Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-06
be the Mecca Of Yer
mont's Law Makers From
Now Until Thanksgiving.
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
To Come up For OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ments at the state Insane Asylum to
be Asked-Expected That Some
New state Omces Will be
Desired.
(Trom Our STAFF Correspondent

Vermont begins tomorrow to assume it,
regular biennial legislative air. To-day
everything is quiet with the exception oil
u general preparation which is going or
in kitchens. sleeping rooms, etc. Hotel
keepers have well filled larders and large
empty pockets which they feel confident
will soon resound with the chink of the
hard earned coin of those Nermonters who
have been sent to the Legislature" Even
the weather prophet has heard that Yer
inont's wisest are about to congregate
and promises to ave plenty of moisture
on hand with which to cool their heated
temples and mud enough to Kill the
squeak of their new boots in Sc hours.
The Legislature which convenes on We'd
iiesday morning at 10 o'clock promises 10
be one of the most interesting law-mak.
ing bodies in the history of the State. The
Senate will probably be the most august
and the wisest body which has gathered
in that chamber during the last decade.
The House, although it does not contain
so nan well known men as IL did las,
session, has some men who are expected
to quickly assume responsible positions
and become acknowledged leaders and It's
general make up Is of men with sound
business faculties who will at once sub
nit to wise leadership and rapidly develop
into q working body.
Engrossing clerk-Peer p. johnson has
been chosen by Secretary of State How.
Idnu ~ StINc as tIS OSSlllS CitIh. MI
johnson is a graduate of the L. ". NJ.
class of '9S. He enlisted in Company NJ
First Vermont regiment, but was trans.
ferred to the hospital corps. He has moi
been mustered out but hopes to have his
resignation accepted soon.
EXPECTED LEGISLATION.
When the Legislature is organized some
very important subjects will come before
it AS is we'll known, an attempt will be
made to change the present prohibitory
law for some form of license and 1t prob
ably will come to a vote in the shape OF a
referendum. The road law will come uI
for discussion and an attempt Will be
made to rave the present State tax eX-
pended by State or county Off
Gals for permanent roads. The Yer
mont National Guard must be r~eorganized
and Is likely to form "A fruitful subject
of discussion. 1t is known that Gov,
Grout favors the formation of three adj
ditional companies to give the State two
battalion formations. Whether the state
will vote to increase the expense OF an or
ganization which proved itself so poorly
fitted for active service as did Nermonts
National Guard last spring. after an an
nual expense of about $4,000 for several
years. remains to be seen. An idea which
has gained some friends in the State Is &c
abolish the National Guard and substitute
Il regiment under the control of the fed
eral government.
1t is expected that Gov. Grout will rec.
ommend q measure which has firm sup
port among State officials, namely. the es'
tablishment of the governors headquar'
tiers at Montpelier, where all executive OF
GERS shall have a permanent Office. This
will include the secretary OF civil and mil
itary affairs to represent the governor
the secretary of state, treasurer and au
ditcr are at present located here and the
! q n tu nj "a II ~ NJ G1ph an "a rrD n pa mprt nr(
apparent. 1t is claimed 1t will cost blu
little more. Another measure which is ex'
pected to come before the Legislature Is
the establishment of two more State of
t%icers, an insurance commissioner and ar
attorney general. They are to be appoint
ed by the governor and confirmed by thu
Senate.
APPROPRIATIONS.
If economy is to be the watchword thi'
session the Legislature must be armed
with deadly weapons so far as appropria
lions are concerned. Norwich Universit.
Is rumored to be in need OF State aid bu
to what extent Is not known. The char
tiers of the three State Normal schools ex
pire in 1900 and they must be renewed
with State aid or abolished, No expires
sion of sentiment is obtainable on the sub
Ject at present.
a small appropriation will be asked L
build a room for tine speaker and clerk
directly back of the speakers chair il
Representatives hall. This can be Yer!
easily lone by building up what was or
iginally built for a boiler house at thu
rear of the State House and finishing of
IA room in the upper story. This would
give these officials pleasant rooms AM
more privacy than their present quarters
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
Two years age by far the most exciting
incident of tine session was the unearth
ing Of the asylum scandal. The matter /
likely to present itself i'm a different mar.
ner this year.
Great improvement in the care of pa
tients and the system In operation ha
been effected at that institution but Their
are still many things which the Legisla
ture can do which will lead to further i'm
provement. The Legislature will be ask
ed to change the name of the institution
from the ugly sounding IN lnsan
Asylum to Vermont State Hospital TO
/, the insane.
. A request will be made to place NOR
5 authority with the superintendent of tn
institution. AS the law Is at presen
: there IL no way to prevent the consign
t ment Of persons to State care who ar
3 not insane. Instances OF this can be Civ
EN- upon inquiry of the officials who under
3 stand the workings of the institution. An
r other method in vogue is very expensiv
( to the State and unsatisfactory to tn
L management. 1t Is impossible to discharg
, State patients until permission Is obtain
g ed of the state board of supervisors, VIII
are either m at special session a
4 the expense of time and mileage to tn
State or the patient must remain In tn
asylum at State expense until the regula
: meeting. The superintendent, the mos
expert authority on insanity, has no pow
ed to discharge a cured patient or eve
!. grant Them a short parole, which at time
might be very beneficial to the patien'
0 Another need of the institution IL none
v enough to equip its present pathologics
Office which Is worthless to the State ur
less 1t can be supplied with proper chem
/; calls and apparatus. At present there ar
over FIVE hundred patients In the asyluI
and the acutely Insane are quartered o
the same halls as the chronic lunaticl
Q who are kept In q constantly excited stat
y by those acutely affected. A separat
Q ward for this class would greatly improv
2 the chances of recovery for all CLASSES
. The dotard patients. who need only ply
p steal cure. now occupy much room at tn
Q asylum and could be more cheaply pre-
s vided for In a separate building. To ful
nish this relief 1t Is suggested to purchas
the somerville farm, which has been rem
cd for several years at an annual col
of $1,000, n OF which the trustees hay
a the refusal. The sum of 5000 would 81,
. them home and exercise. The nurses {
present have rooms On III same hall wit
the patients and are never able to g,
away from the excitement and worr
caused by constant contact with the II
sane. To obtain needed refreshment an
h relaxation from duties female nurse
should have q home entirely separat
from the insane wards. h improvemer
already made In the care of the insane hi
| nsAa manu- frinuda for thu oays~a who Al