Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-15

returned to us in that way. We have no
State method of guarding against these i'm
portations 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 i. now pays S1.00 per week.
In regard to the other class, the transient
| insane, so called meaning those who have
no legal settlement in any town in this State,
it may be said that il 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 a method by which
complaint could be entered, and the town re-
quired to do its duty. It is stated on good
authority, that the insane inmates Of the
Massachusetts, cities and towns alms-houses
are well treated, and those best versed in
such matters keep the harmless insane away
from the asylums. 1t is admitted, too, that
we have gone too far in building great sani-
tary and reformatory institutions and that q
truer method is to separate, whether we con-
slider the expense or the results of cure or re-
form.
Some will claim that humanity requires
! that 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. bet
| ter 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 in
sane is fully discussed in the reports of the
asylum and prison officers
COURT EXPENSES.
The report of Judge Veazey, and the sug-
gestions of the auditor, present this matter SO
fully and SO ably that it requires no discus
| sion 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 great
er 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 a radical cure is re-
qured. Some of the defects of the criminal
| law and of the causes of the great expense
attending its administration, may be illus
trated by an actual case. In October last, a
man was complained of and brought before a
Justice of the peace for violation of chapter
"a of the general statutes. He was fined on
three complaints for selling, for keeping
with intent to sell and for keeping a nuisance
The costs were the same in each case, and it
were used in all three cases, as the fees were
the same and to 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 COM
plaint-unless paid within twenty -four hours
to the house of correction to work it out.
The sentences all dated from the same day,
were all running at the same time, and of no
more effect than one would be. He took an
| oh LAT he yya
planned of found guilty of the same three
offcnses, and the whole process repeated.
Shortly afterward he was fined for intoXica-
tion and appealed. He entered none of the
cases in the county court and the justices af-
firmed the Judgment and sentenced him on
each of the seven cases, the sentences all to
date from the day of the rising of the court,
all running at the same time as before. The
man was committed on the seven different
warrants at once, but with secep bills Of cost.
The sentences aggregated five hundred and
fifty-fve days, but as they all commenced at
the same time the longest one alone was of
any force. To complete the harmony of the
whole transaction, the final sentences were
probably illegal, for the original ones had ex-
pired before the adjournment of court, and
affirming them and fixing a later date had no
effect to give them new life in the absence Of
q provision of the statute to that end.
This case points out most of the abuses TO
be remedied.
lst That when two or more complaints
are tried in one, there shall be no double
costs, unless possibly for the justices fees.
I'd. That witness fees not called for with
in a certain time by the witness shall be re-
turned to the treasury. The auditor suggests
a method for this.
Sd. That where there is moro than one SEN
tence, the second shall date from the expira-
ton of the first.
4th. That appeals for delay merely may
be checked if possible, and that sentences
may be legally affirmed after appeal as of the
later date.
Our plan of allowing over sixteen hundred
justices of the peace who are really town Of
icers, to run up bills of cost against the State
with no supervision or enforced accountable
ty, seems devised TO make expense.
Various methods have been suggested to
remedy the evil that the justices should be
required to make full sworn returns to the
county clerk, and should not be paid costs in
any case until these have been made. The
governor might be directed in commissioning
justices to specify one in every town, and two
or three respectively, where the town is en-
titled TO over five or over ten justices as state
trial justices, and that no other should have
authority to certify bills of cost against the
State. This would so reduce the number of
justices who could run us in debt that they
might be required to give bonds if deemed
advisable, or at least be kept under supervi-
sion, and required to pay over moneys in
their hands. It is in the administration Of
the liquor law, chapter "a of the general stat
utes, that the greatest needless cost occurs.
This law, with the penalties now affixed
might be made source of large income t.
the State if properly regulated and admins
tered.
The expenses attending commitments tC
the house of correction can be reduced. The
respondent is now allowed twenty-four hours
in which to pay fine and costs, and the Officer
is allowed ten cents an hour for keeping him,
and twenty five cents each for three meals
If the officer is a sheriff he may commit hin
to the jail, and possibly draw the forty-twC
cents a day from the State besides.
The respondent often wishes to waive thii
provision of twenty four hours delay, and bt
committed at once TO save the extra cost he il
obliged to serve out, and should be allowed
to do SO.
. The proposed modification of the grand
Jury law would many times save delay il
bringing criminals to trial, and the expense
of keeping them in Jail as well as the expense
of the inquiry.
, Whether the right of trial by jury o
= twelve men is essential in case where MAI
; | under this right taxes his neighbors one hun
dred or possibly five hundred dollars to carry
: on five dollar law suit, admits of doubt
: Whether man who discloses fully should b,
y committed for intoxication, is questionable il
I my mind
What Judge Veazey says about court au
ditors deserves consideration. State bills
a should be, as far as possible, supervised b.
= the State auditor or under regulations fxeC
= by him, and SO absolutely under his contro
= that there can be no variation. Our fnancia
q record for the past two years shows that Their
. . has been no carelessness on the part of tn
. present auditor.
:, STATE TAXATION,
G One great cause of the present unequal as
o sessment of taxes is that we have a town sys
n tenn for levying the State tax, and each tow
a Ia afraid that its neighbor will make a lowe