Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-11-15
MESSAGE FOR GOVERNOR.
Education, Finance and Other Important
Subjects Discussed Appropriation
Considered Yesterday.

Montpelier, Nov. s.
message was received by the gem
eral assembly this morning from Gov.
Allen M. Fletcher making a number OF
recommended tons for certain matters of
legislation.
The governor first took up the matter
of education and asked for the appoint
ment of committee to inquire into the
subject of public education. The COM
mittee is to recommend and report at
the earliest possible date on the several
necessities of the University of Vermont,
Middlebury college, and Norwich uni
versity, together with the Vermont State
agricultural college at Burlington.
AS soon as Is practical after the report
the committee shall recommend by bill,
or otherwise, such reorganization of the
elementary and secondary schools of the
state in adjustment to the entire edu-
cational system of Vermont which will
promote the ends of economy, harmony
and unity.
The governor next took up the matter
of state bureau of informat ton and asked
for an appropriation of $4,000 to be placed
in the hands of the secretary of state for
the purpose of promoting the natural re-
sources of the state by the publication of
reliable information and statistics. He
then commented on the excellent work
of this department during the past with
but little means.
Finance is the next matter dealt with
in the governors message. He suggested
that some general method of purchasing
fuel for all of the state institutions be
adopted for purposes of economy and
would require biennially report from the
head of each institution on the listed
value of all state property This with a
view of an accurate comparison of the
expense of each department to the insti-
tuition receiving the appropriation. This
appropriation is to take effect at the be-
ginning of the fiscal year next following
the passage of the bill.
He then took up the matter of the
criminal courts. He recommended that in
city and municipal courts, trials of GRIM
inal cases shall be by a jury of IL men
and that exceptions taken on questions
of law shall go directly to the supreme
court; also that there be no appeal to
a county court from the judgment of a
city or municipal court where the case is
, within it's jurisdiction to try and de-
termine
A number of bills were introduced in
both branches of the legislature this
morning. Perhaps most prominent among
these Is the bill introduced by Senator
johnson of Franklin county in the Sen
ate. His bill, the first this morning, pro-
vides for the sterilization of imbecles
confirmed criminals and other defective
! persons.
This bill is introduced on the advice OF
eX-Gov. John a. Mead in his retiring
message. 1t provides for a committee OF
| three men, one neurologist, one surgeon
and one practicng physician, each having
| at least six years experience, appointed
| by the governor to carry out the act
Section of the bill provides a penalty
| of $1,000 or imprisonment for not more
| than five years, or both, against any per-
| son performing, or assisting in perform
| ing. an operat ton for the purpose of de-
| stroying the power to propagate the hui
| man species; also against a person who
| shall knowingly permit an operation tC
/ be performed upon himself or herself
unless the operation is medical me-
| cessity.
Governor Fletcher has appointed as
| trustees of the permanent school fund
| the following persons: Joseph A. DeBoer
, Montpelier Porter II. Dale, Island Pond
| j. L. Southwick, Burlington.
The governor has appointed Frank II
Tracy of Montpelier and ]. NJ. Barss OF
| Vergennes, as delegates to the Ameri-
| can Prison Association to be held al
Baltimore, Md, Nov. to IA.