Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-15

! providing for the manner of the same
The purposes of this act were to en-
large the reformatory influences OF the
| criminal and penal laws Under il, with
the use Of careful discrimination in desiu.
mating benehcares, the purposes Of the
| law cannot fail of most sautary results.
The report of pardons and conditional
discharges from the State prison, House
of Correction and Reform School in the
last two years, will be found in the APP
pendix with the general reasons for exc
Cutlve action in each case.
The petitions denied are more numer-
Gus.
Under the act of the last session an
propriatinR $4,000 for the purpose %
erecting upon the lands of the State "a
building for the use of the State
library, the Supreme Court and the col
lections and library of the Vermont His
torlcal society, and other State public
uses, the commissioners appointed
thereby with the exception Of the Hon
| Frederick Billings, who being unable to
serve, the Hon Justin ). Morrill, was APP
pointed to fill the vacancy duly entered
| upon the duties assigned them selected
the site, determined upon the plan and
have erected said building in accordance
with said act
The growing need Of such public
| building has been kept before the
| legislature for many sessions, be
ing urged through executive mes
sages and reports Of committees-un-
til all were disposed to concede its necessi-
ty. Its location, Independent Of and yet
conveniently connected with, this Capitol
was determined upon by the commission
mainly with view to its ready accessi
! bility to the members of the general as
sembly. The detailed report of the com
mission addressed to the general assem-
bly, is not completed at this writing, but
will be laid before you probably before the
the message is read.
THE SMALL PoX EPIDEMIC.
September Goth, 1885, reliable intorma.
! ton OF the alarming ravages of the small
pox epidemic in the Province of Quebec
had come to my knowledge and the evil
dence was complete that its effects would
soon extend into and through the State
unless precautionary measures were taken
! to prevent its spread southwark. Finding
no specific safeguards of legislation in
our statutes adequate to the emergency, |
applied to the president under the revised
statutes of the United States and the sec
rotary OF the treasury at once directed
suitable number of medical Inspectors of
the navy to proceed to the northern Dor
der of the State to advise and assist the
local board OF health,-the selectmen,-so
| that the spread of the epidemic into and
through the State might be be prevented
and suppressed, All requisite quaran
tine measures were at once adopted.
How efficient the services of these medi
cal officers and their local assistants
proved to be is indicated by our compare
tive immunity from the devastation Of the
disease. After the crisis was thought tC
be over, the quarantine raised and the
consequent relaxation of vigilance, re
newed application came from the border
towns in February following, setting
forth that the disease mad reappeared in
several OF the towns of the province bor~
derlng on our northern frontier where
upon the authorities at Washington, be
ing ADVISED nv IL !eprarn the medical @
amlner OF the government was on duty
again on the line in II hours, and such
measures were taken as secured our peo-
pie from further danger from the pesti-
lence. The prOmptueSS of the response of
the honorable secretary of the treasury in
this time of alarm, the efficiency OF the
actlon OF the medical officers of the fed
eral government and their local assistants
in the performance of their delicate duty
In the personal inspection of all the rail
way travellers across and along the line
of the province AS well as the zeal of the
railroad officers and the town authorities,
entitle them to the thanks and commenda-
tlon Of all
DEATH OF GENERAL GRANT.
July 23d, 1885, the death of General
Grant, twice president Of the United
States,-the defender of the Union,-the
victorious leader of our armies in the great
civil conflict, and general on the retired
list,-was heralded TO an expectant world.
1t seemed fitting that the people of every
state should recognize the official tribute
OF respect recommended in the presidents
Pr rnag TO- and TX states do special
parted chieftain. In accordance with the
designation of the president Saturday, the
Sth day OF August 1881 was set apart by
state proclamation for services betting
the deep solemnlty of the occasion. With
a portion OF my staff attended the funer-
AL at Ii ytrSlup hare all b4 ~ he
| Union were similarly represented.
CONCLUSION.
In concluding my relations with the ex-
ecutlve Office, ought, by way OF invoking
charity for my official short comings, to
say to you, gentlemen of the Joint Assem-
bly,, and through You to my fellow.c iti-
zens, that my rela.. ons with the civil GOV
eminent Of the state in any official capa-
/ city have been limited to his department.
rms lneXpellenCe IN the practical duties,
OF public affairs has necessarily devolved
on me an embaras> mrut IN the admins
/ tration of the varied and complex duties
OF the high trust which has rarely been
experienced by the men so generally tried
in public station who have preceded me.
profoundly appreciate the forhearance.
the courtesles and the many offers and
deeds of assistance which have been ex-
tended to me in the discharge Of my Off
cial duties The past is replete with its
proofs OF the upright purposes, tie earnest
efforts and the general success in results
which have characterized and crowned
the deliberations and acts of all the de-
partments>of our government. May the
divine guidance direct you in the labors of
this session, and the governor who will
constitute with you the legal representa-
tives Of the people, in such manner that
the permanent and material interests of
our commonwealth and the happiness of
her people may be advanced at your
hands.
what Would the World Do