The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-03

s AZ no 100 Of In ACCORDANCE with the require.
ents of constitution the sum OF ss44 SOL rs mas
been set apart the various purposes specified in tha
.nsrumept including 5000 900 towards the expenses Of
AZ state government There Is deficiency therefore,
In the revenues OF the canals oil =, rms re-
reasonably be hoped will not again occur wniie others
may be rsmeded by judIcous legislation Inc com ner
sii endorsements OF the country, severe and un-
usual drought followed by short crops, Navigation often
nnpeded by want of water aud difficult iron tue lncom-
pleteness Of channels aud the aeuve rivalry OF com
etin modes ~ TRANSPORTATION have combined to di-
mish the business and the revenues OF THESE great
state works while arss boDt doebt TO
and mischeyous legislation and other causes have in
creased the expenses far beyond proper limit IS
a.ned that these OF embarrassment and OF loss
40 the canals may be removed, but without much
larger Increase in the revenues than can reasonably be
expected there win not only be surplus to be appro-
praed TO the work of enlargement but the usual con
SYbution TO the general fund must be withheld There
h no good reason te apprehend any inability to make
Al the payments 10 the sinking funds required by the
that the credit OF the State will not be
40 the least degree impaired
The of 81 $50 900 made for the purposes OF the
enlargement realized premium of S342 952 ~ The to-
bal of contracts entered into for work on the en-
rgement OF the several canals, is 81 53s TAI 81 at
prices averaging 81 per cent less than the esti
mates of the engineers The report of the Auditor OF
abe Canal Department contains much information and
many suggestions the general subject well worthy OF
From Inc records of the Banking Department It ap-
pears that fifteen banking associations have been oga-
nyed and eight individual bankers have deposited Sc
surtes and received circulating notes. during the last
sued to banking associations and individual bankers,
and outstanding the 30th Of September, 1854 was
572 for the redemption OF which there was nuto
m trust by the Superintendent securities amountng 10
925 e62 160 OF which So IL was IN ponds ana
mortgages. The whole number of banks oansing asso
shs amonnt of cironIation was s43 962 5s5 and the
Whole Amount Of banking capital $50, 77S 1885, being
an Of no g financial
ents of the year. the banks of the State with but few
n VIII In ha
occurred afford evidence OF the comparative In
security of allowing bonds and mortgages to be received
At their par value basis for banking. During the
past year increase in this class OF secur
Mes of $40 go ~, much of which has replaced State
stocks that been withdrawn Inasmuch the new
issues of State stock authorized by the recent amend
nent of the constitution will furnish all the securities
required for legitimate and healthy banking purposes,
the attention of the Legislature may very properly be
directed TO the proprety Of modifying the existing law
IN this respect Abuses that have occurred in the APP
preparation by banks OF discount of funds deposited in
savings banks with which they connected, suggest
the necessity of additional legislation for the more
perfect security of that very large class of people
for whose benefit banks for savings established by
law The details OF the condition of the banking inter
ess of the State win Of be set forth In the report
Of the Superintendent Of the Banking Department.
The increasing Importance OF our penal institutions
only entities them to your continued watchu super
vision, but demands closer scrutiny Of the system
apon which they conducted with view to such
amendments may be necessary to obvate its existing
evils and secure, through it, the highest good attana
BILE Such classification Of offences aud of criminals
rs should prevent the association Of the young,
snschooled in crime and suffering, perhaps,
Tor their first fro the so path or1
IN their guilt, would conduce much to the refor-
NATION of the former, at least prevent prisons
from being what they too often areschoos Of de-
prayity Under the existing organization of prisons
this much needed discrimination cannot be exercised
and thus the reformatory influence which, under bet
Ter system, they might exert is lost TO the community
and they made in some sort, the instruments for
perpetuating the vices which they designed to
strain How far at all this evil can be obviated by
surther legislation is worthy of your inquiry, and will
receive, doubt not, that measure of consideration
which its importance demands.
The financial condition OF prisons viii be presented
10 you by the Comptroller and the Inspectors of State
tape for S dsSase the 20 peensrv
liabilities of these institutions led to the adoption
resolution the part Of the Senate year calling
upon the several Inspectors to report the whoss
aebtedness of the prisons Of the State This DONE
and found that their aggregate liabilities amount
10 remembered that but few years since the prl-
source Of revenue to the State, this
vast Indebtedness compels the conviction that those
charged with their management were incompetent
TO the performance Of their duties, or utterly I'M
worthy The trust which had been conhded to them
The discrepancy between the Reports OF the
inspectors and the annual exhibits of the respective
agents attracted the attention Of the legislature which
at its last session. passed bill directing the Comptroller
TO appoint three Commissioners who should be charged
with the duty of investigating the affairs OF the prisons
and report thereon. The Commissioners appointed un
der that act have not yet completed their abors, but
will do so in time to make their report at an ea5 pc
Rod OF the session The evidence which they can pre-
and what further measures IL any, needed to pre-
vent their recurrence Under the law as amended BY
the last Legislature, the duties of agents were mort
infinitely defined and greater restrictions and safeguard
thrown around them. These under tue administration
Of proper officers may be sucnt to guard against the
repetition of gross abuses Should additional Legislation
be needed however, any law that promises to secur,
accuracy in the transaction of the business ant
demands rigid accountability from the officers o
penal Institutions will meet with my cordial ap
proval. !.
Of ay has
expenses during the past six months; and the accounts
of the agent exhibit large balance 10 his credit thu
books of the Comptroller, notwithstanding the low rat
at which contracts have been let, and the pressure
which all industrial enterprises have been subjected
There is great wrong involved in the operation Of ou
existing law for the detention Of witnesses. Under IL
provisions the person who has been unfortunate
to witness the preparation of murder and who is IN
able TO give bonds TO testify to the facts in the
inject 10 the confinement the diet, and th
same associations, he who is charged with the con,
mission of the crime. Surely the enns of public ustc
cannot demand gross an invasion OF individual right
That usage unjust should have obtained, aud con
4inued until now foul blot upon minal code,
hccts little credit upon progressive civilization an
furnishes but Indifferent demonstration OF the maxim
CLAW is the perfection Of human reason" trust tina
TO direct your attention to this Injustice will be sun
eien to its removal by such notifications In tn
law referred to will reconcile the rights Of the ind
vidual with the interests OF the public.
My immediate predecessor in his last annual Message
recommended that portion Of the earnings Of prison
their use in the following terms:"1 suggest tn
proprety OF allowing to conyct as reward for indus
try and good conduct, some portion Of their earning
for the benefit Of themselves their families. Th
would be calculated to animate them with hope
TO create habits of foresight aud prudence
and by enabling them to assist their families
would cultivate the better instincts Of their ma
ture. 1t would also give them, at the expiratlo
OF their terms OF imprisonment, means OF supper
until they could the difficulties OF obtainn.
employment. In numerous instances, discharged con
victs led 10 the commission Of crime by the poyer
and want consequent upon the preiudices which exis
against them Humanity and policy alike dictate tina
every encouragement should be afforded TO those unfor
tunae persons to retrieve their past errors" This
commentator impresses as both polite and right
and therefore worthy OF your consideration.
The onerous and stil increasing burden thrown upo
the executive by the numerous petitions for pardon
brought before him. demands the adoption OF some ea
sure by the Legislature that shall diminish the humble
of there applications which, during the past year
amounted to less than 900 cases, many OF which
quired aborous and proractei investigation. The ey
might perhaps, be remedied In part by giving create