Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-10-13

ing Vermont governors are given in full in
supplement form to-day. The messages are
long, but they are worth reading by all per-
sons interested in our state affairs. Gov.
Farnham has a good word for the revised
laws as completed two years ago, and in a
paragraph on the new tax law he expresses
his unqualified belief in the correctness of the
principle on which the law is founded, and in
Inmates that any changes in the law should be
entirely in the direction of its more perfect
operation Gov Farnham refers with pride
to the very favorable condition of the states
finances and to the satisfactory working of
the law abolishing court auditors. He thinks
the new highway law is not a success, that
under il the roads have not been 80 well kept
as formerly, and that the Legislature should
do something for the protection of honest
travellers. His remarks on the subject of
pardons and conditional discharges from the
state prison and other reformatory institu-
tions, and on the condition Of these several
institutions, contain much valuable informa-
ton and are of especial interest The mes
sage touches on the state agricultural college,
the Huntington bequest for educational pur-
poses, the supreme court, the insane asylum
and the state library. Mention is made of
the very satisfactory part taken by Vermont
in the Yorktown centennial celebration, and
appropriate allusion is made to the suffering
and death of President Garfield.
Gov. Barstow, in opening his message, re-
counts the favorable auspices under which
the new Legislature meets and his admins
Ior;,,, 4 &, J.. g.,
suitable review of the reports of the various
state officers. Considerable space is devoted
to an intelligent discussion of the subject of
state expenses in which Gov. Barstow point
eddy suggests to the Legislature that it may
| largely reduce the most important item of
state expenditure and learn the gratitude of
your Gts) constituents" by confirming its legis-
lation entirely to matters of actual public
need and benefit. His remarks on the Uni
versity of Vermont and State Agricultural
College will be read with interest by the
farming community. After treating on the
subject of the proposed constitutional amend
ments and of the savings banks and trust
companies, with one or two minor matters,
Gov. Barstow devotes a very considerable
amount of space 10 the insane asylum and
matters connected Herewith. His treatment
of the subject is intelligent, truthful and I'M
prejudiced. 1t is refreshing to see this in
stitution thus fairly treated in state paper.
Gov. Barstow quotes from the reports of sew
eral official examiners in recent years to show
DR.. Diapers eminent fitness for his place Rs
superintendent, the excellent manner in
which the asylum is kept, the kind treatment
of the patients and the faithfulness of The
trustees and of all the subordinate officers and
employees. He mentions the extensive i'm
provements which have been made during
the past few years and in closing this refer
ence, says
"It will thus be seen that nearly every
| cause for structure has been removed, and
that the institution deserves, and should re-
ceive, the unreserved confidence of the peo-
pie. One remaining source of complaint lies
in the fact that the inmates are too numerous
for the best good of all"
As means of relieving this tendency to
overcrowding Gov. Barstow suggests the
discharge from the asylum of all the harmless
insane, including all who do not need restraint
or medical treatment. While sympathizing
with the spirit and intent with which this sug-
| gestion is made, we cannot fully endorse it
unless it be supplemented with the sugges-
ton that towns or counties should make suit
uble provision for the care of such insane
persons in proper local institutions as is the
case in our neighboring state of New Hamp-
shire. 1t is well known fact that the great
majority of apparently harmless insane per-
sons are liable to sudden attacks of mania
which come without warning, and the danger
which lies in this direction is one to which no
community should be subjected. Gov. Bar
stow takes considerable space to show how
entirely unfounded is charge of the board
of supervisors that the incarceration of a sane
person in an insane asylum in Vermont would
be "by no means difficult" and he adds
''This matter is presented at some length in
the belief that it is a fair example of much of
the adverse criticism to which the asylum and
| our laws relative to the insane have been sub
| jected for years, to the great detriment of the
institution and the good name of the state"
In closing that part of his message which re-
| lates to the treatment of the insane, Gov.
Barstow quotes figures from the states re-
form school experience to show the fallacy Of
the claim so often urged with regard to the
comparatively moderate expense at which a
new state asylum could be built and main
tanned.
The closing parts of the message relate to
the penal institutions and reform school,
methods of taxation, railroad legislation, and
the general condition of the state, all of
which subjects are treated with clearness,
frankness and intelligence. The message is
of considerable length, but it gives very
clear and comprehensive view of our state af-
fairs and does credit to the new Governors
| thoroughness and insight.