Litchfield enquirer., 1829-05-14

of the necessity of fincreased vigilance and ac- curate and minute information, in respect to Our schools induces me to recommend that the school visitors be required to report an. nuaIly Co such officer as may be designated by law, the number of schools in each socie- ty.the time they shall have been kept in each year, the qualifications and wages ofthe iD- structOrs respectively, the visits made to each school. the books used. the i,ranchecs of learning taught, the, number of pupils be- tween the ages Of four and sixteen, their pro. ficiency in learning, the amount of money re- ceIVed from the School Fund, and the sum raised by each district for the support of its school. with such suggestions in relation to the improvement of the schools and the a. mendment of the system as their experience may dictate. It is believed that the public mind is prepared to approve a provision pre- scribing in detail the duties of school visitors, and to give efficient aid in enforcing the per- formance of them. by suitable penalties. No event has happened during the past year which has impaired the security of the School Fund. The dividends declared during the year ending on the Slst of March last, for the support of schools, amount to seventy y-twO thousand one hundred and sixty -four dollars and fifteen cents, heinz eighty five cents each person between the ages of fO0r and sixteen years, ascertained by the last annual enumer- ation.
 The expenditures of the state during the, last fiscal year, exclusive oftwo thousand two hundred and one dollars and ninety eight cents advanced to the. Warden of the State Prison, and nine thousand two hundred and one dollars paid to the Committee for build- ing the State House at New Haven, have amounted tO fifty seven thousand six hundred and sixty dollars and seventy five cents. The revenue actually received and paid within the same period, is sixty two thousand seven hundred and fourteen dollars and twenty five cents. By snbtracting the amount of the Or- dinary annual expenditures, and the payments on account of the State Prison. and for build ing the State House from the amount of the receipts in the last year, and sum Oftwenty Eve thousand seven hundred and seventy dOl- lars and seven cents on hand at its commence mHnt, the balance in the Treasury, on the Arst day of last month. is reduced to nine- teen thousand four hundred and twenty dol- lars and fifty nine cents. The economy which has been introduced into our financial concerns has 80 diminished the ordinary expenses of the state, that there is little room for further retrenchment. The expense of public prosecutions, is the only branch of expenditure which appears to require attention. The judicial expenses, without including the salaries of the judges for the last year, have risen, to twenty three thousand two hundred and nine dollars and eleven cents,-a sum equal to about three fOurths of the avails of the State tax.
 Your solicitude 10 lessen the public bur
 dens, and to promote the economy indispen- sable in the administration of our affairs, will
 naturally lead to the full investigation of the
 causes of this increased expenditure, and to the adoption of such enactments as may be deemed proper to effect the retrenchment
 which Is. desirable without interrupting the due and prompt execution of the laws. or impairing the public veal.
 The improvements which have been made, and are now in successful progress Co com pletion in various parts of the State, intended to facilitate intercourse among the people, and to open interior communication, have 0. riginated in tho laudable enterprise of our
 citizens, and been carried forward by compa- I nies operating with private capital. Afec- ting extensively individual and public conven-
 fence and prosperity, they are deeply interes-
 ting objects to the community.
 Notwithstanding the State has not embark
 ed any portion of its funds, or lent it's credit , tn aid of these works, choosing to sec them conducted under the waichful eye of private
 interest. its constituted authorities win not witness their success with indifference, nor rec fuse to them, or other works in contempla- ton, any conntenance and facilities. that may
 be consistent with the policy it has adopted, and invariably and impartially pursued. in re-
 atiOn to internal improvements.
 The advancement of agriculture, the fun. N damental interest in every country, is an ob-
 iect Of deep ard general concern. Improve
 ments, however, tn the cultivation of the soil,
 and developments ofiss capabilities are slow.
 and usually the result of concentrated ef-
 fort Long established practice. fortified by sn aversion to innovations and experiments, often controls plain, practical and ntelligible principles. Hence spring agricultural associ-
 ations. They are designed to diffuse useful .I information, and to excite commendable l spirit of emulation. The expendency of ex- tending to them legislative countenance, is submitted to your consideration with entire confidence that their utility and importance will be correctly appreciated.
 ID the administration Of penal law a watchful eye shenld be extended, as 1t affects alike personal liberty, and public peace and safety. The primary object of punishment is to prevent the commission of crimes. It may be accomplished either by suspcnding the ability, 0r eradicating the disposition to offend. To reform the criminal is matter of great interest.
 Employment at hard labor, :n silence, and I znlifnpv c0nAncn.anf A,,ring the neri0d Of rest