The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-10-14

tional Guard from the brigadier commander
TO The humblest private who does not in the
service he renders the state sacrifice an
nually both time and money. The com
panies DRIFT every week and usually turn
into the company's treasury for the pay
ment OF expenses all that the state pays its
memb rs, and in addition each member
pays annual dues. The members Of the Ma
tional Guard are not under obligation TO the
state for the compensation they receive, but
the state Is clearly under obligation to them
for the services they render Since the last
meeting OF the legislature a permanent
camp-ground has been purchased near Fort
Ethan Allen, upon accommodation of the
adjutant general, brigade commander and
colonel OF the regiment. This property
joins the United States reservation and is
close by the fine rifle range owned by the
United States government, which will be at
the disposal OF the STATE during musters.
The ground has been prepared for use and
is well adapted for the pun pose, but having
been graded only short time 1t was not in
good condition at the time Of the muster in
August, and thought it not wise to use it
this year so long az Colonel Webb rendered
the use OF his property at "Oak Ledge"
free of cost to the state. The rifle range at
Fort Ethan Allen was used by the troops
during the muster. The conduct OF the
members Of the National Guard while in
camp this year has never been exCelled.
The mem bers of the Guard are greatly in
debed to Captain Herbert e. Tutherly, U.
s. A., assistant inspector general upon my
staff, for his intelligent and interchangeable
labors in their int rest The adjutani and
inspector general and the Quartermaster
general have performed their duties with
their accustomed fidelity and efficiency
state Prison and House of Correction.
The report of the directors of the state
prison and house of correction indicates
that these institutions have been well m an
aged during the last biennial term and are
in very satisfactory condition For the
first time in the history of the state prison,
that institution has been self-supporting
and it is gratifying to be able to predict that
for the next five years the institution will
probably show net profit exceeding So
600 per annum
Soon after the beginning of my term Of
office l retained that a contract for five
years was about to be closed with the then
contractor upon the same terms as he had
had the contract for fifteen years previous,
viz: fifty cents per day per convict. I sent
for the chairman of the board of directors
and requested him not to make contract
until had time to look the matter up. In
December, 1894, l visited Windsor and
looked over the situation carefully.
found that most excellent discipline pre-
vailed among the convicts and they seemed
to be doing large amount Of work, and L
was satisfied that fifty cents per day per
convict, with room and power and heat for
free shop outside Of the prison walls, was
too low compared with the price of free la
Dor, although | had learned that no higher
price was paid by any other penal institu-
ton in the country. After some two
months of negotiation, l obtained an offer
from A. < Mann & Co. of Boston for the
labor at seventy-two cents per day, or
twenty-five cents per day and $4,000 per
annum per convict advance over former
n / anhmittad Ia
offer to the board of directors and the con-
tract was closed. On the basis of one hun
dred and twenty coDvicts, the in
creased revenue to the state will be 81 800
per year of the three hundred days, or $780,
700 for the five years. l should state, how
ever that the increased power required
probably will cost from 81 900 to 81 200 per
year more than under the former contract.
This most desirable contract has been made
possible on account of the excellent dis
cipline maintained by Superintendent
Cakes, who is, 1 believe, one of the best SUI
pelintendents of penal institutions in the
United States.
The house Of correction has been greatly
enlarged and improved, for the details of
which refer you to the very comprehen sive
report of the directors. The improvements
have been judiciously and economically
made under the supervision of Mr. futile
and Mr.. Morgan. The superintendent of
this institution is the right man for the
place. The directors of these two ipstitu-
lions are able, honest and painstaking men,
and they have performed their duties in an
entirely satisfactory manner.
state Asylum.
By authority given by the last legislature
the state asylum has been completed in &C
cordance with the original design. An ele-
CANT barn has been erected and dwelling
house purchased and transformed into a
ward for convalescents, and the laundry
has been enarged-all at an expense of
! $4,000 / trust that all of YOU will have
the privilege of visiting this institution, and
| believe that You will admit that the
money has been well expended and that the
! state has fine propt rty. | have not changed
the opinion expressed by me at a meeting
| held during the last session of the legisla-
! ture, when this addition to the asylum was
under consideration, that the saving to the
! state would be from ten to fifteen thousand
| dollars per annum. The institution is well
managed, both financially and for the inter
| ests of the patients. Much credit should be
| given DR., Giddings, the superintendent, for
| his faithful and efficient labors. The trus-
! tees have been dilgent and have rendered
| intelligent and valuable service. | invite
| your careful attention to the reports of the
trustees and superintendent. The supern-
tendent estimates that the future cost of
keeping patient will be two dollars and
| fifty cents per week, or one dollar and
| twenty five cents less than we should be
obliged to pay were they kept in Brattle-
boro. This would make the cost per patient
| per annum sixty-tive dollars less. Reckon
ing five hundred patients the amount saved
would be $50 800 per annum. This saving
will be for the future. 1t is but fair to say,
however, that If the interest at four per cent
| -S14 000-were reckoned ON $3.50 900 cost OF
plant, the saving would be but SIS, 800 per
annum. The buildings are paid for how
ever, and the future saving will probably
| be as first above stated.
The institution is now of sufficient size to
care for all the insane of the state and the
law authorizing commitments to the Brat
tleboro Retreat should be repealed. The
supervisors have performed their duties
satisfactorily. While the state had its in
sane at the Brattleboro Retreat it was nee
ess AIRY to have supervisors Of the insane to
| look after the interests of the state, but now
that the state cares for the insane in its own
institution their services are no longer
needed, and the law creating the board OF
supervisors should, in my opinion. be re-
pealed, and the very considerable expense