The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-08


crime and keeps the number of inmates at a
low figure. The three institutions have a
capacity for accommodating four hundred
twenty-six persons, while the number OF
inmates In each, on the first day Of August,
was as follows;
Institutions 1873 1890. 1897 1894.
1 TSase Prison af ontfsc;,on le ~
Reform ...... lis S IS q
Totals. si sa 22i 2a
On the 9th of May, 1888, Mr.. Rice, superin-
tendent of the prison, whose administrative
ability had been Of such service in enlarging
and rebuilding the prison and who had
brought order and system out OF confusion
and dishonesty, resigned his office, and,
upon the recommendation of the directors,
Mr.. K. w. Cakes, who was his assistant,
was appointed to fill his place. He has
greatly reduced the expenses of the prison
without any diminution in the comfort or
welfare of the inmates, and has introduced
some much needed changes Both he and
Mr. Eayres, superintendent at the house of
correction, are faithful, honest, economical
and capable men. At the reform school,
Mr.. and Mrs. Fairbank continue the same
kind and paternal government that has dis
tinguished them for so many years, while
the trustees have performed the numerous
and somewhat complicated duties devolving
upon them with great thoroughness and hui
manity. In the appendix will be found an
interesting table as to the cost of these in
situations. In my judgment, one board of
three persons should be appointed by the
governor to have charge of all the institu-
tons, and uniform system of book keep
ing should be adopted at the beginning of
the next fiscal year. The governor should
have the power of granting conditional par
dons TO inmates of the reform school; pris-
oners should work out their fines and costs
at the state prison as they do at the house OF
corrections contracts for labor should not be
made without advertising for proposals. 1t
is claimed that United States prisoners sem
fenced to confinement, but not at hard labor,
in the house of correction are entitled to
the privileges accorded to Jail prisoners
under section four thousand four hundred
fifty-two of the Revised Laws. Whether
this claim can be maintained is uncertain,
but recommend that such legislation be
enacted as shall beyond all doubt subject
United States prisoners confined in the
house of correction, under sentence, to the
same regulations of prison discipline which
are applied to state prisoners committed to
that institution.
SAVINGS BANKS AND TRUST COMPANIES.
The reports of Mr.. Dubois, the able in
spector of finance for 1S80-'81'S2, gave re-
peated warning as to the inadequacy of his
power under the law to protect depositors
in these institutions from the results of mis-
management and dishonesty. Deeply inn
pressed with his pointed statements, joined
him in most earnest efforts to secure needed
| legislation To the legislature of 1882 said,
with reference to his reports, his cautious
| but decided words in regard to certain
banks that he does not name, il not needed,
may lead to disaster and distress. l espe-
| cially recommend to your notice his remarks
| as to trust companies, and in regard to
large loans to, and deposits from, single
person" In the failure of the st. Adams
| Trust Company the predicted disaster and
distress were fully realized. Aside from
the alleged criminaity of its officers, its
weakness was due to the precise fault in re-
gard to which Mr.. Dubois so often asked
| additional legislation, viz: large loans to
| one person, and that person an officer Of the
bank. Believing it to be quite possible that
| one or two other institutions were similarly
situated, judged that, in the language of
| the law, the protection of the rights of
the state ~ demanded that should indicate
to these self-constituted guardians of the
| weak and defenceless, throughout the state,
| that any infraction of the law or violation
Of their charters, would not go unwhipped
of justice, if my efforts could prevent it. I
| therefore informed the states attorney of
Franklin county that assistance would be
| furnished him to ascertain, in this instance,
whether the law had been violated, and, if
so, to bring the guilty parties to punish
| ment, and an attorney was assigned to this
duty whose ability and honesty were a
guaranty that nothing would be left undone
| on the part of the prosecution to accomplish
this end. When, on the 9th of October,
1882, Mr.. Dubois resigned the Office of in
| spector to accept that of treasurer, per-
suaded him to withhold his resignation until
the adjournment of the Legislature, so that
| he might be able, in his official capacity, to
assist in framing suitable restrictive laws.
At that time, l appointed Mr.. Charles
| Dewey Of Montpelier as his successor, a
gentleman who for long time had been at
the head of one of the largest and most sue
| cessful moneyed institutions in the state,
| anH who fhorpnUbly with
bank bookkeeping and with the value of all
| securities in the market. He accepted the
office only after much hesitation He has
devoted a great deal of time to his duties
and has accomplished much desirable work,
| and l regret to learn that his business inter-
ests will not allow him to continue in office.
| / commend his report to your consideration
with the firm belief that all needful legisla-
ton will now be enacted and with the hope
that the excitement and distress occasioned
by the failure of one institution will not lead
to such radical measures as to destroy the
usefulness of others.
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND STATE
| AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
am happy to call your attention to the
unusual prosperity and bright prospects OF
this institution. These are due in large
measure to the generous gifts which the
university has lately received from its
friends. The reconstruction of the main
college buildings through the bounty of Mr..
John p. Howard, alluded to in my former
message as in progress, has since been COM
pleted, and his recent gift of new medical
school building adds one more to the many
benefactons of that gentleman to the uni
versity. The library building. which is now
in process of erection and will cost 500, 900
is the gift of Mr.. Frederick Billings, who
takes this beautiful way of providing suit
able repository for his former invaluable
gift, the library of the late George p. Marsh,
and for the other literary treasures of the
college. On the Goth day of June, 1888, the
university celebrated with appropriate ex-
ercises the relaying of the corner stone OF
the main college building and the unwilling
of bronze statue of Lafayette, also gift
from Mr.. Howard. detailed two companies
of the National Guard to participate in the
ceremonies of that occasion.
THE SUPREME COURT.
The announcement that Judge Redaeld
would retire from the bench at the close OF
his present term though not unexpected
occasions general regret. The cause of jus.
tice suffers when SO eminent a judge with
draws from her councils and in the delibera
tons of that court whose decisions continue
To hold so high place in the Jurisprudence
of the country, the loss OF Judge Redfeld's
experience and fine legal instinct will be
most deeply felt. Since the last session the
great railroad suits have been ended and
am informed that the general business of the
courts has declined Hence, AZ my successor
is member of the bar and may feel some
| 1alicanv in tha tnattar I ahall ypntira IN a n