Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-10

Five or six other states have adopted
restrictive statutes along similar lines.
or such legislation heartily approve. but.
while 1t is preventative In certain class
Of cases, II does not and obviously can
not 20 far enough. While by preventing
marriages among detectives, It restricts
the propagation Of defective children
born In lawful wedlock. II does not re-
strict the propagation of children IN
those cases where the faint Of degener-
acy is coupled with that OF illegitimacy.
Segregation Of detectives DIR. II. w.
Bruce Smith Of Toronto, writes on this
subject: What svails the continuous
increase Of hospitals. asylums and sim
tar institutions, II the number TO oc-
cupy them grows faster than the accom-
modations?" and further on he says
1.-The onl. true course to be taken Is 70
separate oil the degeneratcs from So
ciety and keep them by themselves in
carefully classified groups" This meth
cd Of dealing with the problem would
necessaril" entail a very great expense
fo; the establishment and maintenance
of these colonies onditions would have
to be safcguarded with the same care
as ar actual pcnitentiary and would. IN
many cases, result in life-imprisonment
of unfortunates who are in no way re-
| sponsible for their plight. but who might.
III small way, be of some use In the
world, and who should he given the OPP
portunity TO enjoy life and liberty so far
as they are capable OF enjoying any
thing
The operation known as vnsectomy.-
This operation Ia simple. taking less
than five minutes to perform. In the
case Of detectives and of persons con-
victed of certain crimes it is strongly
| endorsed by Or. Rentoul of Liverpool.
England. and by DR.. Ex. Goddard of the
Training School for Predetermined at
Vineland. y. J. Tho states of Connect
cut. New Jersey. Indiana. Iowa, Min
rosetta and California. have laws upon
this SUBJECT Or. r. G. sharp. the ply
sician of the Indiana Rolormatory,
highly approves of this plan of restrict
ing the propagation OF >,ctivcs and
abnormal criminals Ne states that
since 1899 he has performed this opera
tior nearly two hundred and fifty times.
He has had good opportunity to observe
the post operative effects Of this opera
tfon. and in this number Of cases he has
not observed a single unfa"orablc symp-
tom. SO far as any disturbance to the
physical. mental or nervous system of
the patient is concerned his testimony.
based upon observation. is that this OPP
| Grafton II decidedly beneficial. IA; her
than detrimental.
Let me. at this time, respectfully rec
ommend to the Legislature of 1912 that
they at once take steps to safeguard and
restrict the issuing of marriage licenses
to persons convicted OF rape incest. or
open and gross lewdness, and cases
where either OF the contracting parties
arc known to he suffering from tubercu-
losis, syphilis or epilepsy. and in cases
wher" either party has been in contine-
ment for habitual drunk enness feeble
rnndsdness or insanity
And | further recommend that a COM
mission be appointed to investigate and
report upon the advisa bility of the adop.
ton OF the operation of vasectomy as a
prevention for the spread of hereditary
taints and diseases.
STATE BENEFICIARlES.
AT presen, tho State is supporting
| siXty-cnc children ut various institu-
tions. They ate follows:
Mass. School for Feeble