Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-01-20

/ 10 brine, the benefits of Tic Institution within
! the rcrch Of AL /; while the proposed organIza-
tion o. the INV School, and the department OF
| Civil Engineering, promises TO add largely 10
its facilities fer practical instruction.
DEAF AND DUNE ASYLUM.
The annual report Of TIE Trustees IF the
! " isconsin Institute for the education, of the
| Deaf and Dumb, is herewith transmitted. Tho
/ Institute gives evidence Of nu able and econ
ornics administration Of lis affairs. and it is ia
florlrishing condition. Tie rapid accessions
| to the number of its pupils. renders necessary
the 1rcprietv of an appropriation ct such sum
from the public treasury rs shall be deemed
sufficient for that purpose, Is matter urged
upon Your consideration. -
BLIND INSTITUTE.
Your attention is called to the able reror; of
the Trustees of tie Wisconsin Irsli ute for the
BlGd. The previous ajsprop rIa' ions 10 this IN
sitution have been sufficient nearly complete
a spacious and beautiful edifice, and the Trus
tees now ask additional appropriation To
finish and furnish il in proper manner, and
to improve TIE grounds. a liberal policy
should be observed towards Institutions of this
character.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Tie report cf the State Historical Society
exhibits very favorable condition of its affair
The number of volumes il the Library las
been increased, from fifty, in 1884, 10 2,l15 in
1856, aud to 1920 on tie first day of January,
! So, besides . large number Of maps and en-
graei ngs and iine collection Of oil paintings
chiefly, portraits OF early Pioneers and prorni-
lent men. Together with many valuable nlenori-
sis OF our early history. The society is already,
in the extent and value of its acquisitions. SUI
peTior TO any west Of Tie AlieChaBies II is a
worthy object Of State pride and the sucgcs-
rien of the report in rclation "a some provisions
~ net ma
yoar consideration.
REvIsERs OF THE STATUTES.
In pursuance of the provisions OF an act to
revise the Gcueral Statutes Of the State, Passed
at the last session Of the Legislature, have
appointed John +. Potter. Samuel ]. Todd and
Billie Williams, Commissioners for that pur-
Dose.
SPECIAL LEGrsLATIoS.
Among the subjects vii desire to lay be-
fore yuu for yCur Conedc alton. none seems
more Important than the adoption Of such
measures rs viii tend to diminish the excessive
amount Of special Legislation wLlch Is demand
ed ofeEch successive session cf me Legislature. A
younc and grow ing common wealth, like our own
undoubtedly demands more Legislation Of this
character than tie cider States: hut tie OBJ
iecis sought 10 he accomplished thereby, are
In Z large majority OF Instances, equally at
tainatle Uider general laws. and :hc course q
pas: legislatures, in aceeHing 20 utmost every
application fer special legislation. Is in plain
contfaventioc Of The clause If Ike Constitution
which provides that " corporations without
/ banking powers may he termed under general
laws but shall not be erected ~ sJecial oct cx-
cept for municipal purposes. ard IN cases yhcre
The res3nc9t Of the icqi!otrre. the Objects oT
the cornorctj5n c1naot BE- Gtdied ,s7tdcr ql,erai
iasrs' 4 compliance with this provisions o
the Constitution weu!d greatly shorten iEc
Z sessions Of the Legislature, aid CimiI.is IL.
expenses of the State. YEARLY Two birds o
eli the Legislation Of past sessions might have
been attained through general laws. and vet, in
no Instance Las the Legislature refused to enter
tain business cf \ private c:d LEGAL nature
though clearly in violation Of = spirit and
letter Of this clause Of the Constitution. " hen
the o jccis sought to be reached by special ac
fall manifestly within the score of some sener-
g. law, already existing, or which might Ii
yassed. i is, in my opinion. tie duty &C th'
Legislature IN tie one case, II leave tfsm 20 t,
( accomplished under the existing statute, ant
! in the o'her 10 devise n general Law, nlcctInE
/ tie case in question. and al oil ers ct siuila
/ character. n this manner, it would seem tha
/ not culv = large and unnecessary expense Nigh
be avoided, but the evil results Of q CCial rriy
! ilages and n.ouoTclic4. which tic sTecies o
. leg.s. ation complained Of tends TO lcgci Nigh
! be averted.
will submit, for yonr consideration and de
! termination, whether or not, at thi. lato day
( when the State IS covered with e network o
lines Ct chartered railroad, created by specia
acts, l. Is advisable 70 SIS = general ralroas
law. IT. At such n measure slot,ld have beer
passed. Immediately after IKE adoption of II,
: constitution i. / taiuE, undesirable, and / al
sill of the opinion hat is passage, even now
might he productive II more on less good.
There is now urCn tie statute book, gen
eral plank, rrsd law. but il has. through ;he ~
regard Of the Legislature, hitherto been t!eat
letter, and special charters have Leon passed
1T every scssion. n large numbers. Ifthe gen
erel Law he detective, 1t should be amended
and perfected, and, hereafter, al plank ICat
companies compelled 20 organize Under its pro
visions.
TIE special charters OF raj and Tlauk read
alone. occupy over three bundled SD fifv ~
ges Of Tie laws Of 1888, and the volumes {
session law. Of each succeeding year have beer
burthened ly them.
The attention o. the legislature is largely &C
crpied by local matters, over which tic COUNT
boards Of supervisors for tie seTcral courtie
have current Jurisdiction, and upon which tics,
bodies are far better pgcFa.ed TO act under
s:auGInglv, and in accordance with the rishc
aud interests Of ile people immediately affect
ci bv suc;. legislation, than tLc Legislature cal
be, ! would. therefore. recommend. - a mat
ter of economy The part of The several todie
requiring such Legislation, trat IL he left 70 Ia
action of the local lcsis!a;uICs-tlo count
board Of supervisors.
The Legislature Lave aIso entertained bUs
ness such ss vacailHg streets ard village I lats
the dispt sItinn Of which IS al least cqualI,
vili.in the Jurisdiction Of tie courts. TA
Tight g.: the Legislature 10 exercise this rowe
i doubtful, and consider its exercise. couceed
ing that the power exists, ruTIsc and unsafe
without previous no'ioe 10 Tie parties Interest,
ed.
! Entertaining these views. would earnestly
( recommend that he Legislature act UVcn J.,
measures, a. g pun csc Of which can be attain
I ed under general laws; = which Gene within
the iuriadiction 81 TIE County Eoard q Super.
visor, or of any OF the Court. Of Ire Sta;s; C
/ which may lie properly disposed Of ny tlo Sec
retGry e State. actIrE II tic capacity cf State
/ A;,.litor rs hereinafter reccEII5 ended. };y 90
optiug his course. the State VIII svod, lot or.
1 Is tho expense Of prof-acrcd sessions cf tht
/ Legislature. hut ssve 4 large sum arising fror
/ the Incidental expenditures attendant upcI
/ sGch sessions, and from tire publication Of
/ mass Of law> u nc interest or consequence 20
cay bUS 4 few private individuals. Several
wears sXgerlo1,ce IN the Legislation cf The State
have fully satisfied me that The only pr8ctica-
. / Ia had Of H.