Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-01-16
Notes from the Hub.
Journal.
MONTPELIER, Jan. 18th, 1875.

Notes from the Hub.
MONTPELIER, Jan. 18th, 1875.
Mr.. Editor -
Pursuant to the call of the Governor
most of the members of the Legislature
arrived last night and old fashioned, right
royal were the greetings and hand-shaK-
ings of the friends although short the
friendship. Many of the private houses
do not open for so short a time, and
many were under the necessity of chang
ing their quarters ;the hotel-keepers, tax
ing advantage, are charging more for meat
and very poor potatoes. OF course the
main topic of discussion was the Reform
School, and where to- locate it, the more
general idea that Vergennes made the
best showing. At ten o'clock the gavel
of the new speaker, Grout, fell, and the
roll call was answered by nearly all the
members and but little time was expend-
ed in getting into working order, and dis
cusSion was had upon what business
should be admitted, and decided that none
should be, except whai related to the Re-
form School or what should be presented
by the Governor in special message.
A joint resolution passed for the Legis-
lature to visit the arsenal grounds and
buildings, at VergenneS, for the purpose
of buying them for the Reform School.
By some it was thought that committee
of one from each county would be better,
on account Of costs; on the other hand all
would go as quick as the committee and
every member would be prepared to vote
at once; it would not take any time for
reports and discussion, and lastly that ar
engagements could be made with the rail
roads to carry for small cost, and dinner
would be provided free.
A bill has been introduced asking for
$31 900 in addition to the insurance, or
So, 200 in all for the purpose of rebuild
ing and refurnishing, and no offer as yet
to give cent on the part Of Waterbury.
A bill has been introduced asking for the
repeal of the "Vagrant Act" approved
NOV. 3D., 1864 The whole number of
commitments in this class is siXty-seyen
and as they are sentenced during minority
most of them still remain. The vagrancy
act was passed about the time of the st.
Adams raid, to meet then pressing need,
and as the reason of the enactment long
since passed away perhaps its repeal
could be iudicious. 1t seems clear that
under this act minor children of our own
citizens, who, at most, can only be
charged with idleness, never did come
within the true meaning of that act and
that this whole class of boys are erron-
cously convicted.
A bill has been introduced vesting the
power of sending boys to the Reform
School in higher court. Justices of the
Peace have been induced to send quite too
many boys of tender years to this school
who in most instances would not have
been convicted if there had been no Re
form School, Fifty-two have been sent
from six to ten years of age. One town
has sent two there to get rid of taking
care Of them, and unless restrictions and
guards are placed about it the School
will swell to undue proportions.
A bill has been introduced to put girls
on the same footing with boys, which il
it becomes law, necessitates a place to put
them. Final adjournment is fixed Satur.
day morning at seven o'clock. DR.. Fair
man, of Wolcott, has bill for Il State dis
tillery, to manufacture liquors for the
State, that he is very anxious to put on
the course, and lots of other bills, and
business that is extremely necessary to be
perfected, is the argument of many, but
they will have to hold them till 1876.
OBSERVER.