Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-05

to her condition and needs and that meas
ures should be taken to provide such pa
uents with proper clothing and proper
furnishings should be placed where this
class OF patients must be confined.
RETREATS FINANCES
Your committee find that under pres
ent economic conditions the cost Of MAIN
tenance to the institution per week for
each patient Is 1854 3-1o The retreat Is
now under contract with the State to
board. clothe, care for. and provide med
ical treatment and nursing for all State
patients that the necessities Of the State
require It to take for the sum Of 800 per
week. For the past year there has been
on average Of about three hundred State
patients supported at the retreat Tho
retreat claims that the deficit arising
therefrom not only precludes the institu-
ton from making changes and improve
ments but is involving 1t in debt. AL
though this question is foreign to the
duty imposed upon the committee, yet
the committee would respectfully advise
that the proper State department inquire
into the subject at an early date and II
the contention OF the retreat is we'll
founded make such modification Of the
contract as justice requires, for the State
can afford to be just as well as exact
STATE SHOULD HAVE A VOICE.
Your committee would also respectfully
recommend that the State. through its
proper officials. and the retreat, through
It's trustees, cooperate to discover some
satisfactory common ground for an agree
ment to the end that the State become a
trustee Of the institution. Thus, while
preserving the autonomy Of the retreat
giving the State an official voice in its
policy. management and further upbuild-
ing without financial responsibility un-
less by special legislation.
Your committee recommend that in the
event It becomes the policy Of the State
to enlarge it's institution at Waterbury
that that institution be so enlarged that
be there cared for.
respectfully submitted,
w. II. FAIRCHILD.
LINUS LEAVENS,
Senate Committee
w. w. REIRDEN,
G. l.. STUART.
l.. b. BROOKS,
House Committee.
THE BRATTLEBORO RETREAT.
In 1884 ten thousand dollar bequest
created trust for the purpose Of provid-
ing a suitable place for the proper care
and treatment OF insane persons. and thus
was founded Brattleboro Retreat. The
trust provided for a self perpetuating
board of four trustees. In the same year
tho trust or trustees were incorporated
| by On act Of the General Assembly of the
Stste OF Vermont and the act OF incor-
| b0ration was made subject to amendment
! ny any future legislature so far as to
provide for the more perfect and effectual
accomplishment of the objects Of this
! act"
| From this small beginning the retreat
has grown to it's present large proper
lions. consisting OF some twenty-five
hundred acres of land and numerous en-
pensive buildings, including the so-called
! retreat. Lawton Hall and Linden Lodge.
| Al different periods between 1884 and 1912
the State has contributed to the repairs
and improvements of the buildings. all
told. the sum of thrty-seven thousand
dollars. and has an eouitablellien on the
property for the return OF this sum, con-
tingent upon the event that the retreat
| should cease to be a charitable institu-
ton. The growth and development OF the
retreat Is, therefore, the result OF private
benefactions and great ability and fore
sight In management
The board OF trustees who have the
immediate oversight Of the retreat are
known throughout the State ns men o!
the highest character and OF grea,
ability.
The state board of supervisors. upon
whom rests the duty CT visiting the re,
treat once each month. is composed OF
DR.. Steele OF Montpelier. Dr. Bryant OF
Ludlow and Dr. Pel.On OF RichforG. and
these eminen, physicians have discharged
the duty ir1posed upon them by tn,
State