The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-19
PRICE THREE CENTS.

about S23, 600 to this institution, but under
no restrictions or reservations except lieu
| upon the Institution for reimbursement of
the fund in case an emergency should arise
IN which we should wish to Withdraw the
fund. We have not acquired any vsitorial
powers or rights over the institution by rea-
son of any such donation but such visit
oral powers still remain in the court of
chancery. The bill over-rides all the rights
of this institution; AMI we have no more
| power to authorize board of commission
ers TO go to Bratteboro an punish or dis
charge the officers Of that institution, than
we have to send that board into any private
family in the state. That is the scope Of
this bill, and it is oxer cising powers that do
not belong the state originally, and have
never been acquired by us. lie desired
| some one to tell him when the State of YER
mont acquired any visitorial powers over
the institution at Brattleboro, and until that
| question is answered he had no more to say
| on the subject.
Mr.. Henry, of Chester said this instiu-
ton is a corporation, and all corporate
charters are under the control of the leg.
islature to alter, amend or repeal rs the
public good may require and the public
| good now requires the amendments pro-
posed in this bill, Another reason for the
passage of this bill is the right of the state
to protect its own citizens; and here is n
| class of unfortunate citizens that are in
| carcerated in the institution at Brattleboro
| and are beyond the protection they have a
| right to receive from the outside world. All
the evidence that had been produced by the
committee to investigate the affairs of the
institution came from the officers and at
PENDANTS of the institution ITSELF and is u
bad enough showing for the manageme { of
the institution. IIo did not claim that the
present superintendent was as hard-hearted
as had been his predecessors he thought
that under the present management per-
| haps we need have no fears for the OPP
preston of the inmates; but he may be
superseded by man less humane, and one
over which the state should have just the
control asked in this bill. He thought the
| legislature ought to have the control of these
| matters herein secured.
Mr., Boynton, of Woodstock, replied that
there is no dwelling in Vermont into which
there is not legal method of obtaining ac.
cess; and just so with the Institution at
Brattleboro, the doors are open to every
conner just as freely as any private dwell
ing, and the legal methods of obtaining
access are just as applicable to the Institu-
ton as to the private dwelling. That as
ylum is free for the judges Of the courts
and the people to walk in legal manner,
but we can not creep in by any back door
of legislative enactment, composed Of Il
physician, a lawyer and woman.
Mr.. Buel, of Mddletown, said. we have
a right to protect the unfortunates of the
state, and the provisions of this bill are
wholesome and we have right to say that
We will give the inmates of that asylum the
protection herein accorded them.
Mr.. Martin, of Londonderry, said, to
his mind there are objections to this bill.
When we have constituted board of COM
missioners, and they go to Bratteboro,
that board will be met at once with the OBJ
lection that they have no right to enter the
departments of a private corporation unless
the officers of that Institution see fit to al
low them to do so. There were many rea-
sons why the bill ought not to pass He
moved that the bill be dismissed.
Mr.. Wells, of CRANKY, said if we had no
control of this institution, he hoped we
should have an asylum over which we
should have control; and unless we can
have the control which humanity demanded
we better set about building new insti-
tuition.
Mr.. Bemis, of Dummerstcn, said he
should vote to dismiss this BILL for the rea-
son that it allowed the testimony of the in
sane inmates to be used against the officers
of the institution There arc other rea
sons for the dismissal of the bill. but he
would not take the time of the House to
state them. On the question of dismissal
he demanded the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Boynton, of Woodstock, urged the
House to regard the legal objections which
he had presented against the passage of the
bill, and assured them that there other rea-
sons, not yet presented, much stronger
than any he had yet offered for their con-
sideration.
Mr.. Newell of Shelburne, demanded the
previous question, which was seconded by
the House, and the main question was put,
,, shall the bill be dismissed? and it was dis
agreed to-Ayes, A; nays, IA.
, The question then REQUIRED on the adopt
ion of the proposed amendments of the
committee; the first and second amend
men,s were agreed to, and pending the
question on the third amendment.
On motion of Mr.. Martin, of London
derry, adjourned.
AFTERNOON.
ii. 112, to place the inmates of insane
asylums under the protection of the laws ;
was taken up. the question being on the
third amendment proposed by the COM
mittee, to strike out the whole of section
five, and it was agreed to the bill was
then read the third time.
Mr.. Smalley OF Burlington. moved to
commit to member to amend by striking
, out the last clause of the eighth section
which reads land upon trial for such Of
Tense, the testimony of any person, whether
insane or otherwise, shall be taken, which
, proposal of amendment was subsequently
: Withdrawn. The bill was then passed.
,, Special order-H. IL, to assess and tax
= the real estate of railroads in this state, was
! taken up, the question being on the amend-
/, ments proposed by the committee.
Mr.. Cook of Nlendon, said the railroads
are property which escapes taxation, and
they ought to be reached and be taxed like
. other property.
He said all that is asked is that the real
> estate of railroads shall be taxed the same
as other real estate in the localities where
= they are located. He did not fully APP
| nrOvp of the amendments nrOnOsel but il