Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-10-13


under course o; discipline. A part Of each DAY
should be devoted by the keepers to instructng the
prisoners in learning and in virtue, and the rest
10 labor not FOR contractors, but for the state IN
short. the state should put forth most active an9
earnest erdeavors from the arrest Of the accused
10 the Imprisonment OF the convict, to reclaim MN
from life Of crime to life Of virtue and the
State Prison should no longer be an institution
.or the reformation as well as the punishment, oil
all offenders" uifh the reformation all ietf our ~
may be objected that TO effect such change Will
cost money. Shall We stop TO balance few thous,
| and patry dollars in determining whether we Will
rescue a from crime and lead him on TO VIZ
tuoas lie, OF hold him irrevocably in the Chains
OF vice
/ earnestly recommend a thorough revision OF
our system Of prison discipline in the direction in
dicsted; and commend 10 your careful considers
ton the reports of the Directors and superinteh
dent O. the State prison
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
II is pleasure to turn from the prison to the con
sideration OF this topic. Although not personally
aequa with its operation and working from All
sources hear il Commended as reiurmatory IN
stituon. he credit OF its success is due TO the
wise and slderate action OF former Legislatures
together with the faithful and efficient nanage
meut Of the officers OF the institution. You neeG
not be urged to aid BY all needed legislation IN per
fecting and developing the great work 50 anspl-
ciously entered upon.
Tne Reports OF the Trustees and the Supernten-
dent fully inform as 10 the condition Of the IN
stiiutiOn, It's wants and requirements lwOuld
recommend the making Of all appropriations nee
to carly cut ludlC Gus pans Nhicu tiel
may have sug ges,ed. ! venture 10 suggest whether
il would not be wise in all alterations and enar-e
meBts TO have in view the furnishing Iacll!ues ir
dividing inmates into classes, rs to be able to
CLASSIFY them according to the degree o. discipline
| or ctiUnal treatment required.
LEGISLATION.
It Is doubtless true that We legislsts too much
THIS naturally results from our s. stem OF enaetng
laws. Legislators serve their brief cay, and then
others i'll their places On many subjects OF legls
lf-rfa lin Wild IN
cash is col fdent that his own are correct. Hence
the frequent change OF this that provision OF the
statute. 1t rarely happens that the revision oil an
entire subject IS attempted but slngle PROVISION
| here ana there, is changed 10 meet the varying
views of feTent legislators. which results In an
| inharmOuious whole.
/ think that a legislator should be fully per-
suaded Of the solute necessity for change OF the
statute law before he should vote for its altera
ton or amendment and then only for such altera-
ton amendment as VIII clearly remedy the evil.
Hasty legislation il Away dangerous. The original
constitution had special provision against 1t. 1t
not only gave the Governor and Council the right
to propose sments 10 laws which had passed the
Assembly, but, II the amendments were not con
CURED in they had the right to suspend the passage
Of the bill until the next session Of the Legislature
This a wise provision, and its spirit GU sht 10
guide legislation under our present system.
The sessions are too short to originate, mature
and perfect lesisi alton touching large and varied
interests. kuch legislation must usually cOntai n
many provisions, and he more or less intricate.
There is not time amid the rush Of the bus Of
the session 10 prepare and nicely adjust the OH
ferent provisions necessary to render such law ap-
plicabe and Just TO i the interests likely to he
affected Usually. too the men elected to the Leg
stature are as they ought 10 he, taken from the
busy calling. OF life, who have had no time 10 ma
ture any perfected - stem OF legislation, which
would he applicable 10 and affect many interests.
Properly to mature and prepare such legislation IS
a work OF tine and study, and often requires the
collection OF facts ard statistics. EmlnenIiy OF this
character are the laws Tor the OF taxes,
and for the punishment and prevention OF crimes,
nHa Nala INN aHa
revision, and Tor the revision OF the laws on any
important subject, would recommend tn commits
siOners be appointed under proper limitations and
restrictions, to inquire into and carefully consider
the whole subject, to prepare such legislation as
they may jude necessary, and 10 report the same,
with their reasons therefor, 10 the next Legs allure.
! think this method not only safeguard against
hasty and crude legislation, but withal econ0m-
real. Ii viii furnish business ready prepared Tor
the consideration OF the Legislature Immediately
upon It's organ Eaton, without spending the hrst
two or three weeEs, has been too frequently the
case IN making preparation TO inmence the work
Of the session.
Independence OF the State, since the adoption o. the
Constitution, and since the battle Of BENIN ston,
mark the c. mlns ear emphatcally as cur Centen.
NAL year. These memorable events in large
measure cstermlned the character OF our political
existence, terrtorially and nationally. The re-
membrance oi them. and OF the principal actors IN
them, should he sacredly cherished and perpet-
uated 1t r not eminently fitting and proper
that they be Iecos n.zed by some suitable ooserv-
ance
! shall take 10 tine 10 consider national aEiirs.
II each state viii wisely AID honestly conduct rs
affairs 10 Insure 10 tsel: anu 20 the nation
Intelligent, vrtuuls and ontcrprising citizens hi
publ e servants, national affairs cannot We'll ~
amiss.
Allow ne, n closing this already to lengthy
communication, to express the hope that our mu-
tual relations may be most in endly, frank and Tor
dial ami our mutual work honestly, iaItElully and
speedily accomplished.
HORACE FAIRBANKS.
EXECu1lyE CHAMBER,
Montpelier, Oct. >. l-.6b