Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-01-22
LEGIsLATUHE OF VERMONT--SPE-
CGAL SESSION.
SENATE.

SENATE.
FRIDAY, Jan. 10.
Journal Of Wednesday read and approved.
Bills introduced and referred-By the
committee on the Judiciary, an act re-
pealing the act of 1864, relating to
, Migrants; read the first and second time.
, and on the question, shall the bill be read
the third time, Senator Clark said he was
opposed to the repeal of the vagrant law
| though there might he need of amendment
to it,since abuses have crept into the execu-
ton Of the law. The work of tho Reform
School is both reformatOry and reprcssiye.
Senator Page said that he was opposed to
the repeal of the vagrant law. There were
abuses that had been illustrated that could
femedied in better way than by repeal
of the law.
Senator Ladd of Cbittenden, discussed
the general features OF the Reform School
system and thought that in most cases 1t
was an actual benefit for boys to be sent
there. lie was opposed to the repeal Of the
vagrant law.
Senator Reynolds of Grand Isle, said this
vagrant act was a war measure made In re-
ference to the St. Adams raid and as 1t stood
to-day was disgrace to the State and our
statute book. lie approved the course Of
the committee in reporting in favor OF Its
repeal.
Senator Wilson of Orleans favored the re-
peal of the act
Senator Walton thought that the word
vagrant was of such broad application that
hundreds of boys in the large towns might
be sent to tie Reform School and be sup
ported at tho expense of the State.
There was no time now to frame 4 new
law upon the subject Of yagrGncy There
was 20 course left but to repeal the present
law.
Senator's Wilson and Edmunds of Wind
sor, and Smith OF Addison, favored the re-
peal OF the law.
Senator Clark spoke in answer to some of
the objections urged against the law, and
in illustration Of Its present utility alluded
to the search for the Ball murderer in St.
Adams, when by authority Of the vagrant
act informal examinations Of suspected
persons were made possible. BIZ read the
third time and passed.
From the committee on judiciary report
| by bill, an act relating to nyictiOns and
sentences to the Reform School, the bill
provides that mo boy under the age of ten
years shall be sentenced to the Reform
School for any offence which by the general
law is punishable by fine only; provided
tina: when any boy under that age shall be
sentenced by any court to pay fine or q
] fine and costs, and shall be committed Tor
the non-paymenr thereof, such commitment
/ shall be to the Reform School instead of the
county Jail and the mittimus shall be drawn
accordingly" Read third time and passed.
! II. : an act appropriating money 10 cover
/ the extra expense occasiOncd by the Cos-
Traction Of the Reform School by trc. Read
third time and passed in concurrence.
AFTERNOON.
Bills introduced and referred BY Sena-
tor " ilson OF Orleans, an act relating to
the jurisdiction and authority of the judges
OF the Supreme Court on boys confined at
the Reform School. providing that on pc
tition O. kindred, or town officers any boy
may be brought before . judge who shall
have full power 10 determine all questions
IN regard t. his confinement read three
tines and passed.
By Senator Rogers Of Caledonia. an sc: |
10 pay certain officers the sums therein
named read three times and passed.
By Senator Clarke Of Franklin Joint re 4
solution authorizing the Governor to ap- |
point commission Of three persons to cx-
anime penal and reformatory institutions OF 4
other States and requiring them to report
at the next session o. the General Assembly; /
adopted.
BY Senator Elmuul- Of Windsor. an ac:
To discharge certain children confined in
the State Reform School aJ Waterbury, in
structing the Trustees 70 investigate the
reasons OF the committal Of all children un-
der 9 years of age now in the Reform
School, and that they may haye authority
- discharge and bind out in private families
>uch children 10 Judiciary committee.
II. ,. an act relating tn the Vermont Re
form School; read the firs. and second times
and reference waived.
