Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-01-24
VERMONT PHOENIX.
LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK

| inst Hon Horatio Seymour IF Oneida county was
elected speaker of the House. Gov Wright's Mes
sage is cot vast length, and Of vast ability" The
first several columns are taken up with clear and
full statement of the financial condition of the State.
The gross revenues of the State for the year end
ing the 30th day Of September last, were $685.
4S6 O5 Of this 81 350,6l5 "a we're received from
its works of internal improvement The debt Of
the canal fund is $oO,7l39O5 So. That of the gem
era fund, is $5634 ,5O7 6s, besides a contingent
debt of s 100000. The Message opposes any in
crease of the state debt for internal improvement,
and urges an adherence to the democratic policy of
the last two years. Of direct tax for the purpose Of
meeting the debts of the State as they fall due.
We make few extracts from the message, IN re-
lation TO common schools, subject that is just at
present receiving special attention in this region.
The productive capital of the Common School
Fund was, on the Both day of September last, ST.,
0Y29l6 50, and the revenues of the fund, received
in the Treasury during the last fiscal year, amount
ed to $l33,S26 81. This revenue is, by the terms
| of the Constitution, to be nvolably appropriated
and applied to the support OF Common Schools,
throug bout the State The School fund IN
stuied by law in 1905. and the constitutional pro-
lection OF the fund took effect on the first day of
! January, 1923.
| The number of School districts in the State or
ganizeG according to the school law, is l0,990, from
1887 of witch regular reports were received dur
ing the last year, showing that the average tune,
during which schools were kept open in these dis
tricts was months. The whole number OF chill
dren between the ages OF five md sixteen years re-
siding in the State estimating thore residing IN le
City of New York at $4,000, was 09Oyoso ana tne
whole number of children actually taught IN the
district schools of the State IO9, l56, beng
more than $4,000 beyond the number taught during
the preceding year.
The whole amount Of money distributed from the
treasury Of The State for the use of the common
schools for that year. $275 ,00O aud The amount
actually paid during the year, for the wages OF com
mon school teachers, was $3.50 ,222 O3. The mum
Der of volumes reported being in the school dis
trct libraries, was ,O35, $50. These returns also
show, that 81, 53l scholars had been, during some
portion OF the year, in attendance upon private and
select schools, out of the city Of New York, and ii
is estimated that at least equal number we're ia
\ ate ndance upon like schools in that city, making
more than 65,000 children thus taught, not incud-
ing those taught in the academies and other in
corporated literary institutions
| No Public Fund of the State is unpretending,
yet all perrading SO iitile seen, yet so unver
sally felt ; mild in its exactions, yet so bount-
full in its benefits so little feared or conrted, and
yet SO powerful, as this fund for the support Of CON-
anon schools The other Funds act upon the secu-
lar interests Of society," its business, its pleasures,
its pride, lis passions, lis vices, IT'S misor-
tunes. This acts upon its mind and its morals.
Education is TO free institutions what bread IS to
human life, tire staff of their existence. The office
of this Fund is 10 open and warm the SOIL and SOW
the seed, from which this element OF Freedom must
grow AID ripen into aiatarity, and the health or
sickness the growth viii measure the extent and
security cd our liberties.
The LiteFatute Fund Is also devoted 10 the pur-
poses of education. les capital, al the close Of the
last fiscal year, amounted to 500, 800 81, and the
re venues received into the treasury during that
year, were 94y0 "a. This fund receives $2S ,00C
annually from the interest OF the United States de-
poste fund and its revenues distributed TO the
| incorporated Academies Of the State, under the d.
recton OF the regents Of the University.
The State Prisons at Mount Pleasant, and Au
burn, seem TO be doing good business sin thei
line" The number OF prisoners at Mount Pleas
ant (Sug Sing) ON the Both of Sept last, was SOB
The number of prisoners at Auburn, at the same
time, was 755 expenses about $63,O0O each. Boil
prisons very nearly pay the expenses by the labo
of the convicts. A site for State Prison ha
been purchased in the iron region, in the north o
the State, with the expectation of employing thu
prisoners in the working of iron.
The new and extensive State Lunatic Asylum
at Utica is already filed to overlooking with pa
TENTS, and it is being greatly enlarged, so that
will accommodate 200 more patients.
There were in the Asylum, at the commence
ment of the last year, l16 patients, and receive'
into il during the year 275, making the whole nun
Der of cases within the year All. or this humble
i 1872 were discharged cured, a. improved 10 not i'm
proved, and l6 died, leaving 260 patients in The IN
stituton at the close of the year. Of this humble
1871 were males and 100 females, and patients wer
included from foriy-nine of the ffty-nine organ
lied Counties Of the State.
The other public charities of the State seem in
sound and fourshing condition.
The message suggests the Importance if possible
of throwing more efficient guards around the pr
vacy of the ballot box, so that the voter may feaI
lessy express his opinion, uninfluenced by en-
, ployers and others.
1t urges too, with great force and earnestness {
argument, effective legislation against bettin
upon elections. 1t suggests that it be made pur
. ishable cfimnally by indictment and by fine, pre-
portioned to the amount Of the bet together wit
the costs of prosecution, and Tor the certainl
ensurng the punishment to the offender, that III
fine be given 10 the complainant The message says
No valid objection in principle against such
. law has occurred 10 me- The deleterious Unfit
ence Of this species Of gambling upon the publ
morals alone, would, it appears TO me, justify III
passage OF law which should make It criminal. :
And when its corrupt and corruptlng Tenderness
upon our Elections, upon the tree and proper el
ercise of the elective franchise when its nAuenc
TO bring the improper expenditure of money into
political canvass, and TO apply It under the de
perato impulse Of gambling spirit, are considered
cannot doubt that the moral and political aspect
the evil will fully justify IFS classification as Grim
and It's punishment as such.
The message farther suggests some asiringel
Legislation against the expenditure of money
elections.
+ Gov. Wright takes manly and dignifed stan