St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-10-13

State Insane Asy lum, but points ont
the danger OF the law relating to the
insane, under which the careless Opin-
ion of two physicians, from which
: there is no appeal, may send a sane
man to the asylum. This danger
should he guarded against. The most
noticeable and gratifying feature of the
reports from the penal institutions and
reform school is the great decrease of
inmates, owing doubtless to the great
demand for labor. The several super
intendents are said to he exceptionally
able and faithful officials. Good disci-
pline is maintained, while those CON
fined are treated i'll kind and humane
manner. He states that he is unable
to agree with the trustees of the re-
form school in their recommendation
that the law be repealed which re-
| quires towns to contribute to the sup
port of the children they send to the
school. The greatest fault found with
the working of the reform school has
been that children were improperly
sent therefor trivial offences, of
tender age, and of weak minds
by towns merely to be rid of them.
Attention is called to the necessity of
some change in the present law relat-
ing to the protection of fish, by which
ample power will he given to the fish
| commissioners, or some other persons.
| In regard to methods of taxation, the
message SAYS: Justice demands that
the owners of real and personal proper
ty should be put on the same basis of
equality. The present law was the
result of an earnest, honest effort to
equaliZe the burdens of taxation, and
to remedy the evils notoriously exist
ing under the old law. The step hav-
ing been taken, and apparently ap-
proved by the people, no pains should
be spared to make the law as perfect
as possible. By its operation, the
amount of personal property subject to
taxation has been more increased than
that of real estate, relieving to this eX-
tent, only, the owners of real property.
Those who pay only Il poll tax have
received the greatest benefit, and this
is the class that most deserves relief
| would suggest that in future, state
boards be appointed by the governor
from the members of the county boards,
to elect their members of the state
board before doing any other business.
Concerning railroad legislation Gov.
/
much attention and occupy so much
time in state legislatures and Congress.
1t presents many new problems, and
we cannot look to the past for guide
to their solution. 1t should not be
kept out of sight and discussion, nor
raised to undue prominence. In its
consideration we should he free from
the influence of railroad corporations,
Il
to create hostility to railroad interests
i'll order to obtain some personal ad-
vantage. But when complaints arise
that the people are not afforded the
same facilities in freight and passage
that are extended to other communi-
ties by the same lines that discrimi-
nations in freight rates are made be
tween persons and places that re-
bates and special contracts are allowed
to some and denied to others that un-
just combinations exist whereby con
sumers are obliged to pay more than
fair price for articles i'll common use
that large numbers travel without pay,
thereby increasing the price paid by
others that the farmers of the west
can place their products in the Boston
market as cheaply us can the farmers
of Vermont; that our small villages
are becoming undesirable places of
residence and business, for the reason
that they cannot be reached or left by
through trains; that manufacturers
are deferred from locating in the state
by reason of uncertain and high rates
of freight, it manifestly becomes Il
proper subject for legislative consider
alton. Some of the evils complained
of can and should be remedied by state
legislation, but we should stop short of
enacting laws hampering our railroads,
so as unnecessarily to impair their
prosperity or their power to compete
with lines in other states. Vermont is
fortunate in having her railroads oper-
ated by her own citizens, men of liber-
ality and public spirit, deeply inter
ested in whatever relates to the pros
perity and welfare of the state. 1t is
general belief that they are conducted
with spirit of courtesy and accOmmO-
datiOn, that every eXertiOn is made by
l their managers to please and satisfy
the people in all their gathering at
fairs and public meetings. 1t is highly
desirable that this state of things
should continue. No class controversy
should arise between those who are
mutually interested and dependent up
on each other. Referring to the great
national and constitutional system,
controlled by immense and cOnsOlidat-
ed wealth, he terms it a system i'll
which Vermont roads are as drop in
the bucket, link in chain. 1t is IL
power so great that small corporations
like those in Vermont are forced to
join and strengthen it or perish. We
can, however, initiating the example
of many other state legisla-
lures, give such expression to our
views as shall arouse our state delega-
ton in Congress to assist the national
: movement for the regulation of inter
state commerce, the power to do which
+ was vested in Congress by the found
ers of our national constitution. The
prOpriety of expressing to the state
delegation in Congress your wishes on
any subject has often been recognized
by the action of legislatures, notably
in two instances, when the welfare and
material interests of the state We're
threatened by efforts to secure the re
f newal of the reciprocity treaty with
, Canada.
American ladies may well take IA hint
from Mrs, Langtry, the famous English
beauty, who SAID to "A newspaper in
terviewer ''As the only sister of six