Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-01-13
LcglslallYe Ilnslness.


day in obedience to the proclamation Of the
Governor, in special session. The reason
for this unusual session is the necessity for
rebuilding the reform school cdifce, which
was consumed by fire in December There
has been some tall, in the newspapers about
the removal of the school to some other town
in the state. But we think that there can
be no reason to justify such removal and
therefore that it will receive no considoro-
tion in the general assembly. It would be
expensive to- the state and utterly useless to
do it. If our public buildings and institu-
tions arc to be removed from place TO place.
whenever an accident occurs to Them they
had better be provided with wheels like the
peripaiatic saloons OF the photographers, and
run back and forth where they can find the
most custom. Bye and bye this kind of
nonsense which would make all our public
institutions veritablc yagabond., viii cease
to be talked
The business before the legislature viii Ice
very simple aud can easily be transacted in
two or throc days. 1t is merely TO appro.
pirate the insurance money from the treas
urv. and whatever mora il pe,d,d f., u,,
purpose of rebuilding the reform school, and
to authorize the trustees to do the work
They are prudent and able men, and can do
il as we'll. or better eyon than any otbo,
men, for they are well acquainted with all
the wants of the institution. and their ov
periencc would qualify them In do If with
necessary improvements. i'm the host nos.il,le
manner.
1t might be well. also. for fine lroil,t,re
To amend the act limiting the ogs of b,,s
who may Toe sent to tle scbn,l Asit,o,
stands. the only limit i. the maximum One
of sixteen years. No bow cam be sopt 10 the
school who /, more than sixteen voors of
age, but there is no minimum limit mis-
within the power of Justice to send an in
FAINT boy there, not over sixteen months old.
There are in ths school now 6lty-tvo chill.
dren between the ages of six and ten years.
Not one of these children has been sent for
any oifcnse that would Justify his commit
ment but only for reasons known to the
authorities of the towns who have taken adj
vantage of the vagraut act of 1864 to send
their pauper children to the Reform School.
As a matter Of philanthropy we are in favor
Of this. 1t is far better for child of six
years to be under the training and di.cipline
Of the Reform School than TO be an inmate
of poor house aud educated by such
methods as are well known to those places.
As a prevention of crime and pauperism.
nothing can be wiser than for state 10 take
its yagrant minors and put them to industry
and to school under the effective supervision
of its own competent officers. The reform
school as place of tuition and labor for
boys OF six years and upward who would
otherwise have oul, the advantage of
poor farm, is immeasmably superior Every
consideration of humanity and philanthropy
justiiirs Che law as IL is. Bat as a matter
OF Justice it seems TO us that town has no
right 20 transfer its own burden to the
charge of che state in this way. IL is not
justice to a boy either to commit him to the /
reform school, as a matter of punishment .
when he has been guilty OF no offence what /.
L. ID