Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-11
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or about one-eighteenth OF the total depos-
Under the tax law Of ISIS there was received
e sue atem tre s h aasns
OF which there distributed to towns... 42,760 %
Leaving In the treasury from deposits by nom -.
residents l0H20 W
Other important and interesting statistics will
be found in the report Of the inspector Of finance
This officer bears gratifying testimony TO the
skful and honorable management of these insti-
tutons in the main. lie has exercised great care
and good judgment in the performance of his
duties, and trust that his recommendations will
receive your serious notice. Coming from bank
officer, they are likely to be within, rather than in
excess OF the necessities Of the case His cautious
but decided words in regard to certain banks that
he does not NAME II not Needed may lead to dis
aster and distress. | especially recommend to
your notice his remarks rs to trust companies,
and In regard to large loans to, and deposits from
a single person.
! In other states the bank officer is required to
ascertain and report the number and amount Of
deposits remaining in each bank, undsturbed, for
certain number OF years
| The increase in deposits may be taken "a an in
dication Of general thrift and prosperity and,
though doubtless some portion Of this increase Is
due to the fact that many persons competent to
manage their own property are unable to find
better place Of Investment, yet, as r WHOLE these
deposits represent the savings Of years Of toll and
self-denial. 1t L your duty to see that all
| the safeguards that prudence and experience
can suggest are thrown around the vital inter-
| ests Of these persons. " Limited deposits, re-
| stricted investments, economical management and
| CONSERVATIVE ulNluenuS, Will insure security.
But the laws will be of no avail unless they are
enforced. The inspector Of finance should be
given ample power, and 1t should be made his
| duty, to enforce the observance of the law. A
mere report from year to year that certain banks
do not entirely comply with the law will never
remedy the evil.
The suggestions of Mis- officer are not to be
taken as indicating distrust criticism of the
way in which the banks are managed; on the con-
trary they are mainly intended to point out the
steps already taken by our Oldest and soundest
institutions, and which, in his opinion, should be
| followed by ALL
STATE BANKING LAW.
Should the national government continue the
payment Of its bonds at the present rate, the Sc.
curities on which rest over sixty per cent of the
national bank notes, will be extingushed within
the next four years. In this event, it is not i'm
possible that existing corporations may avail
| themselves Of the provisions of the state law.
Hence, this law should be carefully examined,
and be Of such nature as would afford absolute
security to note-holders.
INSANE ASYLUM.
The management of this private charity is
credit and an honor to the state. Its per centage
| of deaths and recoveres compares favorably with
that OF similar institutions elsewhere Its trust
ees are scrupulously faithful to their trust. Dr..
Goldsmith says: The most searching inquiry has
failed to find that single dollar of the millions
which have passed through their hands has ever
been msapplied or unaccOunted for"
The superintendent DR.. Draper, is commended
In the warmest terms by those able men who in
past years have severely criticised the construc.
ton Of the asylum and It's fitness for the care Of
the insane, and 10 whose efforts, in directing at
tention to the matter, much credit is doubtless
due for subsequent improvements DR.. Fasset
says CDR Draper is an educated, intelligent
man; has had many years experience in general
practice and in the care of the insane; is a man
Of good judgment, kind and humane in dispose
tion devoted to his profession Jealous and ear
nest" lie further said: ave are convinced
that the food OF the inmates is abundant and Of
ipatf 10 lrat,
clean; as completely SO as any asylum in our
knowledge. The inmates decently clothed,
and their clothing, as well al their persons, Is
kept carefully clean. The most perfect good
order prevails throughout the entire hospital
Kindness and gentleness, so far as they are con-
sistent with mechanical restraint and secusiOn,
are everywhere apparent. We believe that no
cruelty or harsh treatment on the part OF attend
ants is ever permitted If known" The present
supervisors say; ave believe the superintend-
ent his assistants and employees generally, to be
eminently fit for the business in which they are
engaged, and we are quite sure that there should
be no distrust of their kind and faithful care Of
all who are put in their keeping"
During the past few years, the trustees have
expended large sums in enlarging and improving
the asylum. They have added ventilation by
means of steam fan, new heating apparatus,
gymnasium, workshop, new and extensive park
and summer retreat, billiard, bowling and read
, ing rooms, while every ward now opens to light,
air and sunshine.
1t will thus be seen that nearly every cause for
structure has been removed, and that the insttu-
ton deserves, and should receive the unreserved
confidence of the people
One remaining source of complaint lies in the
fact that the inmates are too numerous for the
, best good of ALL
INSANE PooR.
This unfortunate class deserve our deepest
commiseraton and generous care. But common
sense and reason should not be left behind in our
action for their relief. The state should not be
burdened with the support of transient poor from
: | NIL Of ftad
by towns. The supervisors in their report say
that some town authorities send to the asylum
all their paupers who are in the least demented,
idiotic OF Vicious 1t has also been clearly
charged in several previous reports that many
persons are confined who should be taken care OF
by the towns from which they came. This is a
great wrong to those towns that deal justly with
the state in this respect.
Under the law giving the supervisors the right
TO discharge all persons who should not be in
mates, they have discharged twenty-five, and say
they would have sent away many more but for
| fear they would become the lawful prey Of the
historic poor-house. believe the towns, as a
rule, treat their paupers with humanity and kind
ness and that the " historic poor-house is mere
tradition, and that the harmless, incurable insane
would receive no injury from being returned to
their respective towns The state should support
none but those needing restraint and medical
} treatment. The supervisors having the power,
1t should be made their duty, to purge the
asylum OF every such inmate. If this were
done, there would be abundant room for the
best treatment of those who remain. This dis
tribution Of the harmless insane poor among the
| almshouses has been adopted in other states with
favorable results as regards both health and ex-
: pense.
With the greatest respect for the ability and
high character of the supervisors, | cannot pass
without comment their views on
THE LAW RELATIVE TO THE INSANE.
After quoting from the report of the previous
hoard Of supervisors, that d the incarceration of
the sane in an insane asylum would be an impos-
sibility in Vermont" they say: I" as the law now
: is, such thing, in our opinion, would be by no
| means difficult The law allows the
careless opinion OF two physicians to send any
person to an asylum, and from this there is no
: appeal, Whose dog would we kill without