Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-01-22


has been to appropriate $50, 900 for Reform
School for boys, to be located at Vergennes +;
to establish Reform School for girls, ap-
propriating $1,000 therefor ; to appropriate
Sl2 500 for improvements in the States
Prison, and finally. to adjourn in good
season, Saturday morning.
The expenses of the session were about
$4,000, and the Legislature might have
done much worse for the money. Some
twenty bills in all were introduced. Two
or three of them did not relate to the sub
iect of the Reform School, and were ex
cluded from consideration, under a joint
resolution adopted at the opening of the
session. Bat by unanimous consent of the
! Senate, bill authorizing the Probate Judge
Of the District of Bennington to complete
/ the records Of the court, was introduced,
/ passed the Senate. and being entertained by
! the Speaker of the House, passed the House.
alter a spirited fight.
An attempt was made to introduce bill
to relieve the disciples Of Isaac Walton
dwelling near the fishing grounds of Lake
/ Champaign. By an act passed last Fall,
any unfortunate angler who may chance to
get hooked to bass, shad or pike at the
wrong season Of the year, is subjected to Sc
we're penalties on ian indictment by any
grand juror, in any county" where the
/ oiicrse may be committed. /. was said
that if the law should be enforced the no
tells about the northern shores Of the Lake
would be depopulated Of summer visitors.
Bat the fshermen's relief bill failed to re-
csiyo the unanimous consent necessary for
its introduction
The pugnaciOus member from WHINING
ton proposed to abolish the Reform School,
but did not have very large following in
his support. In fact, it would be great en-
blrassment Cor the member to have any one
on his side Various notifications Of the
present system We're proposed, but il be
came evident that if the school was to be
maintained at all. the law must
stand substantially a. ii is. Yet
nearly all were agreed that COM
mitmen: to the school for nero va
grancy shoald not be permitted. 50 both
Houses went fercely to work to repeal the
yasrant act. The result is nothing. The
act remains just as it was 1t happened in
this way The Senate passed bill to re-
peal the ac:. The House having a bill Of
it, own to the same eject refused to con-
eur with tine Senate. The House then
amended its own bill. leaving The law sub
stantialiy as it was, but providing that no
boy should be sent to the Reform School
ualct il. The Senate refused to pass this
amended House Bill, ON the ground that By
the term, OF the amendment a boy could
be arrested for yagrancy as before. and on
conviction the court would have no choice
but % sentence him to the county jail. s.
The obnoxious act is left to stand as 4 kind
of',rla: IS a." Of legislation.
Mr.. Smalley introduced bill ITO securo
liberty Of conscience, to the inmates Of all
State institutions" This bill was drawn
in the Roman Catholic interest, and con
tanned among other provisions the follow
ing NO officer Of said institution or
otaer person, shall interfere with or at
tempt to influence, control or change the
religions belief Of said inmates" Passage
Of the bill was reIus ed by the House.
Il was then modified 50 a. u be acceptable
10 the House, but it was killed in the Sen
ate. 1t was argued in opposition to the
bill, that clcrgymen of all denominations
are now admitted to the Reform School upon
exactly the same footing. and that all reas-
enable privileges are accorded TO all alike,
and that the effect Of the bill would be to
give to the Catholic clergy facilities for sec
Earian teaching which are no; granted to
ministers Of other denominations.
Woare glad that the need of reiormat0ry
institution for girls has at last been met.
There are various objections 70 having this
Institution connected with the Reform
School for boys, but we learn that in the
judgment If Superintendent Fairbank
there Is no substantial difficulty in man
aging the two together. The House origin
a;ed the bill, and strange to say, concurred
in the Senate amendment. propo-ei by SEN
at1r Henri, appropriating $1,000 for the
establishment of the girls school.
The closing hours Of the session passed
without excitement. \ rather amusing Incl
dent occurred while the doors were locked on
a call Of the House While the. Sergeant
at-Arms and door-keepcrs were whipping
II" Struggling members. some wac pointed
cut Senator CAesmore, as a member Of the
House. Whereupon two door-koepers, SOL
cmu and stern, under the responsibilities of
their position. seized the Senator, who nat
orally resented the inlignity Of being
looked upon as member of the lower
house, "La force PRIME Z dr5t," ard af-
ter fierce bat friendly tus.le the strug-
Cling Senator was born in triumph into tho
Hall o.. Representatives. only TO be cast ont
again when discovered to be not enc OF the
elect.