Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-11-23
MnNrpEL1ER. Nov. u.


-Four thousand dollars of state money
will be expended iu the improvement OF
the Retreat property in Brattleboro unless
the senate declines to concur with the
house in the latter's action today. This
money is to go for improvements in the
wards now largely unoccupled. The pro-
posed $4,000 for the pathological laborato-
ry was refused.
The bill appropriating 500, 951 for i'm
provements at the two state asylums came
up In the house today little before noon
and at once became the subject Of a sharp
debate. Mr.. Pelton Of Richford, who is
a member of the committee on insane.
gave an extended and lucid description of
the needs OF the two institutions and
spoke of the desirability of transferring
state patients to Brattleboro and keeping
at least 200 of that class there all the time.
Mr.. Foote of Cornwall moved 10 amend
the bill by cutting out all the appropria-
ton for both institutions except the S5941
TO pay the balance due on work already
done at Waterbury. Mr. Waterman of
Brattleboro came to the rescue and made
what is generally conceded to be the best
speech heard in the house this session in
reply to insinuations by Weeks of Lyndon
and Monahan Of Underhill that the Re
treat is a private institution of great
wealth and being run st profit to some
body.
Mr.. Waterman denied that the Brattle-
boro Retreat was a private institution.
The Retreat, he said, was started in 1882
with the aid of bequest 1t has grown
from that, with the assistance received
at various times from private sources and
from state appropriations. A provision
was made by the state that preference
should always be given TO state insane and
this regulation has been sacredly observed.
The state has put but $23, 900 In all into
the Retreat and has always had the Re-
treat at its service.
The institution is not wealthy. Years
ago there was more opportunity, but COM
| petition is now too close. When the Po-
land law was passed throwing on the state
the care of town pauper insane, the Re-
treat was overcrowded; then came the de-
pletlon caused by the building of the
Waterbury asylum and that is now over
crowded. With the prospect of more and
more patients in the near future, some
thing must be done to find room for them.
The Brattleboro Retreat has been used for
the surplus. 1t is unfair to ask the Re-
treat to provide accommodations for an
uncertain number liable to vary from time
to time, hence the provision requiring at
least 200 to be domiciled there.
The Retreat is in good repair and fitted
to treat patients in the best possible man
ner. 1t cannot afford to extend its facili-
ties TO care for the state insane. 1t ran
behind $4,000 last year. 1t would not be
advisable TO borrow money with the slight
prospect of profit that the state patronage
affords. The pathological laboratory has
been found very valuable at Waterbury
and one at Bra:tleboro would be a great
assistance In treating the patients.
The state supervisors have entire con-
troll at Brattleboro as we'll as at Water
bury, and the state would get the benefit
Of any improvement at the one place as
well as at the other. The outside nurses
quarters at Waterbury proposed are essen
tial In the opinion of men well versed in
the conduct of asylums. It would give
more room for patients and be great con-
venlence to the nurses.
In spite Of all efforts, however, the
house adopted Mr.. Foote'S amendment by
vote of 112 to II. Mr.. Warren of Cabot
then came forward with another amend
ment allowing $4,000 for the Retreat, to be
used In fitting up the wards, and it was
carried. The opposition in the first in
stance was directed mainly against the
proposed $4,000 expenditure at Water
bury for a nurses home, and it is probable
the $4,000 for the labratory at Brattleboro
could have been had, had it been asked for
separately. There is every reason to sup
pose that the senate will concur with the
house in the passage of this bill.
The senate has had several warm con-
tests today. The first was over the bill TO
abolish capital punishment which was
argued at great length and finally refused
third reading by the casting vote of Lieut.
Gov. Allen; the senate standing IA to IA
with Senators Clement and Fuller absent.
Both the Windham county senators were
against the bill.
The second contest was over the bill to
provide for the election of state railroad
commissioners by the general assembly.
This plan met with favor, but several SEN
ators thought it would be taken as a SLAP
at Gov. Stickney, and this idea is probably
responsible for the defeat of the bill. which
was by a vote of 10 to 49,
The third senatorial battle of the day
was over the woman suffrage bill, which
was championed at considerable length bv
Senator Royce. It was finally refused a
third reading by a vote of IA to IS.
The senate this afternoon passed the bill
to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to minors.
The senate also today passed in concur
renee the bill amending the charter of the
village of Bellows Falls and the bill TO in
corporate the Bellows Falls Trust com
pany; also bill to extend the charter of
the Chester Savings Bank and Trust com
pany.
Mr.. Taylor's bill for the regulation of |
liquor agencies, which was special order
for ha hnv.uo