Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-09
your hands It's careful consideration.
The 4 sYInm

The waterbury asylum is the most
important of our state institutions. In
design II is a model Humanely and eco.
nomicaly administered. II Is a credit to
the state, 1T has cost approaching $3.50.
900. and being exclusively under state
control will accomplish an interesting
saving In the care of our insane poor.
Under the Poland pauper law the ex.
pense of this Unfortunate class became a
state burden instead of subdivlded one
among the several towns. This CENTRAL.
cation Of the burden tends to an equallza.
ton Of It, and is without objection, unless
II multiplies the number Of patients.
The records at waterbury casually
observed do not show such tendency
With It in view to protect the asylum
against such possible imposition. rec.
ommend that you investigate this sub.
ject and act according to the informa.
ton your investigation affords. The in.
mates can be more humanity cared for al
this institution with less expense and
greater security to society than by the
towns.
1t Is somewhat in the nature of
common cause to provide for the insane
poor. which the state is as much inter.
ested in as the town. Patients whose
condition stlll invites treatment and
those beyond the reach os such a benefit
should remain at the asylum: the former
class that they may be cured, and the
latter that the close of an unfortunat,
life may be made as comfortable as DOS.
sible. The insane poor of the state should
be cared for at the asylum.
Savings Banks and Trust Companies.
These institutions are reported In
good condition. Deposit Withdrawals
have increased of late under the menace
to financial security occasioned by
political discussion. Trusting the pray
or of the people will be answered soon.
this disturbance is not expected to last
long.
The Prohib tory Law
For nearly half a century prohibition
has been an omnipresent theme with the
people of Vermont and a study OF TEN.
perance. has become a feature OF gu.
educational system. 1t has stood and
stands bulwark between brutality and
home, order and riot. the better and the
worse In all things. The prohibltory
law has occupied a conspicuous place
upon our statutes and signally aided
the cause of temperance.
II has not exterminated from our so.
ciety all disposition to violate its pro.
visions nor does any law destroy the
germ of transgresslon but II has to a very
satisfactory extent restrained the Of
fender. making rumselling Improbable
and a reproach. Violations are the ex.
ceptions and confined mostly to the
larger places.
The general temperance of our people
is superior to that OF any sister state
Our prohibtory law insures a better
home for the laborig man and his family
here In Vermont than In any other com.
munity OF its size on the face OF the
earth.
We have reason to congratulate our.
selves upon many things but upon no
one thing more than the character which
has become a part Of our life since pro.
hibiton has guarded the avenues Of our
society.
With these and other considerations In
full view we are confronted by the usual
biennial inquiry shall the prohibitory
law make way for high-license. or shall
the law be more faithfully enforced
Among the things clear to judgment and
conscience is the demand for a more care.
full. dillgent. day and night. everywhere
present enforcement OF the law such
attention should be given the subject
as to render It very inconvenient II not
impossible to indulge In violation.
Law however good. not enforced, be-
comes bad and soon imparts its charac.
ter to the people enacting 1t. The wis
dom Of the fathers. traceable in ouI
society and our institutions urges earn.
est enforcement OF all our laws. Public
sentiment in many localities regards the
enforcement Of the prohibitory law diff
ferently from the enforcement OF other
law and AMI in my opinion you should
provide better pay to the officers called
upon TO enforce It,
Provide in such way as commends It,
self to your discretion a better enforce
ment of this law or public expectation
will be disappointed.
Salary the municipal triers and COM
pensate the prosecuting officer according
10 the fruits OF his labor prosecuting
officers were paid special fees under a
we'll regulated system in cases arising
under the prohibitory law the county
court approving eml-annually their ac-
counts a better enforcement might fol-
low. Officers cannot nurse crime in YER
mont for the fees derivable from prose-
cutting II unless the people are willing.
Interest the prosecuting officer and make
Il an object for him to do his work II you
would be sure of the best service.
Pursuing and Furnishing crime as a
work OF love cannot always be relied
upon.
Education.
The strength of our state is in the
character of our people which is deter
mined by our education. The schools
are the moulding sand in which the
common mind Is formed. The best
school Is none too good. The district
school. having outlived its early useful
ness OF which we have reason to be
proud, entered a transition process. re-
sulting in the present town system,
with which some are yet dissatisfied,
The dissatisfaction with the district sys-
tenn arose from natural causes and were
a return made to that system the same
dissatisfaction would recur. The rea-
sons for the success of the system are
no logger part Of our life and we must
use some new plan for conducting our
schools. Originally opposed to town
schools, yet remembering the disad-
vantages of the old district and inter.
mediate systems. 1 believe the existing
law as good as any change would af-
ford. 1t should be borne in mind though
that the incorporated districts prevent
In towns where they exist fair applt-
cation of the town system. II concesa
sions could be arranged to obviate
these complaints contentment might be
expected.
Colleges.
The colleges are successfully pursu-
Ing their lines Of work. The university