Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-11


stoned by defective highways. The unjust de-
mands Of some persons claiming 10 have been
injured by defects in highways, and their success
in recovering heavy damages, had preiudlced the
whole people against a law very just and equit-
able in principle Towns should be required to
keep their highways In a safe condition. From
my own observation and from tho information
that has come to me, am Of the opinion that the
roads through the state have not been as well
cared for as they were before towns were relieved
Of their liability In this respect The county road
commissioners have seldom, II at all, been called
out The system IL too unwieldy for practical use.
Evidently the legislature ought to do something
to give us better roads and to protect honest
travellers.
PARDoNs AND CONDITIONAL DISCHARGES.
One OF the unpleasant duties Of the executive
arises in connection with applications for pardon.
The moment man has committed n CRIME his
friends are more afflicted than he Is. II he is
convicted and imprisoned his family and those
dependent upon him are deprived OF their protec-
tor and means Of support His parents and other
friends are overwhelmed with grief, and to them
his case seems so exceptional and peculiar, and
with so many extenuatng circumstances, that they
think he ought to be pardoned, and at once make
application to that end And were such a case
the sole one to be acted upon, and sympathy
alone to be the governing motive there would seem
to be good reason for granting pardon. But al
most every case carries its Affections to friends
with it. Pardons, that were originally supposed
to be granted as matter OF special favor on the
part of the executive, and by appeal to his SYM
pathies have come to be or at least ought to be
governed by some settled rules and principles.
Our courts are so just and humane that the gov
ernor would seem presumptive who should AFRO
gate to himself the duty OF correcting their ac-
ton. | have granted but few absolute pardons
from the state prison and house of correction, and
none from the reform school.
The last legislature provided for conditional
discharges, and made IL incumbent upon the ex-
ecutive to prepare form of such a conditional
digahnrua xUhipb ghould alan aat MT 1anpth
the mittimus on which the convict was committed
to prison. The act further provided that on
breach Of any conditions OF the discharge, the
party should be liable as for an escape from
prison, and should be recommtted to serve out
the full term for which he was originally com
mitted The condition provided in the form of
discharge prepared Is, that the discharged con-
Wet shall preserve this conditional discharge
until the expiration of the term for which he was
sentenced and produce it when called upon to do
so within that time, by any magistrate or police
officer of the state he shall abstain from any vo
laton of the law and from the use Of Intoxicating
drinks as a beverage; he shall not habitually
associate with VIGOROUSLY bad characters such as
reputed thieves and prostitutes he shall not lead
an idle and dissolute life without visible means
Of obtaining a livelihood, and shall keep the gov
ernor informed Of his place Of residence until the
expiration of the term for which he was SEN
fenced"
In granting conditional discharges, acted upon
the assumption that the legislature intended to
have the governor use the conditional discharge
rs a means OF reformation, and thus to some ex-
tent make the state prison and house of correc-
ton reformatory as well as penal institutions In
some instances have added further condition
that the discharged man should be under the
special charge and surveillance of some officer in
the neighborhood of his residence. Thus far but
one man has been reported as having broken the
conditions of his discharge. He has been rear
rested, and is now serving out his time.
The proposed constitutional amendment in re-
gard to rpnripypa. communications and DardOns
seems to me to be desirable. At present as the
constitution is construed, there is no power to
pardon in case Of murder.
EXECUTIONS.
During the past two years there have been two
executions with the usual distressing accompani-
ments, but with great deal less OF barbarity
than frequently attends them in other states.
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
This board was established two years ago in
place of a superintendent of agriculture. 1t has
done good work through the state for the past
two years Its members have been practical
farmers of advanced views upon the subjects
they discussed; and the inquiries they have pro-
voked, and the experiments that have been in
sttuted at their suggestion, have had a most
beneficial influence in the localities where they have
held meetings. They have worked in harmony with
the authorities OF the state agricultural college and
have had much valuable aid from its president
and professors. | think that the state must be
satisfied that board of competent men is Of
much more efficiency than the most able man
working alone.
EDUCATION.
For several years past the educational affairs of
the state have been looked after by the superin-
tendent Of education alone. Much good work has
been done yet our schools have tadvanced to the
position they ought to hold. One man cannot ac-
complish everything, and the state has not done
what 1t ought to do for our schools. There can
be but little doubt that very much more light be
accomplished by board of education, composed
OF the leading educators Of the state and those
who are interested in the subject, with an able
secretary, than can be done by the best exertons
of one man, be he ever so gifted and experienced.
But all the educators in Vermont do but little
without aid from the state. Two years ago thirty
seven thousand dollars were appropriated for the
two prisons and the reform school in addition to
their annual expense, which is thirty thousand
dollars. As more than half of our convicts are
native born Vermonters it would seem that we
should do more for education, and thus avoid be-
ing compelled to do so much to protect ourselves
against crime 1t is difficult to propose any legs-
laton that will accomplish all we desire in this
direction, but stable board of education in
whom the state has confidence would from time
to time make suggestions as to the changes neces-
sary in the law, and gradually raise the character
Of our common school to higher standard. The
present superintendent OF education was elected
| by the joint assembly on the last day OF its ses-
sion in 1880 He declined to accept the position.
looked about for suitable person TO fill the
cancy but before had made any other selection
the present incumbent was persuaded to accept
the appointment, and entered very soon upon the
| performance OF his duties. There was some de-
lay occasioned by the fact that the legislature OF
| 1880 had, by some inadvertence, repealed the act
fixing the salary of the superintendent of educa.
ton. The new superintendent felt unwilling to
perform the duties of his office for two years with
ont his salary being paid him. In this juncturt
several gentlemen of the state executed to the
state treasurer satisfactory security upon which
he raised the necessary amount, and the supern
tendent has been paid bis salary regularly through
the term An appropriation should be made al
some early day to relieve those gentlemen who
have thus stepped in to save the credit of tn,
state.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
1t is unfortunate for the state and for the caust
OF education that we have three Normal schools
What little the state feels able to do ought to bt
devoted to one school, so that 1t might do ex
tensive work than is possible with three schools
| Hnl can hardin a.nact channa ra