Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-10-15

SoAfAhb IVY NCuNr uS It's pfOpOitAIh.
OF LAW AND CONSTITUTION
AL AMENDMENTS.
The message then reviewed the crea-
ton Of the commission, composed of
Hon. G. w. Willard and Hon. W. g.
Veazey, to revise the laws, and stated
that the Commissioners have simPlified
and reduced to Il uniformity the d. =;
verse expressions used in the General
Statutes. They have 80 condensed
what is now contained in the General
statutes in 200 pages, and in the session
laws since 1862 in 1888 pages, that when
printed as the General Statutes now are
it will be comprised in aboutT00 pages. |
They have not Intentionally changed !
the substance or intent of any law.
Together with their report they Offer
an Appendix that consists OF notes ex-
planatory, corrective, and in recon-
mendation of amendments. Forgreat-
er convenience of reference the sections
are numbered from first to last contin-
uously or successfully throughout the
volume. In the Appendix the Com
missioners have made such recoInmen-
dations of changes as seemed desirable
to them, after careful examination of
the entire laws of the State.
The Governor, in speaking of the
proposed amendments to the Constitu-
ton, recommends that some restriction
kinds of cases in court from trial be-
fore petit jury, and suggests that can
did consideration should be paid to the
question whether the duties of the
Grand Jury should not be somewhat
modified.
THE STATE PRISON AND HOUSE OF COR
RECTIoN.
The Directors of the State Prison, in
accordance with sec. 2 of an act of the
Legislature passed at the last session,
have erected new building for a work
shop, chapel and other purposes. 1t is
entirely of brick, is 50 feet long and 30
feet in width and two stories in height
above the basement, The roof is of
slate, with tin cutters and tire=proof
cornice. The sum appropriated for the
purpose was $4,000. by ayailing them
selves OF some convict labor the Direct
ors have been able to complete very
satisfactory building and keep within
the appropriation. They have also
built double gate, which was re-
quired for safety, and this has been
done within the appropriation for that
purpose.
In examining the accounts of the late
Superintendent, errors were discovered
by Mr.. Rice, the present Superintend-
emit, amounting to $l508 05 and he was
directed to collect the same, which he
has done and returned it to the State
Treasury.
The act of the Legislature above re-
ferred to also provides for the erection
of new prison building to accommo-
date those prisoners who were unpro-
vided with cells. AT the time of the
visit of the Legislative Commit ee, De-
tober Is, 1873, there were confined in
the State Prison 1856 convicts and there
were but 1853 cells for their accommodate
ton. But since the House of Correction
has been opened for convicts there has
been a decided falling off in the num-
Der sent to the State Prison 50 that on
the 3lst day of July, 1889, there were
but 143 convicts at Windsor conse-
quently the Directors have not built
the additional prison buildingprovided
for by the act of 1873,
When the Legislature was last in SEES
SION the House of Correction WIS un-
finished, and not ready to receive pris-
and on July 81, 1880, it had been in use
twenty months. The whole number of
prisoners during that time was 365.-
The Directors, in their report, say that
For the year ending Aug. l., 1880, the
current expenses of the entire institu
ton, including Rutland County Jail
were $9235 %. If the prisoners had
been employed under the contract dur
ing the entire year, and upon the same
pay as STAGE Aug. 1, 1880, their earnings
would have amounted to $JS73 81, leav
Ing a balance against the State for the
current expenses of a year of only
$3361 43. The cost to the State of Rut
land County Jail, previous to the es
tablshment of the House Of Correction
exceeded that sum-the average ex
pense being $500 year, and more
than that amount since 1870.
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
The Reform School was reported tc
be in an excellent condition. The to
tai expenses of the school for the two
years ending July31, $780, is $50, 1884 25
the net earnings 1853 80. hereceipt,
from I'LL sources amount to $l3,647 IL
leaving balance to be met by orders
on the State treasury of S25,737 IA
which is $02G2 SO less than the appro
priation. The number Of boys in the
institution July 81, 1878, was 1872, anC
in 1880 at the same date 1903. Their,
were 30 boys and 10 girls also in the
school at the respective dates.
| EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE.