Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-15
One at Mystic Oral schoo, for the deaf

Mystic, Conn
Eight at Perkins institute for tho
blind, Boston. Mass.
Thirty-two at Massachusetts school for
feeble minded, waverly, Mass.
Two at Pennsylvania training school
for predetermined children. Elwyn. Penn.
, Previous to 1905 there was no speciai
provision for the care and instruction Of
| epileptic children. Under the provisions
! OF act No. Is OF tho laws Of 1906 I made n
| contract with the Pennsylvania training
school for feeble minded children, at
Elwyn Penn, to take and car for such
| children as the governor might designate
Two epileptic children have already been
sent to this institution.
The annual charge at each of the in
stitutions where the Vermont demonstrates
! are cared for Is $500 annually for each
| child, except Mt the American school for
| the deaf, at which the charge IL &275
annually.
7 have during my term ~ office visited
all Of these institutions except the
Pennsylvania Training school for the
feehlemInded. Many Of them have
visited several times and I believe with
out exception that they all give the best
Of care. and. as far rs I can Judge. OK
cellcnt instruction.
Tho total amount expended by the state
for this purpose during the fiscal year
ending juno 30, 1907, was s13251.70, and
the total amount expended during the
nsc1l year ending June 30, 1905. was sl5-
.lhi,.
Upon examination | found that few
children were being cared for and
educated Mt the expense of the state N
these institutions that were not properly
state boneflciaries. In all these cases
The children have either been removed or
are now cared for at the expense Of their
Parent or guardians.
There are many feeble minded children
who could be much better cared for in
institutions designed and equipped for
their care and education than in the
public schools. Unfortunate children Of
| this class are in many cases Il serious
dra whack 10 our public schools and they
| get hut little good In them. The time
will come when a much larger number
) Of these children will ~ cared for In in
, stitutiore especially provided for them.
Vermont will Doubtless hav, at some
! future time an Institution ~ her own
! for this purpose u these different classes
! Of unfcrtunn'cs could be cared for to
| advantage in tho same institution It
! would probably he best for Vermont 10
! consider tho erection % such an In
| strution nj this time hut this is not
/ rractirablo and as such children can ha
we'll cared for at n reasonable expense
outside the State this is doubtless the
hest plar at present. All children for
whom arplication hae been made who
seemed entitled 70 this assistance have
been DESIGNATED TO the proper institu-
ton.
COMMISSIONER OF PUB1IC PRINT
ING.
The creation by the Legislature Of 1905
| ~ tho Office Of commissioner Of public
printing charged With the duty Of pro-
curing all state printing and stationery
| supplies was a positive step in the line
Of economy and good business manage
ment The esta blishm"nt of this depart
| ment was Mt first naturally attended
with more or less friction. The differences
/ have. however, largely disappeared and
70 all who are to any extent familiar
/ with the conditions as they formerly
! existed and as they exist to-day tho
great Improvement in results is apparent.
For example a savirg Of from Is to ~
per cent. over two years ago. amounting
TO between s9.ooO and .4.c0o, has been eff
/ fectcd IN the printing Of public docu-
! monts reports. etc. r. and for the
I Legislature
Among tic duties Of mo commissioner
! are the letting Of contracts for the print
ing NJ the state officers reports and the
/ oversight 81 Their execution. Many of
these reports have usually been much
DELAYED some of them much so that
thev have been % hut little p"actical
value To be of real value to the Legisla-
/ tura tlev should he available tho very
first If the session. Heretofore some If
.ion have not been delivered until after
/ TIE adjournment Of the legislature
/ These reports this year are either already
/ delivered or ready FOR delivery NJ this
time. THIS Improvement has largely
! been brought about through the efforts
! Of the commissioner.
/ The present commissioner has displayed
: great tact and energy IN tho orCaniza-
ton Of the department. and is entitled to
great credit for tho better service and
economies already obtained THIS dep?rt-
mont should be continued. and such
legislation ae may 70 necdad 10
strengthen and facilitate rs work s,ould
to enacted
RAILROAD COMMISSION AND
GRADE CROSSINGS
M recent legislation Of the State has
been productive ~ greater good or Is
moro heartily approved by the poople
of Vermont than that creating and de-
Nnirr the duties Of the railroad COM
mission and providing for the gradual
aholishmcnt Of grade crossings. The
greater authority and responsibility
given to the railroad commission has
worked hcnencially both TO the public
and to the railroads.
When the rights of the people and of
the railroad corporations are properly
guarded SO as to prevent injustice TO
either. It is better for both that such
commission should have positive power
and the ability to enforce such orders
as the pui lie good may require The
greater the power given to such COM
mission the more carefully of course the
rights Of both the public and the cor
porations should be guarded and the
greater the care exercised IN the selec-
ton of the personnel OF the commission.
,q-c.. fai" and EQUITABLE treatment In
rates of transportation both freight and
passenger. They have n right 10 expect
safe and business-like operation OF
trains and comfortable and clean station
accommodations, We must at the same
time recognize that the operation Of