Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-10-30
OF the Green Mountain State.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FIN
ANCE, ON THE STATE PRISON.

REPORT OF TIE COMMITTEE ON FIN
ANCE, ON THE STATE PRISON.
The Committee to whom was referred a resolu-
ton of the Senate, ntruscting the Committee on
Finance to inquire as to the laws the State Prs-
on" having given the subject referred to them the
consideration which, in their opinion, its import
ance required, beg leave to submit the following
report:
1t will be perceived, by reference to the resolu-
ton under which the Committee acted, that they
were authorized to send for persons and papers, If
in their opinion they should deem it necessary to
proper examination of the subject In order to aid
them in coming to a decision on this part of the
inquiry, they sought information of persons most
likely to be acquainted with the affairs of the Pri-
son, and among others, of the Superintendent and
one of the Directors, and came to the conclusion
not to exercise the authority thus given Them
In deciding on the remaining part Of the sub
| iect to wit: whether an alteration in the existing
laws is necessary the Committee had little aid,
| except what an examination Of the reports Of the
Superintendent and Directors of the Prison, and
other official papers, afforded them
After an examination, particularly, orthe reports
of the Directors, the Committee saw, at least, dp-
parent contradictions in the reports themselves. To
illustrate this, the Committee refer the Senate to
the reports of the Directors for the years 1Sl3 A.
and 45. 1t will be seen by the report for 1913,
table (C,) on the 94h page of the Auditors report
that the as sets of the Prison for that year were
S26430 10
and that its liabilities were 1905 08
Leaving a balance in favor of the Prs-
on LIST Sept, lS43, of Sl2,525 05
By table C.) found on the I'D page of the Audi
tors report for 1874, the
assets of the Prison are $27,32S 30
and that the liabilities are 1870 So
Leaving balance in favor of the Pris
on of S84,l7 SO
Which deducted from the balance in fa-
vor of the Prison in ls43, is 4,lO7 50
Being the true expense loss to the State for that
year.
On page 80 of Auditors report for 1S45 table (C)
the assets are put down at S29,977 II
and the liabilities in the same table are 290c2 6S
Leaving balance in favor of the Pris.
on of 1896 90
To which should be added for an error
in table (C.) caused by emitting in
that table the provisions on hand, Az 6S
on. Sent. list, is45, ' sl,3l2 II
Which deducted from the balance in favor of the
Prison in 1874, shows the cost of maintaining the
Prison for the year ending Sept. ], 1916, to be
1904 76
BY referring to tables ID. in the reports of the
Directors for the years 1874 and AS, giving the ex
penditures and income for those years, it will be
seen that the loss for 1874 was 81 S67 Is
and the loss for lS45 was 1859 06
Making the loss for the two years 1856 81
and differing from the loss shown by
tables (C.) 1926 OF
Which sums added together make the
actual expense to the State for the
years 1914 and as, us shown by the
tables co. to be $ll,ls2 %
The object of the Committee, in making a some
what detailed report was, to bring to the notice of
the Senate the facts above referred to and having
done this they will only observe, that proper ad
minstration of the affairs of the Prison is to be
secured mainly by selection of such officers as
will bring to its service the capacity and efficiency
that are necessary to the success of all private
transactions.
The Committee report ALSO the accompanying
bill, SENATE bill, No. 49, which, in their opinion,
ought to pass.
| DAVIS RICH for Committee