Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-01-22

-. u "a iAOiii ttle present con
dltlon of the Banks ofthe State, that om
Banking system has fully realized the ex.
pectations of its friends, and deserves the
confidence of the public both at home
and abroad. The fact that several Of
our banks have been closed up without
any loss to the biI-holder. all their cir
culatlng notes having been promptly re-
deemed, Is in itself the highest evidence
of its security.
our attention is solicited to the ac.
companylng report of the State Uniyer-
slty. 1t appears that the whole number
ot-students in attendance during the past
year, was one hundred and sixty-nine {;
that several new departments have been
established during the past, and others
are to be created during thepresent year;
and that the cost of tuition and board
OF students have been reduced so as to
bring the benefits of the Institution with
in the reach of all; while the proposed
organization of the Law School and the
department of Civil Engineering, prom
ises to Iadd largely to its facilities for
practical instruction,
The annual report of the'Trustees OF
the Wisconsin Institute of the Deaf and
Dumb is herewith transmitted. The In
sttute gives evidence of an able and
economical administration of its affairs.
and is in fiourishing condition. The
rapid accessions to the number of its pu-
pills, renders necessary the early erection
OF the ;Gain building, and the propriety
OF an appropriation of such sum from
the public treasury, as shall be deemed
sufficient for that purpose, is matter
urged upon your consideration.
Your attention is called to the able re-
port of the Trustees of the Wisconsin
Institute for the Blind. The previous
appropriation to this institution have been
sufficient nearly to complete spacious
and beautiful edifice, and the Trustees
now ask an additional appropriation to
finish and furnish it in proper manner,
and to improve the grounds. A liberal
policy should be observed towards In
stitutions of this character.
The report Of the State IIistoicral Soci-
ETY. exhibits very favorable condition
Of its affairs. The number of volumes
in the Library has been increased from
so, In 1854, to 2,ll5, in 1856, and to g.
1870 on the first day Of January, 1857,
besides large number of maps and en-
cravings, and a fine collection of oil pain
tings, chiefly portraits of early Pioneers
and prominent men, together with many
valuable memorials Of our early history.
The society is already, in the extent and
value of its acquisitions, superior to any
west of the Alleghanies; it is a worthy
object of State pride, and the suggestion
Of the report, in relation to some provis-
ion for the. publication of its transactions
in more creditable andpermanent form,
merits your consideration.
In pursuance Of the provisions Of an
act to revise the General Statutes of the
State passed at the last session Of the
Legislature have appointed John F.
Potter, Samuel ] Todd and Bile Viii
liams, Commissioners for that purpose.
Among the subjects which l desire to
lay before You, for your consideration,
none seems more important than the
adoption Of such measures as will tend
to dimsnish the excessive amount of
special legislation which is demanded of
each successive session Of thelegislatre.
a young and growing commonwealth
like our own,undoubtedly'demands more
legislation of this character than the OIL
der States; but the objects sought to be
accomplished thereby, are, in large
majority of instances, equally attainablc
III IL Il
past legistures, in acceding to almost ev-
cry application for special legislation, is
in plain ontravention ofthe clause Of the
constitution which provides chat cor
porations without banking power may
be framed under general laws, but shall
not he credtcd dy special act, except for
municipal purposes, and IN cases achere,
IN the judgment Of tie legi$lature, tie
objects Of tie corporation cannot be at
tdjned undeT gcnerdl la,cS.n A comph-
ance with this provisions Of the consti-
tuition would greatly shorten the sessions
of the legislature, and diminish the ex-
penses of the State. Nearly two-thirds
Of all the legislation Of past sessions
might have been attained through gen
eral laws, aud yet, in no instance has the
legislature refused to entertain business
Of a private and local nature, though
clearly i'll violation of the spirit and let
ter Of this clause Of the constitution
When the objects sought to be reached
by special act fall manifestly within
the scope Of some general laty, already
existing or which might be passed, it is.
in my opinion, the duty of the legislature
in the one case, to leave them to be ac-
cOmplished under the existing statute,
and in the. other, to advise a general law,
meeting the case in question, and others
Of a similar character. In this manner,
it would seem that not only large and
unnecessary expense might be avoided,
but the evil results Of special privileges
and monopolies, which the species of
legislation complained of tends to beget,
might be averted.
/ will submit for your consideration
and determination, whether or not, at
this late day, when the State is covered
with network Of lines Of chartered rail
roads, created by special acts, it is adj
yisable to pass general railroad law.
That such a measure should have been
passed, Immediately after the adoption
Of the constitution, is, think, undenia-
bic, and am still of the opinion that its
passage, even now, might be productive
Of more, or less good.
There is now upon the statue book, a
general plank road law, but it has,
through the disregard Of the Legislature,
hitherto, been Il mere dead letter, and
special charters have been passed at ey-
cry session, in large numbers. IF the
general law be defective, it should be
amended and perfected, and, hereafter,
all plank road companies compelled to
organize under its provisions.