Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-11-04
From Montpelier.
[coRREspoNDENcE OF THE MONITOR.
MoNTpELIER, Der. 81, 1879.

exciting of the season, Both branches
of the Legislature have been hard at
work, and many of the committee hold
two or three sessions during the day and
evening. Among the most exciting
thing that has arisen is the account that
has been furnished the committee ON the
insane asylum of Brattleboro in relation
to the patients and convicts confined
there. If the testimony of Col. Stockton,
the person lately taken from there by a
writ of habeas corpus, is one-half true,
we are tolerating within this state, by
the sanction of the legislature and by
state contribution one of the most dis
graceful and abusive institutions in the
land. This poor man was kidnapped
and kept there number of years, and
describes his treatment as inhuman and
almost intolerable. He was punished
by being beaten, kicked, and choked by
strong men was put under the bath, as
they called it, and there compelled to re-
main until he was strangled and drown
ed to all intents and purposes, so far as
the suffering was concerned was de-
prived of the privilege of writing to his
friends and of almost everything else
1;Fo h1o Uha
testimony of other witnesses will corrob-
crate in the main all that he has said.
The Indignation felt here is great upon
the matter. No less than three railroads
have been chartered to run into Orleans
county from this direction two routes
from Montpelier and one from Water
bury, via. Morrisville, Eden. and Low
ell to Troy or Newport. Towns have
been granted the privilege of bonding
themselves for the purpose of aiding in
the enterprise. 1t is reported that the
route by Calais, Woodbury., and South
Hardwick is the shortest and most feas-
ible by which to reach the Black River
Valley on account both of distance and
grade. 1t will be interesting to your
county to know that it is in debt about
$4,000 on account of old claims being
due mostly to parties in lrasburgh. Pc
titions and remonstrances are flowing in,
in relation to the removal of the county
buildings. No action has yet been taken
upon the matter by the committee of
the House. Among other changes that
are proposed to be made is the taking of
portion of the towns of Barton and
Westmore of Orleans county and part
of each of the towns of Sutton and Shelf
field in Caledonia county to form new
town, of which the present So. Barton
will be the center and metropolis. Ger
tain men from that place are here with
counsel, trying to persuade the legisla-
ture that such move is necessary in
order to develop the resources of that
section of the country.
A bill has been introduced both into
the Senate and House having for its OBJ
ject the formation of libraries. The
state is to borrow $4,000 and such
towns as desire can by vote decide
whether they will have a library or not.
If they decide to have one the appropri.
ations will be made to each town in the
ratio of the population of that town tc
the population of the state. Great good
might result from this one measure if il
could become law. But | fear many
members will vote against it because
there will be an expense about it.
The state police bill is gaining in favor
and very many petitioners are asking
that it may be made law. 1t is de
signed as temperance measure. Tht
police are to be chosen by the Governor
of the state, of which each county will
have two. Their duty will be to lool
after the enforcement and keeping of tn,
laws; the suppression of gambling estab
lishments and the shutting up of rum
shops, and the conviction of rum crimi
nails The friends of the measure be
lieve it will be more effectual in carryin.
out the provisions of the liquor law thai
anything else that can be done. Tn
elections of various state officers occurre,
to-day They are in the main the sam
who served the last two years. Georg
Nichols Secretary of state, James W
, Peck Adjutant General, William W
: Lynd, Quarter Master General, Myro
W. Bailey, Railroad Commissioner, be
sides other minor officers.
The third house is fairly establishe
and is trying to assist in forwarding a
well as in shaping legislation. Thei
constituents will do well if they. will re
t call them to be elected at some futur
t day.
The present look indicates that ther
; will be some very rapid legislation don
. in the next three weeks, if all the bus
ness of the season is done before thanks
giving.
III.
WORSE AND WoRsE-We can unde
stand the green-eyed monster playin
! havoc with heart of any age from eigh
L cen up to eighty, but we cannot consc
n