Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-08
CRIME Is ON The INCREASE
80 Declares Superintendent Barss
at st. Paul Church.
Ncrmont's Side Hills. Isnck In the
Country. Contribute Even More
Thnn the Lnrgc Places "a De-
pi0rabIc Conditions.

Industrial school AT Nefgennes, delivered
Thursday before the Aen's club CT
st. Paul's Church forceful, absorbing
and sincere address upon THE Social
Conditions in Vermont" in which nc de-
tailed ut length many deplorable condi-
lions that have very naturally come
under his observation. MIR. Barss Is
naturally II very good speaker and he
presents his facts most convincingly and
with no show Of striving for effect. A
good deal Of the substance OF his adj
dress Thursday has been presented
before, recently at tho Ethan Allen club
and at the Fi"st Church 1t had TO 60
with crime in Vermont 'ts increase and
what the State docs not and what IL
should do.
One-'if:h of ono per cent cf the
population OF the state said Mr. Barss,
is in prison. and 1--WE or six out Of every
100 persons are at some time in their
generation behind tho bars. The sum cf
S"'.0o" waa spent 10y the state last year
on account of crime and this. he said,
dld not include any town or citv's cost
in minor ways. nor pr Grout's work at
Waterbury. which IS Of course made
necessary partly because of criminal
is on the incrcasc he cited statistics by
counties. irrefutablc facts secured by
careful Investigation by proper au-
thoi1ties. it was here that he said with
Il great deal of emphasis. "Oh to YOU
people who say with so much mock self
complaccncy these things aren't so, [ say
'hey are. Because know they are"
criticism of Mr.. Earss's statements at
his recent utterances in this city state
'n"hts that have stirred up Il good deal
OF discussion. and in some Instances dis
s"ntins opinions. had made him careful,
ne stated to he exact In what he said
indeed. he said. that statistics We're not
as comprehensive n possible and that in
stead of overstatinG they frequently un-
derstated. Crime is on the increase"
ne asserted. and the man who SAYS it
isn't Is either ignorant or pretudiced"
MI l'arss considered what makes a
criminal, and spoke of the physical con-
dition of the children at the school at
Nergcnnes. sound of body mostly. but
inferior mentally. This incomplete men
thhty that impcls them to criminal acts.
thai makes them blunted to moral
values is caused partly 10y parentage
mixed with alcohol. homes broken I'M.
the parents not living together. the
stronghold weakened. Then he told of
where the children Of the school come
from, places Ike Battery street in this
city, certain sections In Barre and St
AIbans but mostly from the side hills.
wa! back In the country. sending the
most hcpelesSly sOdden. awful cases or
INABILITY to recognize anything morally.
ms problem Of the rural community
is one Of the biggest problems to he
faced. Mr. Earss and he considered 1t at
iehN There are three ways. according
TO Mr.. a;arss. to better conditions: First
10 puild roads; second to send capable
teachers, the cream OF the teaching
force. and third. send mot the scrap
ing Of the ministerial melting pot" but
mon hig enough to see and do things
'ne OF the crying needs, one of things
mat We want. Is a probation officer,
with the power of the state back of
him We also need a parole officer Both
or these needs Mr.. Barss illustrated with
numerous and touching instances of
what they might have accomplished in
cases that had come under his notice.
There is not soul he said. to look aft
er or lend helping hand to the man
or woman sent out of Windsor. or to the
boy or girl sem ont from the Indus
trial school. There should be some one
whose business it is to do this Mr.
Barss spoke also of the need of segrc-
CATION. and instanced this need by the
case OF the industrial schoo! where 1t IL
often necessary because of the lack of
room TO put all sorts of boys together
Mr.. Barss spoke for over an hour
rapidly. covering much ground. and had
always the closest attention. 4 subject
of such vast Importance, he made II
viVidlv real and stirring. Merritt D. Chit
tenden presided, 40 president Of the club.
ana introduced Mr.. Barss. committee
was appointed 10 investigate IN connec-
tion with the diocesan committee. con-
ditions OF labor, etc. The committee con-
slsts Of pr. Lyman Allen. Lieut.. Ed
wards and third vet to be named.
Refreshments were served after the
address.