Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-05
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY
The investigation OF the Asylum Order
ed by Governor Mccullough.
(Frnm tho EIudolDh 1Iaraid

Ntrom tho randolph 1ierdld.)
Governor Mccullough has directed tho
trustees of the state hospital for the in
sane at Waterbury to make an inNestiCa-
ton as To the recent shocking occurrence
10y which one Of the female patients was
scalded whilo being given a bath by at
tendants SO that she died from he effects
We trust this investigation will be OF the
most critical character consistent with
Justice. that it will be conducted public
lN, so that tho public can Judge as TO its
nature, and that its findings may serve
to prevent such frightful happenings in
future.
A great deal might he said respecting
the treatment of the insane at the State
hospitals. BY some it IS avcrred to be
done with all possible consideration for
the safety. the health and the ultimate
recovery of the patients. 1t is conceded
that the care of these unfortunates Is no
light task, Their malady is of a type
mat makes them extremely difficult to
manage often deaf 10 reason ana actuatcd
by their VaGarics. A largo number Of
nurses and attendants are constantly re-
CURED to minister to the several hundred
Inmates Of the Waterbury and I:rattle-
horo nsYluns. These employees are Sc
leoted with as much care as possible
doubtless hut the nature Of the duties is
such that thorough efficiency on the part
Of all is seldom reached. The only rem
ody for this shortening is active con-
slant. alert and unfinching supervision
bv tho superintendent and his aids. If
this is present, it will be reflected in i'm
provement among suhordinates; IL 1t is
absent the consequences will be most
grave.
1t will not suffice for the officers to
frame careful regulations and then do
pend ON the employees to obey them. and
in cas-" Of infraction resulting. as this
case did in frishtful calamity for them
to consider the discharge of the nurse
as her ample punishment and their fun
justification. Accidents will occur, at
tines with the most critical overs eht
but when this has been given the SUPER
iors must he held blamoless; when not
given the S"Verest possible punishment
should be visited for their neglect OF be-
travail of trust.
The two fatalities from scalding. the
burning of the Richmond barn by an cs-
caped i.natic and the terrorizing career
Of Mrs Powers during her self-eXtcnded
lurlouRh naturally eiVe rise to pro-
nounced demand that affairs at Water
bury BE- probcd. Let there he no suspicion
Of whitewaehng on the one hand, nor per.
s"cution on the other, And if the trouble
is located higher up" don't let the gull
ty ones escape through finding scapegOats
among the pOorly-paid nurses ard atten-
dante.
A WISE PROVISION.
(From the MorrisVile News and Citlzon)
Listening to private conversation on
tho telephone and repeating tho same,
subjects the offender to 800 fine and i'm
prisonment for six months. This is a
State law of Pennsylvania. How would
Il similar law do in Vermont
THERE OUGHT TO BE OTHERS.
G'rom the Barre Times)
If there are any more Robert ]. kim
balls in Vermont let them stand up and
be counted, and incidentally If they wish
to 9ain the everlasting gratitude of their
fellow Normonters they might duplicate
his Gift to some other deserving Vermont
towns. Randolph is certainly Ia be con-
graduated on counting this particular
Robert j. Kimball as one of her citizens.
There is really no finer gift than that of
4 public library building. There ought to
be others.
NONPhRTISAN MUNICIPAL POLL
TICS.
G'rom the Barre Tines)
And now Montpelier has joined that uti-
mcrable thronE of Vermont cities that
have placed citizens candidates in nomi-
nation for city offices. The results VIII
| be found 10 be better in the long Iun.
There is scarcely room enough in any Yer
| mont city for q political division in muni-
| cipal elections.
THE QUESTION OF JUSTICE.
Orion, the Mortified News)
Representative Kendall of West Wind
sor. evidently considers that the Legisla
| ture is "it," when ii comes 10 doing JUS
tice 10 a fugitive who shoots down the
| officers sent out to capture him. Mr.
Kendall PUSHES into print in relation to
the Shaw case and asks through the col
umns of the Woodstock Standard:
New let me ask. which set OF men would
be most likely to do justice in the SHAW
and similar cases The II men constitut
ing the jury. or the 20 men constituting
the General Assembly of the State OF
| Vermont with all the testimony before
them?
The Jury Of II men under the guiding
hand Of an able Judge would be more like
~ to render just verdict Sentiment
and the influence Of interested friends
and sentimental people are almost entire
" eliminated in a jury trial. AS II matter
OF Tact 1t Is time that the people called
II halt In the habit of the Legislature in
taking every case in which capital pun
ishmcnt Is involved out of the hands Of