Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-11-17
Laws Of Ver m ON { .
ANNUAL sEssION,-A.D.Is6o.
Designated by the Secretary Of State for publ
cation in all the Newspapers.

II is hereby enacted, Sc.
An act to establish the Vermont Reform school.
Ills hereby enacted by the General assembly
Of the Slate OF permont
SEC. l. There shall be established, as here
after provided, an institution for the discipline.
correction and reformation of juvenile offenders,
10 he called the Vermont Reform School, TO
which shall be committed for discipline, correc-
ton and instruction, such persons not exceeding
eighteen years age as it is by the bill proyId-
ed thus to commit.
SIC .. There shall be appointed annually
by the Governor, by and with the advice Of the
Senate, board Of commissioners to consist Of
three members, one of their number to be desig-
mated as the acting commissioner and the other
two advisory commissioners. The acting CON-
missioner shall receive besides board for himself
and family. p salary of eight hundred dollars
per annum to be paid quarterly, but no other
fees, expenses or perquisties whatever. And
the two advisory commissioners shall receive
three dollars per diem, for the time actually
employed in the discharge OF their duties, with
travelling expenses the acting commissioner
shall constantly reside upon the State farm, and
give his whole time TO the duties Of his office
The whole board shall meet, at least, once quar-
terly but no usy per diem, shall be paid TO
any advisory commissioner for more than fifty
DAYS in any wear and the salary and pay per
diem shall be paid out of the Treasury Of the
State, on the order Of the Auditor OF Accounts
issued on the separate certificates Of the comms
sioners The said board Of commissioners shall
give such b5ui~ in such amount aud with such
security as shall he approved by the Governor.
.aii bond TO De deposited with the State Treas
s.F s,.an lrVrF n
board from any cause, it shall be filled by the
Governor by appointment, and the persons so
APPOINTED shall hold office enc year, or until
others are appointed
Sec s. The SAID commissioners are hereby au-
thorized to purchase land, not exceeding two
hundred acres. nor less than fifty acres, suitable
for the site and the purposes Of the said Reform
School, to be called the State Farm, and so 10
cateI within this State as shall in their juig
ment best meet the wants and subserve the in
terests oil the said school, the cost Of which lands
/ shall not exceed six thousand dollars. lmme-
| dIately upon the purchase Of the said farm. and
obtaining possession thereof, the said board OF
commissioners shall proceed 10 erect suitable
buildings thereon for the residence of the acting
| Commissioner, and the reception and acccmmo-
/ dalton Of such male and female youths as It is
| provided in this act 10 commit TO the Reform
| School: or in case buildings shall have been pur-
chased with the land, to put them IN proper re-
| ua;r. and NJ them for the use and purposes Of
the said school, and if need be, erect additional
/ buildings. The buildings shall be arranged for
| the complete separation Of the sexes, and their
| separation shall be strictly maintained.
Sec. 4. For the wages Of assistants aud en-
| pIovees IN said Reform School; for salary and
! Der diem Of commissioners; and for fuel, food,
| raimeut and education for the inmates; for stock
| and implements OF farm, and furniture ofbuild-
| iugs for the year ensuing, sum not 10 exec
fve thousand dollars is hereby apprCp riated. 10
! be allowed b. the Auditor Of accounts, who shall
draw his order On the Treasurer, in favor Of the
| acting commissioner, on his presenting proper
vouchers Of the amount Of expense so incurred
Se,. D. Whenever any male or female under
the age Of eighteen years. shall be found guilty
! Of any crime or ofiense against the laws Of thu:
State, the court in It's discretion shall have pow
r 10 sentence the respondent 10 the Vermont
| Reform School, and the Governor l. hereby au
| thOrzed AZ his discretion 20 commute the pun
! ishmeut OF such couvicts Of the age fixed in thi:
act, a. now or hereafter may be sentenced TO OF
confined in the State Prison or any county jail;
/ and remove them 90 said school. and the cost Of
| such commitments and removals shall be met in
the same manner - Is now provided by law for
| commitments % the State Prison; and tn" officer
! in charge Of the person 30 10 be committed, OF
| removed. shaI retain him in his custody, until
be snail have received information from the act
ing commissioner that there Is rocm for the per-
! sou 81 TO be committed in said school
See. @. In an cases when received. said minors
| shall be under the control Of the authorities Of
| the sail Reform Scl0ol, and the sad authorities
| shall nc all times have power 10 apprentice them
Al their discretion, aud il shall be their duty sC
10 apprentice them whenever suitable opportu-
mites shall offer, and they shall judge said mi
ners suitable persons TO be so apprenticed.
Sec :. Any person that shall eniice any youth
detained upon the State farm TO escape, or aid Of
abet him 10 escaping, or shall after his escape
knowing HIM 10 be fugitive from said STATE
farm. harb0r him, shall on conviction thereof be
deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor, and be hne'l il
a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars or con
lined in the county Jail for period not exceed
ing three months. or both, at the discretion o.
the court
Sec s SAID board Of commissioners shall re-
port annually to the Governor on or before the
| tenth day Of October in each year. Said report
shall contain full and detailed accounts Of al
| payments made and moneys received, and OF all
the fiscal atiairs Of said Reform School; its man.
| agemcut. coudI Ion and wants. which the Cover
nor shall have printed, and transmit to the Leg
isature with Is annual message.
Sec. O. When any male minor shall have been
| committed 10 the Reform School, and the CON-
missioner tshall find him incorrigible, or shall
deem his continuance Injurious TO its manage
ment or discipline, they shall certify the same
upon the mittimus by which he is held. and the
mittimus with such certificate shall be returned
10 the county court, next TO be held IN the coun-
ty where such minor shall have been convicted
or sentenced; whereupon said county court,
/ .h,oe- atbar raraif suCh mi
nor to said Reform School Tor further and more
severe discipline, or to the county Jail or State
prison. to be there imprisoned for the remainder
Of the term for which said convict was sentenc-
/ ed. And the commissioners shall have power.
with the approval Of the Governor, TO discharge
any minor as reformed, whenever they shall
become satisfied that his longer detention IN said
school shall be to the disadvantage or injury Of
said minor.
Sec 10. This act shall take effect from its pas
sage and shall be under the control Of all future
Legislatures, to alter, amend or repeal
Approved Nov. 9. 1865.
Sec l. The auditor of accounts Of this State
shall procure and examine all the papers, youch-
ers and statements Of any and all kinds of dis
bursements made by any person for or on nc
count Of the State of Vermont from the first day
of January, A. d. 1861, TO the first day Of Jan
uary, A. D. 1866, and he shall arrange such
vouchers for payments or disbursements in prop
er form, and place the same on file in his office,
and for any and all expenses or disbursements
made by any officer Of this State, or by any one
acting by or under authority Of this State or its
officials in any way, so far as the said payments
or expenditures may have been in any way ap-
propriated or used TO procure, furnish or provide
or in any form have been used to furnish men or
means Of any kind to aid and assist the General
Government Of the United States in furnishing
or supplying itself with any kind Of material
used in the late war for the suppression o. the
rebellion Of southern States, or in any way ex-
pended in defending the frontier against inva-
SION or raid from Canada; he shall obtain all
the evidence if possible so to do. necessary to
enable him to prepare and present statement
to the said General Government Of the United
States, Of all such claims, with their proper
vouchers. And it is hereby made the duty Of
said auditor to prepare such statement of these
claims as soon as practicable, and present them
and secure their payment if he can do s.; but
if such claims are not paid by said General Gov
eminent Of the United States upon presentation,