Senator Walton moved to amend By strik-
M out all after the engcting clause and
substituting words authorizing the expcn-
ditarc OF $50 600 i1r the reconstruction OF
the bai.dincs at Waterbury, and on the
question OF the adoption OF the amendment
senator Walton said that the fathers OF the
Reform School were his personal friends
To them belongs the credit OF establishing
the hes, Institution Of the State. The only
difference between this and the House bill
Is in the point of location The location ,
at Waterbury i central. il Is healthy. il : &
higher above tide water than Nergenne-
800 ,O0O has been expended by the State in
the construction account Of the school At
Waterbury, S35, 900 of this sum is still re-
presented az Waterbury. Shall We then
propose 10 give up this farm, amply sailc-
lent for the purpose OF the school, and pay
) Is 900 for another. No business man ;
would DO this, and the State should not d. I
IL. Inc arsenal bindings are good ones in )
themselves considered, but are yalue!es- for d
Reform School purposes As a matter OF I
economy the State should leave the school ?
whore l-Is. The water power az Nergenuc, I
j. urgci e. On advantage. Ii we use the
water power We ball have % pay any price :
the owner may set upon il. b
Senator Proctor of Rutland. SAID that the &
practical view OF the question is this II the C
Senate amendment shall pass, then the G
sork OF tie present session results in '
nothing. fox too House vi. not concur :
with - In business point o. view Re- d
Jfn school u. 30 pupils can be managed e
~roatabiy, aGs j.. one or two years u
.J i.. "a indefinite perlol Of time at r.,
ergennes than ii. - - -, Is
tantial considerations IN - IN
lrmer place, are ample water power,
factories. chcapness of freight. and fer
ility of soil. Nergennes Is located nearer ca
be large towns that furnish the greater IA
lumber OF juvenile offenders in the State
he bill is directory only As to the purchase IN
the farm The arsenal buildings are not OF
} be purchased unless the Governor in his ex
secretion shall see fit 20 do 50. lie hoped no
le amendment would be disagreed in tn
Senator BrOokins read from the regis ar
alton report to show the superiority in IN
gard to health of Addison codhty over Ina
ashington county. la
Senator Smith discussed tho amendment trC
length. lie said the evidence of our own Ia
es i evidence OF the superiority of Yer lai
,nnes over Waterbury a. site for an in to
tuition of this kind. lie eloquently pre- Ell
nted the claims of Addison county and OF
srgennes and effectively opposed the an
lendment. tbs
Senator'S Reynolds and Ladi spoke in op- fol
sIti0n 70 the amendment ye'
Senator Walton reviewed the debate in pc
swer - the objections urge. against the u
iendmcut In
senator Rogers, trustee cd the Reform The
hool. spoke ia favor OF Waterbury Il, q the
1per i0catiJn fur the school. The build TO
= AZ Nergennez could not be utilized for boz
lo0l purposes, and there was not sui :
ent evidence that the farm was especial tia
fertile. The labor Of the boys could be tia
ployed by the State in the work OF re- aRC
lstruc;ing the school building a Water pas
ry- The chairman of the Senate com J
,tee was Intercepted by Senator COlburn bie'
to the price Of coal at NergeDnes and As bee
the bonds given to guarantee the title OF the
land to be sold, &c. and
enator Howe of Windham, spoke in favor the
he amendment. and Senators Chesmorc sch'
W llson of Windsor, opposed it. plat
IN the question OF the adoption Of the /
Senator Walton demanded the por
: and nays, which were as follows: mer
Y eas-SenatOrs Atwood, Benton, Ed was
nds, George, Henry Howe of Wlndham, NJ
K. Parker, Rogers, Rowell, Tolman, som
lion, Wymar-I3 the
ays-Senators Allen. Brookins. Ches- stit'
e, Clarke, Colbnrn, Granger. Holmes. Il
lghton, Howe OF Rutland. Ladd, Page. vor
ctor, Reynolds, Smith. Wilson of Or graz
"a, Wilson OF Nindsor-l6. NJ
, the Senate refused to Adopt the amend the
t. TO.
,nator Henry moved that the bill he Fl
ndod hy inserting the sun CT $50 900 apr
leu Of $50 600. Is the amount to he an pens
lriated for the purposes OF the school, Refo
on the adoption Of the amendment pOsa
ltor Howe of Nindham, demanded the whiC
and nays which were a. ioliows-yeas third
NAYS - =, the Sena.a raf,,al >, Er