Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-13

that "a a rule, the proportion paid by the
state Is much larger from the large than
from the small towns. This, no doubt, comes
from the fact that more Of the transient insane
find their way there, and perhaps less care Is ex-
ercised in ascertanng whether they have legal
settlement-or to send them TO their homes II
they are from out OF the state. II every town
was obliged to support the transient insane
thrown upon it in this way, they would be likely
to take effective measures to find where they
belonged; but, as II now Is, they have nothing to
do but to throw the burden on the state and
there is no proper guard against this being done
uniustly.
We have now an ingenious device for getting
up a lawsuit between the town and state on this
question Of settlement, in which the people have
the privilege OF paying the expense on both sides
and supporting the pauper at last. Other states
have systems of returning persons who become
public charge within q certain time, and require
the railroads and vessels which brought them in
10 furnish them transportation to the place from
which they took them. They are returned to us
in that way. We have no state method OF guard
ing against these importations on the part OF our
neighbors, but where the towns have the bills to
pay there Is no danger. The state ought not to
pay any part of the expense Of that class for
which Il now pays 81 90 per week.
In regard TO the other class, the transient in
sane, so called, meaning those who have no legal
settlement in any town In this state, 1t may be
said that II their support fell upon the towns they
would not send them to the asylum in some cases
where they ought to, and that they might not be
properly cared for. There should be method by
which n complaint could be entered, aud the town
required to do its duty. 1t il stated on good
authority, that the insane inmates of the Massa-
chusetts cities and towns alms-houses are well
treated and those best versed in such matters
keep the harmless insane away from the asy lums.
1t is admitted too that we have gone too far in
building great sanitary and reformatory institu-
tons, and that truer method is to separate,
whether we consider the expense or the results of
cure reform.
ti,at h,, ,it hot
every person of unsound mind should be sent to
the asylum. This Is an easy way of putting
disagreeable subject out OF sight. No man can
draw an exact line where reason loses sway and
insanity commences. better humanity would
send to an asylum those who need its special
treatment or restraint-would require that all
such should go, and allow none to go who would
be as well cared for elsewhere, and would receive
harm rather than benefit from the association.
What should be done with the convict criminal
insane Is fully discussed in the reports OF the asy-
lum and prison officers
COURT EXPENSES
The report of Judge veazey, and the sugges-
tons of the auditor, present this matter so fully
and so ably that 1t requires no discussion from
me. authorized an expenditure OF about sixty
dollars to prepare the tables submitted by him,
believing that they would be of great use to you.
Fees are in some cases large, but the greater
evil is in the overcharges and double charges for
what is really but single service. Judge Veazey
refers to this. 1t is carried on to such an extent
that radical cure IL required Some OF the de-
fects of the criminal law and Of the Of the
great expense attending its administration, may
he illustrated by an actual case In October last,
a man was complained of and brought before a
Justice OF the peace for violation OF chapter ~
of the general statutes. He was fined on three
complaints: for selling, for keeping with intent
to sell and for keeping nuisance. The costs
were the same in each case and 1t IL fair to pre-
sumo that the same witnesses were used in all
Z tlraa no WI rp
presume that they were not paid, but that the
fees remained in the hands of the justice. The
respondent was found guilty, fined and sentenced
on each complaint-unless paid within twenty
four hours-to the house of correction to work il
out The sentences all dated from the same day
were all running at the same time, and of NJ
more effect than one would be. He took an ap
peal. A fortnight later he was again complained
of; found guilty of the same three offenses, and
the whole process repeated Shortly afterward
he was fined for intoxication and appealed. III,
entered Of the cases in the county court, ant
/ the justices affirmed the judgment and sentenced
him on each of the seven cases. the sentences al
to date from the day of the rising Of the court
all running at the same time as before. The maj
I was committed on the seven diff warrants a
once, but with Seren bills Of cost. The sentence,
aggregated five hundred and ffty-tive days, Blu
as they all commenced at the same time the long
est one alone was Of any force. To complete thu
l harmony of the whole transaction, the final sen
fences were probably illegal, for the original one
had expired before the adjournment OF court, ant
affirming them and fixing later date had M
effect to give them new life in the absence of ,
provision of the statute to that end.
This case points out most of the abuses to b.
remedied:
LIST That when two or more complaints ar,
tried in one, there shall be no double costs unes
possibly for the justices fees
I'd. That witness fees not called for within
certain time by the witness shall be returned t
the treasury. The auditor suggests a method 70
this.
Sd. That where there is more than one sen
tence, the second shall date from the expiration
OF the first.
4th. That appeals for delay merely may b.
| checked II possible, and that sentences may b.
legally affirmed after appeal as of the later date
Our plan of allowing over sixteen hundred jus
tees of the peace, who are really town officers,
run up bills of cost against the state with no su
pervision or enforced accountability, seems de
vised to make expense.
Various methods have been suggested to rem
edy the evil that the justices should be requires
to make full sworn returns to the county clerk
and should not be paid costs in any case unit
these have been made. The governor might b
directed in commissioning justices to specify on
in every town, and two or three respectively
where the town is entitled to over five or owe
ten justices as state trial justices, and that N
other should have authority TO certify bills @
cost against the state. This would so reduce tn
number of justices who could run us in debt tina
they might be required to give bonds If deeme
advisable or at least be kept under supervisor
and required to pay over moneys in their hands
1t is in the administration OF the liquor law chap
ter "a of the general statutes, that the creates
needless cost occurs. This law, with the pena
ties now Affixed might be made a source OF larg
income to the state II properly regulated and ad
minlstered
Tho expenses attending commitments to til
house OF correction can be reduced. The responC
ent IL now allowed twenty -four hours in which I
pay fine and costs, and the officer is allowed te
cents an hour for keeping him, and twenty-fy
cents each for three meals. IL the officer is
sheriff he may commit him TO the jail, and POI
sby draw the forty-two cents day from tn
state besides.
The respondent often wishes to waive this pr
vision OF twenty-four hours delay, and be con
mitted at once to save the extra costs he is obige
to serve out, and should be allowed TO do So
The proposed modification Of the grand jur
law would many times save delay in brngin
criminals to trial, and the expense Of keepin