Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-15

shall lose the services OF a good man, and can't
FIJI his place
Mr.. LADD Of Alhurgh said Mr. Omstoad an
swefcd his own argument when he said the duties
Of the superintendent might be reduced bv reduc-
numbers arc decreased, under this amendment
the trustees could reduce his salary to correspond
with reduced labor
Mr. BAILEY Of tairhayen. said he thought the
committee which had this matter under consider
alton, had come 10 the wi,est possible conclusion
IN regard 10 this matter CIhe committee had re-
ported against the passage Of the bill We can
WIN no more pfupuety attempt 10 regulate the
salary of the superintendent, than of pverv other
officer in the institution. He mterogated the
committee. and drew from them that the trustees
appeared before the committee. but made no par-
ticuar statement rs TO the salary of the supcru-
tendcnt If the amendment is Insisted upon he
should move 10 be referred back To the committee
Mr. MARTIN Of Londonderry said wc can no
more tell what are the lahOrs of amy Of our state
officers than we can Of the superintendent OF the
reform school. He believed that S1,70O was
enough TO pay
Mr.. MARTIN Of Chelsea said this matter had
been considered by the Joint committees Of the
Senate and House, and had received considerable
Information from the trustees, the superintendent
matrOn and other officers OF the institution Il is
young and prosperous institution. worthy of all
praise and credit 90 the state and its present
standing is mainly due To- the services OF its
unicers-the superintendent the matron aud other
officers. We have paid them none too much for
the services they have rendered The school has
prospered under the hand Of the present superiu-
tendont, and we should not be nigeardly in the
payment for such invaluable services They are
already being offered higher pay than we are Civ
ing them, but have pride TO see this school pros
per, and prefer to remain here rather than accent
more pay elsewhere. We cannot afford To strike
blow at the salary Of the superintendent, for we
are receiving the value of the money wearepaying.
MIR MARTIN of Londonderry said, we are not
trying the merits OF the services rendered hV the
superintendent and the natron The only ques-
ton Is, are We paying them more than We can
afford to? We simply say that if in the past they
have received enough, at the present they are re-
ceiying too much When an classes are receiving
less than formerly we are justified in reducing
the salaries Of our officers
Mr.. PARKER Of Reading said the reform
school Is young the superintendent was also
young when he commenced his lahors in the
school The labors of the past years must better
iit them for the duties devolying upon them. and
he thought it just that we should now uay these
officers rs much as we had been paying them
Mr. WOODBRIDGE OF Nergennes said the leg
stature have the right to regulate the salary Of
the officers named in the bill We have the i.igbt
Ia fix the salaries of school teachers ia the state
but he thought It not wise 10 do so. lie would
be frank aud say that he did not believe that tif-
teen hundred dollars is too much 10 pay the
superintendent Of the reform school We have
reduced some salaries but those officers have time
to engage in other duties while the superntend-
ent deVotes bis whole time 10 the Interests of the
state and the school
MIR. MCFARLAND Of Johnson, said that before
we can fix the salary of the superintendent, we
should have the duties of the office fully defined
We hold the trustees responsible for the success
of the school, and We should not limit them as 10
salaries but leave them to employ suitable men
To conduct the school
Mr. WALES of Burlington, said when we elect
trustees 70 have charge of the school, we should
leave TO those trustees to employ suitable persons
To superintend the school, and allow them 10 pay
such a salary As will secure the best man for the
place and the best services for the interests Of the
school. When we find our trustees are not act
my for the best interests OF the state, we can re-
move them and elect others.
MIR. CLARK Of StocSbridge moved the uroy-
ous question, which was seconded hy the House
The amendment proposed by Mr.. lAdd was
then agreed to-yeas 100 nays So
Mr. HENRY OF Chester moved to amend the
bill by striking out the sum OF one thousand and
two hundred dollars for the salary OF the super
intendent, and inserting the sum Of one thousand
and five hundred dollars which was disagreed to-
The bill was then ordered TO a third reading
On motionof Mr.. DEAN OF Barnard, adjourned