Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-10-09

:em commonly, If moi universally. ndonIsd
~ o,ner states. 1t is u matter for vopr
careful consideration. and | commend tba
,tu ms Oh The inspector on the evils of
'N' P'eSehI system to your attention.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
IL may, at first view, seem unimnortant
IN our state to object 10 this class Of Ieg;so
lat'on' but il is only by stern excmsion
OF every minor evil that we can ,,,.,;n -
sue y nnetrical whole of well regulated
s.ate. It's our plain duty and no Injustice
10 our constituents, where the objects thew
seek can be obtained under the general
Jaw 10 require them to use it. The mere
naoit of listening to the appeals of privo,e
IN, Is pernicious one in Legislation
where the immediate case carries no a.
rect harm with it, it may still be an enter
ing wedge. or precedent for what will
prove positive wrong We have n GEN.
eral railroad law. If this is not annie for
lre promotion of every legitimate enter
prlse' let US make it so. We have gen.
eral enabling act allowing towns to aid in
Tie building of railroads. If this is tn re-
main the settled policy of the stale. is it
not the part of wisdom and prudence to
Tx upon the limit to which this aid NAV
pe . granted, and then adhere 10 it? We
nav nave also general laws for the organiza-
lion OF corporations, changing names, and
the Ike, to which those asking private
acts for these purposes can be referred.
anu II the general law is inadequate, its
provisions can be extended. We have al
ready made progress in this matter Com
pare the session laws of 1872, 1874. and
1876. The latter yearbook has only two
hundred and seven pages of private acts
against four hundred and eighty-one in the
former, or less than one-half At the ses-
sion of 1874 over fifty bills of this cbarac.
ter were rejected, which if passed, us had
been the previous custom, would have
made the volume as large as that of 1872
Inc mere cost to the state of printing this
private matter is no inconsiderable item.
AS an example of how readily improper
provisions in special acts escape notice in
their passage through the legislature, |
VIII cite one act passed at the last session,
Three Savings Banks were incorporated.
and all of the charters contained the same
restrictions as to the investment of their
funds, substantially as follows: "all de-
poslts Shall be managed and improved by
lohnlng on mortgages of real estate. except
10 an amount not exceeding one-half The
amount on deposit. which said sum may
be invested in the purchase OF stocks of
the United States, or any of them in bank
stock of any bank in this stale, or in anv
rity or town bonds OF the New England
olates, or IN undoubIed personal security"
But in one OF these acts the words . or
)thert0tSe as the trustees shall direct" are
added, thus destroying entirely The force
Of the Limitation.
Governor Peck. whose judicial training
enabled him 10 detect, at IL glance, an i'm
proper provision, sent to the House during
The one session Of his administration four
veto messages-all upon acts of incol por-
alton. The people of Illinois found il nee
essary in 1870 10 forbid, by constitutional
provision, all ordinary classes of special
and 10 declare that where 4,
general law Can be made applicable, no
special law shall be enacted" New York
and Pennsylvania have since followed this
example.
Every man who has conscientious re-
gard for pure and safe Legislation would
regret to see us take any step backward
in tins matter, and there is still room
for progress in the right direction.
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
The good management and success of
this institution ARE so well known to the
people OF The state, that no special mention
is needed. The land (about one hundred
1 irtu iS # 4; -
but was not in good condition when pur-
chased. Much has been done and is being
done, to improve it, the boys doing all the
labor under the direction of the farmer. |
think, however, still more of the boys la
Dor might be employed in improving and
it to u high state of cultivation.
The labor yields but little (about fifteen
cents per day. on the work of seating
chairs, and it would be economy for the
state TO make the farm II model of cult
vation and production. No industry will
exert so good an influence upon the wards
of the state morally, mentally and physi-
cally, as farm labor. None will stand
them in so good stead in after life.
The superintendent has frequently asked
that machinery be introduced to carry on
some complete manufacture. This would
be much better for the boys, us it would
teach them some trade, and ought to
prove more.proiilable for the state. But
Il mistake in this direction would prove
and before any action is taken
the ma ter should be thoroughly investi-
gated by sagacious business men, acquaint-
ed with various industries, who will gather
the experience of similar institutions in
other states, and present facts and figures,
on which the state can act understanding
ly. More room for the boys department
is asked for. An appropriation was made
two years ago for new barn, and also to
afford the additional room required for the
bows by raising the roof of the old gun
house. But, J. understand, that after
building the barn, the amount remaining
was not sufficient for the contemplated
changes, and was used for enlarging The
house occupied by the girls. Additional
room for the boys would certainly be de-
sirable if the number IS to continue rs
large us at present. Whenever made, it
would be true economy TO do the work in
II substantial manner, with due reference
to safety from fire, and to have plans suo-
mitted, with bids for the material and con-
struclion complete, before making the up
propralion.
The superintendent reports the cost for
the past year III SLY 20 per Capttd, which
figures compare f.voraby with those OF
similar institutions in other states.
STATE PRISON.
The reports of The directors and othel
officers will show you in detail the affairs
of this institution.
The officers seem TO have discharged
their duties faithfully. The directors ASK
for an addition to the main building; an'
it is true there is not sufficient cell room
for the prisoners now there. A new wing
was built three years since, which wa'
designed to be large enough TO give all The
room that would be required for many
years to come.
The number OF prisoners has increased
rapidly in the last four years-in 1874 i
was eighty. five; in 1876, one hundred ant
seventeen, and in 1873, one hundred ant
seventy-six. We are no worse OIL thar
other states in this respect, us the prison
statistics of the country show that the
number of convicts in the higher prison:
has nearly doubled in the last six years
We may, then, with some reason hope tina
the time is an exceptional one, and looA
with revival of business for decrease
of crime. The directors, in 1872 and 1871
in their reports oppose the policy OF sen
fencing convicts for minor offences aho