St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-10-11
Ole GaIedunia1t.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
THE LEGISLATURE.


Thursday was governors day at
Montpelier when the messages of retir-
ing Governor Ormsbee and of Govern
or-elect Dillingham; were read. Fol-
lowing are abstracts of the two mes
sages:
Gov. Ormsbee's ValedictOry
Was long enough to have done duty
as a presidential message, and calls at
tention i'll elaborate detail to the work
of the past two years. The annual APP
preparation of $4,000 for the instruc-
ton of the deaf, dumb, blind and
feeble minded children of INDECENT
parents has been found sufficient for
the % benefciaries of the state.
Concerning the state savings banks
he says "The old fashioned WAYS and
modes of investment of funds by many
If not all of these institutions, have
been departed from, and the old idea
that all other questions should be
made subordinate to safety, is being
lost sight of in the pursuit of high
rate of interest, that large dividends
may be declared. This cause, while
it naturally and unavOidably invites
the funds of the wealthy, hazards the
savings of the poor" The suggestions
in Inspector Pages report are warmly
approved.
Udner the head of Education the
public question is discussed, and the
common and public schools of the state
once pride are declared deplorable
in their lack of efficiency. Attention
is called to the report of the special
commission appointed and action on
the same urged. The normal schools
also come in for degree of attention,
and Legislation for greater efficiency in
this regard urged.
Concerning intemperance Gov. Orms-
ice recalled his inaugural message and
said that while there is scarcely sis
ter state where a better condition of
things exist, ~ venture to assert with
out fear of denial that the illegal sale
of Intoxicating liquors and the use of
such as beverage, even here In our
favored state, is direct cause of more
crime, trouble and sorrow, the blight
of more homes and the eXtinguishment
of more bright hopes of happiness,
than all other causes combined"
The work of the railroad commission
he thinks it is too early to judge, but
that it has given general satisfaction,
and suggests that the act of 1886 be SO
amended as to make it in accord with
the provisions of the Interstate COM
merce law of congress.
The national guard is reported in ex-
cellent condition newly armed and
equipped and the suggestion of the ad-
jutant general that the force be en-
larged is approved.
The report of the Gettysburg mOnu-
ment commission is given at length
and the statement made that $4,000
will be required i'll excess of private
contributions to meet the full expense
of commission.
OF the Soldiers home very salts
factory report is made and the recon-
incubation of the trustees approved
that legislation be had that shall make
it the duty of the trustees to make an
nual report of their doings. The Grim
inal and convict, insane, penal and re-
fOrmatOry institutions also come in for
consideration. During his term of
service the governor has granted but
three pardons, all from the house of
correction. The applications, how
ever, have been numerous but the rule
of action that sympathy should be held
community as well as the prisoner be
considered has controlled action in
this respect.
Regarding VermOnt's claims against
the United States no progress has been
made, one reason being that no officer
has been authorized to act for the
United States i'll the matter. In clos
ing the agricultural interests of the
or trn nd
extended consideration.
GOV. DiIIingham's Inaugural.
The inaugural of Gov. Dillingham;
opens with reference to the beneticent
laws already enacted and to the fact
that the lawmaker is more concerned
in perfecting what has already been
established than in the Inauguration
of new lines of legislation. He recon-
mends that the law be so amended as
to make the fiscal year in the state cor
respond with that of the general gov
eminent and end with the last of June.
Concerning finances the address
states that the resources now provided
for exceed present liabilities in the
sum of SI67 1886. This result is
more satisfactory when considered in
connection with the other fact, that
during the last biennial term the
amount of state expenses has been
greater by SI56, 5000 than that of the
last preceding term.
Under the head of refOrmatOry insti-
tutiOns the address calls attention to
the Overcrowding of inmates in the
house of correction, while the state
prison has not been full This has
been caused by sending those convict
ed of high crimes and sentenced to
long terms of imprisonment to the
house of correction rather than to the
long, and it is urged that special pro-
vision be made for bringing about a
change in this regard.
The Vermont insane asylum is also
greatly overcrowded. The institution
is not capable of properly accommo-
dating more than 400 patients, and yet
the average number of inmates during
the last 10 years has been AS, and dur
ing the two past years the average
number of inmates has been 46I, or 81
more than the asylum can properly &C
This increase has, to a
large extent, been caused by the oper-
alton of the so called Poland pauper
law, under which about 20 have been
to the asylum, chiefly to re-
lieve the towns from which they came
of the burden of supporting them. To
remedy these evils state asylum must
be erected or the Vermont asylum be
with for the erection of 9TH
er buildings, the governor favoring the
former plan.
Such action as will place the Univer-
sity of Vermont upon plane of useful
ness befitting an institution ofits char
acter is recommended.
Inspector Pages report on the saw