established