The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-11-02
STERILIZATION BILL COMING
Measure for Removing Menace to
Society.

Montnelier Nov. 2.-The anticipaf
ed sterilization bill has been handed
into the revision comehittee by Sena-
tor johnson of Franklin county. For
some time this need has received the
serious consideration of such authori-
ties on Vermont social conditions as
Mr.. Barss, Judge Weeks, DR.. Sears
and Senator Johnson and Legislation
along these lines has been urged ana
expected by those informed as to con-
ditions in Vermont and in touch with
the advance of science in the field OF
social remedies. This subject was
urged upon Governor Mead and ne
gave it a prominent place in his re-
firing message.
The measure is entitled IAN act 10
authorize and provide for the sterlli-
cation of imbecile, feeble-minded and
insane persons, rapists. confirmed
criminals and other detectives. III
arises from the menace to society
which is only too apparent in the ex-
cessive productiveness OF the men
tally defective and criminal types. II
is made possible by very recent surgi-
cal discoveries, which make sterillza-
ton possible by simple operations,
practically unattended by danger and
followed by no other serious results.
When interviewed by representa-
tive of the Free Press, Senator John
son said that all over the country,
asylums and reformatories are over
run by reason of the rapid increase
of degenerates and detectives. states
fAt
been studying this problem and con-
sidering plans and remedies. Segre-
CATION as a practical measure is I'M
possible owing to the numbers com
prising these classes, When sterili-
cation meant un-sexing the subject
that. too. was unthinkable, owing TO
| its devastating effect upon the whole
physical and mental organism. With
| in a short time the operation known
| as vasectomy and corresponding op
Grafton have been discovered, and by
these it is possible to bring about
| sterilization of either sex, with nc
other effect save a slight benefit
both mental and physical. The oper
ations are of minor character and II
no way serious.
A similar law has been tried with
good results in Indiana. Several
hundred operations have been effect
ed and actual experience shows thai
| ins many instances it resulted in
more or less marked mental and ply
steal benefit TO the subject. New
Jersey and New York have recently
passed similar laws.
A difficulty in framing laws on this
subject is encountered in. the ele
ment of uncertainty due to the fac
that these laws are all so recent tha
they have never been tried out before
the courts, and definitely declared
constitutional. Senator Johnson
however, has given especial!
thorough attention to the legal aspec
of his measure and is confident o
avoiding constitutional obstacles. i
combines features of the New Yorl
and Indiana laws with entirely orig
nal elements, and adds heavy pena
ty for the performance of these OF
erations except in cases of medica
necessity or when authorized by al
examining board of one neurologisi
one surgeon and one practitioner o
medicine, appointed for terms of tw
years by the Governor. A later sec
ton provides that the judge in ser
fencing a person for rape, or in ser
fencing one for the third time foun'
guilty of felony, may order the OF
GRAFTON to be performed.