Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-10-21

effective agency in the police of the
state. 1t is stated in the report of
the trustees that, since the establish
ment of the school, several boys have
been sent there convicted Of minor,
and often trihing offenses, that are so
feeble-minded and idiotic as to be, in
their opinion, incapable of committing
crime, and incapable Of receiving ben.
eft by continuing there; and that, as
the trustees have no power to dis
charge, except for thorough reforma-
ton, and as there can be no reform
| where no capacity to do wrong exists,
they cannot discharge them. They
ask that the law be so amended as to
give the trustees and superintendent
power to discharge in such cases. |
submit whether such power ought to
be granted, except in connection With
some other suitable provision for this
class of unfortunate persons. 1t ap-
pears that the legislature, at its last
session, authorized the trustees to
purchase certain property named in
the act--a lot with building and ma
chinery-in their discretion, at an
expense not exceeding fifteen thou
sand dollars, for the purpose of the
manufacture of chairs; that before
any purchase was made, the building
and machinery were burned, and that
appropriation of $4,000 remains un-
touched in the treasury. AS to the
question whether the purpose contem-
plated in the act approprating that
sum should still be carried out by the
purchase Of certain other property of
like description, | refer you to the
report of the trustees, and also to the
report Of the superintendent made to
them. The propriety of making such
purchase is urged by the superinten-
dent upon grounds Of economy and
profit to the state, by enabling the
institution, by the labor Of the boys,
the inmates, to manufacture chairs
entire, instead of simply weaving in
the cane; and also upon the ground
of making the school more efficient in
its reformatory character, by teaching
the inmates a trade that will afford
them means of obtaining employment,
and gaining livelihood, at the criti-
cal period of their lives when they
leave the Institution. | am not suili-
ciently informed to warrant the ex-
preston of an opinion on the subjcct,
further than to recommend that it
receive your consideration, and such
action as your wisdom shall dictate.
The biennial report Of the directors
and superintendent OF the state prison,
as to its condition and management,
show the financial affairs of the prison
in good condition and in this respect
there seems to be great improvement
over that Of former years. At the
last session of the legislature, on re-
commentator OF the officers Of the
prison, an act was passed directing
the directors to construct chapel in
one Of the buildings, and make such
alterations and repairs of the old
prison as were necessary for the bet
ter accommodation of the female con-
victs therein confined ; and for these
purposes they were authorized to ap-
propriate so much Of the surplus
earnings of the prison as was neces-
sary, not exceeding $4,000. The
reports show that the chapel has been
constructed accordingly, and that the
other repairs have not been made on
account Of the insuf1lciency of the
appropriation, and those repairs are
again represented as being much
needed for the convenience and COM
fort of the female prisoners confined
there. | recommend that the neces-
sary appropriation be made for that
purpose. call your attention to the
remarks of the directors in their re-
port in relation to 'the impropriety
of sentencing culprits for short terms
on small OtfenSes TO such an lnStltu-
ton as this" The main purpose of
punishment is to prevent crime and
reform the criminal. In order to
accomplish this purpose, criminal laws
must be punitory, but at the same
time they ought to he relormatory as
far as practicable. There are minor
offenses for which the punishment
prescribed is in the alternative, fine,
or Imprisonment in the county Jail, or
in the state prison, in the discretion
of the court, depending on the cir
Al r