Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-15
Reform School Legislation.

The joint committee on the reform school
have reported two bills, having in view such
changes in the policy and management Of
that institution as will obviate the objections
raised against the plan Of reformation on
which the school has hitherto been conducted
The bill reported to the senate embodies the
views of majority Of the senators and a
minority Of the representatives on the joint
committee, while the bill reported to the
house embodies the views of majority of
the house, and minority of the senate
members Of the committee. The two bills
are identical in many Of their provisions and
there is no irreconcilable difference on the
points where they are at variance. Both
bills adopt the probationary idea and aim to
provide the children with homes in good
families as soon as inquiry or examination
into the record or conduct of the children
shall show whether long detention in the
school, or only transfer from former bad
influences to a good home, is necessary.
These bills provide that child under twelve
years of age, brought before a justice, shall
be tried in the presence of the first select
man of the town, in any event. and as friend
or guardian in the absence of the natural
protectors of the child. If the child is con-
victed or bound over aud the penalty is the
reform school or Jail, the selectman, If 1t
does not seem good to imprison the child,
represents this fact to the justice, and pro.
ceedings are stayed. The child is handed
over to the selectman, who shall find a home
for it in some good family, and the town
shall pay for the support of the child the
same sum that would be required by the re-
form school. II within one year it appear9
that it is for the best good of the child that
the judgment Or decision of the justice be
enforced, the child is either bound over for
trial at the county court or sentenced to the
reform school. If bound over, the child is
sent to the reform school to await trial.
But If the selectman does not within year,
apply to the justice to have the original
judgment or sentence enforced, no further
proceedings can be had against the child
in which case the year of probation is sup
posed to develop the fact that the young of
fender is not a legaly-qualified candidate
for reform school discipline. The obvious
effect of the above provisions would seem to
be to put an end to hasty or ill-considered
committals, especially of young children.
The probationary idea is also extended to
the child in the event of his final committal
to the school. The act provides that chill
dren hereafter sent to the reform school
shall be treated as on probation, until such
time as it can be shown whether a long de-
tention, under the special discipline of the
school is necessary, or whether a transfer
from former bad influences to good home
is the needed remedy. In the latter event
the trustees are required to find place out
side of the school for the child, and TO give
the probation, or placing-out system, fair
trial. The superintendent is made proba-
ton officer under the direction of the trus-
tees. He is required to maintain an over
sight of the child placed out, as long as
necessary, and to appoint an agent in the
vicinity of the child, to act as friend
and advisor making stated reports to the
trustees on the conduct and welfare of the
child. As an encouragement TO family to
take these waits the trustees are required to
pay for the maintenance of child under
twelve years of age one dollar a week until
the child arrives at the age Of fourteen
years.
The boys are divided into two classes, sep
arating the younger and the less hardened
of any age from the more vicious, permit
ting the association of the two classes only
in exercises and labor that must be Jointly
conducted. Up to this point there is entire
harmony in the two reports of the commit
tee. The house bill recognizes the Importance
of providing ample sleeping room, a reading
room, and such other accommodations as
are absolutely necessary For this purpose
the bill appropriates sum not exceeding
$4,000, to be expended under the approval
of the governor. For this purpose the SEN
ate bill allows the expenditure of so much
of the $4,000 appropriation of 1873 as may
be necessary.
The senate bill provides that when child
under fourteen is committed to the school,
the town in which the child last resided
prior to commitment shall pay till the child
becomes fourteen, to the reform school or to
the family in which the child may have been
placed by the officials of the school, the sum
of one dollar week. The house bill pro-
vides further that the town shall continue
to pay fifty cents week after the child ar
rives at the age of fourteen, during the term
of his commitment. The object of any pay
ment by the town is, primarily, to put up
bar against improper commitments, and
therefore Senator Paul has proposed to
amend the senate bill so that towns shall
pay fifty cents a week for children over
fourteen years of age. In the drafting of
these bills the members of the committee
seem to have been actuated by sincere de-
sire to secure the practical and effective
working of an institution designed to sup
press crime at its inception. They have
honestly sought to protect it from abuse and
imposition, while they have aimed not to
hodge in the entrance to the school 30
closely as to defeat its purpose by excluding
from it the children for whose salvation the
school was instituted. The expenditure
contemplated by the house bill, $4,000 in
the judgment of four good men will provide
all necessary additional accommodations In
the way of buildings,an this, it would seem
ought to suffice for the ensuing biennial
term while the new features contemplated
by the bills are on trial.