St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-02-21
HOUSE STARTLED
BY REPORT
Frazer Metzgar, Chairman Of In
stitutions Committee, Says Bran
don School Should Be Investigated
HELD RECENT SESSION
After Finishing Report ut School of
Feeble Minded, Investigators We're
Pledged to Silcncc-ScriouS-
ness of Conditions Found
Comes as Bomb

ness OF Conditions Found
Comes as Bomb
W. III. Jeffrey, Special Correspondent
Montpelier, Feb 20.-Trazer Metz
gar chairman of the house committee
on state institutions, threw q bomb
shell into the House this morning ny
reporting for his committee that the
State School for Predetermined at
Brandon should be thoroughly inyes-
tigated.
The committee recently went to
Brandon and held a session behind
crossed doors. After finishing the work
there, the members of the committee
were pledged to silence by Chairman
Metzgar, although the reason for his
action in doing so has not been ap-
parent. 1t has been the cause of
much misunderstanding by both press
and public.
When the hearing was held here
last week before which Supt. Russell
of the school and the trustees appear
ed, it was apparent that it was the
purpose of all concerned to drop the
entire matter as one of no serious i'm
portance.
That the committee has been keep
ing from the public the seriousness of
conditions at the State School is evil
dent from the report. of Chairman
Metzgar.
After two hearings the committee
admits that it feels satisfied abuses
probably exist, and to such an extent
as to demand authority from the legis-
lature for power to compel the at
| tendance of witnesses and the prOduc-
| ton of papers.
The report of the committee fol-
| lows:
THE committee on state institutions
| to which was assigned the duty of vis-
| iting the Vermont State School for
Feeb1e-Minded Children respectfully
report that they have made the auth
| orized visit, inspected the property,
! and have entered upon investigation
Of charges made against the manage
ment of the school. 1t has held two
| hearings at (which testimony was TAX
| en- relative to alleged abuses.
1.-THE committee is of the unanim-
Gus opinion that q further and more
complete investigation is necessary
and to that end it recommends that
the committee be authorized to con-
| tinue its work in order that any false
| accusations may be uthoritatively de-
MED and if abuses are actually found
to exist that measures may be taken
for their correction.
''To that end it is recommended that
the committee be empowered to hear
evidence, to compel the attendance Of
witnesses by subpoena or otherwise
and the production of papers and
books before it at the expense of the
state, and to employ a stenographiC
reporter at the expense of the state
. The special committee to investigate
the Brattleboro Retreat met this af
ternoon and organized by electing Sen
Fairchild as chairman, and Rep. Rier
don as secretary. The COMMITTEES
! leaves for Brattleboro Wednesda,
| morning and will make q general sur
vey of the situation from that point
| They will return to Montpelier Thurs
day evening and will hold daily ses
, | sions in the grand jury rooms of th'
courthouse. -Four Stenographers vii
be employed and all testimony will
be written up each day This after
noon Rep Wilson of Pownal intro
duced a resolution authorizing thu
: committee to employ an attorney a
: the expense of the state.
= In the House this afternoon thre
D new bills were introduced.
2 In the Senate there was warn
discussion over Governor Graham
e agriculture consolidation bill whicl
4 consumed nearly the entire session
: The bill was finally ordered to thir
, reading, on roll call. twenty-three I
four. Those against the bill were al
drich, Demerritt, Viiar and Kicker Q
Caledonia county.
IS The Senate took up the resolutio
: continuing the Vail school at LyndOf
e and the school at Randolph. Sci
i Morse of Caledonia county opposed a
I he did not believe in legislation b
t resolution. Sen. Proctor agreed wit
n Sen. Morse while Sen. Peck favorc
it. Sen. Foote moved that the resolu
ton be placed on the table and it wa
= carried.
D The Senate this morning resolved il
e self into q committee of the whol
II to consider the joint resolution az
: proving the maintaining of the agr
Il cultural schools at both Lyndon Ger
l. ter and Randolph.
~ Sen. Demerritt thought the Va
, School a little bigger proposition tina
3 the staee could carry. He felt tn;
: the Randolph Scheel was about IL
y size and kind the state should hav
ie Sen. Foote of Addison did not thir
u the Vail School practical, as it was
ie far from the Champlain Valley. /
~ thought the purpose of the Vail Scho
was to absorb the Randolph School.
!. Sen. Kicker of Caledonia called f
a., Representative Stewart of Lynde
:. and Metzgar of Randolph. Both a
,s peared before the Senate. Mr.. Ste,
!. art spoke i'll favor of settling now III
= for all time the policy of the state r
~ garding agricultural schools, and sa
:, that il the Vail School Is TO be co
y. Continued on Page ~