Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-07
STERILIZATION BILL COMING
Measure for Removing II Menace TO
Society Prepared by senator john
son of Franklin County.

Montpelier oct. 31.-The ANTICIPATED
sterilization bill has been handed into the
revision committee by Senator johnson
Of Franklin county. For some time this
reed has received the serious consdera-
ton of such authorities on Vermont social
| conditions as Mr. Barss. Judge Weeks,
DR.. Sears and Senator Johnson, and
legislation along these lines has been
urged and expected by those Informed
as to conditions in Vermont and in touch
with the advance of science in the field of
social remedies. This subject was urged
Upon Governor Mead and he gave it a
prominent place in his retiring MESSAGE.
| The measure is entitled IAN act to au-
thorize and provide for the sterilization
Of imbecile Predetermined and insane per-
sons. rapists, confirmed criminals and
| other detectives" 1t arise. from the
| menace to society which is only too APP
parent In the excessive productivencss of
| the mentally defective and criminal types
| 1t is made possible by very recent surgi-
cal discoveries. which make sterilization
possible by simple operations. practically
| unattended by danger and followed by no
| other serious results
| When interviewed By representative
OF the Free Press today Senator John
son said ,hat all over the country,
asyInms and reformatories are overrun
hy reason of the rapid increase of de-
generates ana detectives States and ma
lions nave for many years been study
me this problem and considering plans
anu Remedies. Segregation as a practical
measure is impossible owing to the num-
bers comprising these classes. When
sterilization meant un-sexing the subject.
| 'ha'' 100 was unthinkable, owing to its
devastating effect upon the whole
physical ana mental organism. Within q
short time tie operation known rs
Nasectoiny ana corresponding operation
have been discovered, and by these it Is
possible to bring about sterilization OF
either sex. with no other effect save a
slight benefit both mental and physical.
The operations are of minor character
and In no way serious
a similar law has been tried with good
results In Indiana. Several hundred opera
tons have been effected and actual ex-
perience shows that in many instances II
resulted In more or less marked mental
and physical benefit to the subject. New
Jersey and New York have recently
passed similar laws.
difficulty In framing laws on this
subject Is encountered in the element
OF uncertainty due to the fact that these
| laws are all so recent that they nave
| never peen tried out before the courts
ana definitely declared constitutional.
senator johnson, however, has given
| especially thorough attention to the legal
aspect of his measure and is confident
OF avoiding constitutional obstacles 1t
combines features of the New York and
ihoiaha laws with entirely original ele-
ihents ana adds heavy penalty for the
performance OF these operations except
| IN cases or medical necessity or when
authorized by an examining board OF one
heuroioeist, one surgeon. and one prac-
utioher of medicine. appointed for terms
OF TWO years by the Governor 4 later
section provides that the Judge in SEN
'ehclhg a person for rape, or In SEN
'enclhg one for the third time found
sui''y or a felony. may order the operc-
tioi to be performed