Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-11-15


supersede Commissioner of the Insane
who had given to his duties more careful
attention, had looked into the workings o
the BrattlebOro Asylum with more in.elli
gent regard to the public interest and had
given to the public the result of his obser-
vations with more independence and bold
ness than any of his recent predecessors
His clear exposure of the defects OF the
Asylum and OF the arrangement between it
and the State, had various consequences.
One was that the trustees of the Asylum
rallied at Montpelier, and secured chang e
OF Commissioner. Another was that some
needed Improvements were made within the
institution. Another was the authorizing
OF special commission to investigate the
condition Of the inmates of the Asylum
The present Commissioner, DR.. Calder ood,
OF 81. Johnsbury. has presented biennial
report. which won the distinction OF quiet
but severe and deserved rebuke from the
Governor. in his Message. 1t also shows
that the Commissioner largely mis.ook Or
disregarded the fundamental idea of his
oth:e. The theory of the oli,e of Commits
sloEer Is, OF course, that such an officer is
to look alter tho interest, OF the public aud
OF the State, though these may conflict with
the interests of the institution. or VIVA. the
trustees consider to be its interests. Com
missioner Calderwooi is evidently entirely
subservicn: to the trustees. and il he had
beel their appOiutee in name and fact be
could hardly haye more heartily seconded
their claim for increased compensation for
the patents Supported by the State OF
the manner in which he supports their
claim. it Is enough to say that in the
table OF expenditures on which he bases
his assertion that 'the Asylum is loser Of
eighty one cents per week on all her pauper
patients meaning that the Asylum loses
that sum on each OF its pauper patients-is
included as current expenses over S33 900
expended in building and steam heating ap-
paratus, and some $4,000 interest on the
cost Of previous erections.
The illiteracies which disfgurc his report
We need not call attention to. further than
to say that they are surprising 10 formal
report, from one who il supposed to be an
educated man
The Trustees of the institution--wh which. it
Is to be remembered, is a private corpora
tion-say in their report that constant en-
deavors have been made to add to the COM
fort and curative means of the institution,
ani that in this respect each year has wit
nesse! an increase. They, too, make out
the average yearly Cost OF the patients to
the institution to be 1881 apiece for two
current expenses, outlays which are not
such, but are additions to the Investment
There is nowhere. it is ain )st needless to
say. any CLASSIFIED statement of expenses
What the Safe voald like to know is not
what is the average cost OF all the patients.
but what is the cost of the pduper patients,
computed from the actual outlay t1r the
kind ct food. accommodations, attendance,
etc. allotted to them. These. it is well
known, are not ~ expensive es those atfJrd-
ed to the ether patients. We have no
dlpbt that the Asylum has, in fact, made
money on its pauper patients. 1t has
steadily grown in sz9 and wealth (;
AMI that this growth ha, all been
made upon the private patients,
is hardy to be supposed. More
over, if the State patients are such a
bill of Expense to the A-ylum. why is it that
they are retained indefinitely in the institu-
tion? Patients supported by the towns or
by their friends are frequently discharged
cured. The State paupers, having no officer
whose business it is to inquire into their
mental condition and secure their discharge,
arc, as We understand, very seldom dis
charged. IT it costs the Asylum from 50 to
50 cents a week, apiece, to support them,
over and above the price allowed by the
State. does anybody suppose that the
officers OF the Asylum would not take all
proper means to reduce their number ?
We DO no; think 50 80 week (Which is
what the trustees ask the State to allow
too much for the support Of State patient
the fare and care returned 70.
the money ara what what they should be
Some evidence as to what the Asy lrm actual
ly gives the State patients Tor the States
money l. fortunately available. in the
report 9i the special commissioners.
RLPJRT CT THE !rkCIAL COMMISSIONERS.
The special Commission appoiutei by
Gov. Fairbanks to inquire into the cOndl-
tioa OF the insane OF tho State. and the
in relation to their confinement and |
treatment, consisted OF DR.. Middleton Gold |
smith, OF Rutland and DR.. o. +. Fsssett, oi /
81. AlbaIs, two physicians OF wide reputa- !
ton end high standing and W. II. Walker,
E~q. g.. Of Ludlow. VINO Is an excellent law
yer. Their reports occupy 20 pages Of the |
printed pamphlet. and an appendix of St .
pages is occupied with the testimony Of |
oil .ers of the Asylum, taken before the Com
mi-sioners. Dividing the subject matter of
their inquiry between them. the subject of
the fitness of the Asylum for the care of the
insane was taken by DR.. Goldsmith the
medical and other treatment of the inmates
was assigned to DR.. FaSsett and the legal
inquiry to Mr.. Walker. Each Comwi>-
Sioner makes report.