Litchfield enquirer., 1859-05-12
Whole No. 1771.

! nevo:ent individuals have been so directed by the economical business talents of the Board of Manag- greatly to ameorate the condition of this fortunate class. tt | In 1851, the General Assembly provided that, if any portion of the seven thousand dollars annually l appropriated for the benefit of the insane poor, should not be expended during the year. the surplus should be added to the appropriation made for the succeeding year. In the year 1856, the expenses incurred exceeded that sum, and have increased every year since In the year ending the 8lst day of l March last, they amounted to nine thousand one 1 hundred and eighty-one dollars and seventy six cents. This absorbed the entire fund, and one thou. sand two hundred and eighty nine dollars and twen- tythree cents of the designed for the present year. has heen expended to pay the deficiency of the | past. This expenditure has been made under gen. eral rule of allowing dollar and fifty cents per week, for the support of each beneficiary and leav- ing the balance to be paid by friends, or by the towns from which the beneficiary came.
 To meet the demand arising from such deficiency and from an increased number of applicants, recom- mend an additional appropriation of two thousand and five hundred dollars per annum.
 | Of the patients received at the Retreat, about | tlree-quarters recover and are discharged within
 five six months many of the others remain years, and are regarded as lncuiable. The number of this class has become large that, unless portion ef those there shall be discharged, it will be i'm. possible for its managers to receive all appli l cans
 | The State benefcaries now constitute more than I one halt of the inmates, and should they become
 
 I ton must come short of paying it's expenses Under these circumstances, it would appear proper that of those regarded as incurable, many should be re- moved as may be necessary to make room for new patients where there is reasonable hope of recovery. Should this be done, trust the Commissioner will 1 be authorized to use portion of the fund for the benefit ot those who are removed, until more ample and permanent provision for their accommodation.
 Tbe obligations of the State to the ndigent insane are fully recognized and judging from the present indications, shall, at distant day, be called 1 upon to make more extended provision for their benefit. If this should be done by divorce from the Retreat already established, it will involve 6 heavy expenditure, and ought not to be undertaken upon narrow basis, nor without first counting the l cost.
 1 The claims of this class upon Christian and phil. anl hropic men also felt This is evident from
 tie history Of the Retreat already established which
 is the fruit of their labors and of their unsesh de- votion to its 1T terests To administer to minds dis- ease to comfort such to restore them to conscious ness of their accountability, and to proper of ali thsir powers, is noble work In carrying on this work know of no way in which the State cap, for while, so wisely and economically fulfill its oL. legations, as by continuing it's benefacions in necion with the benevolent services of the Direct OTIS and Managers of the Retreat.
 | From the reports of the Adjutant General and of the Quarter Master General, which will be transmit-
 ted to you you will learn the condition of the active milita-now numbering two thousand four hundred and sixty-fve, rank and fle-and you will have a detailed account of the arms, ordnance and ord. nance stores which belong to the State The arse- nal and the military stores therein in good der. and the at all times ready for use. The cost of maintaining this branch of the public service the past year, exclusive of the Quarter Master and Adjutant Generals departments, has been $25.- 25s3 39, from which may, properly, be deducted the communication tax of $10, ,6O4 29, leaving the actual cost $l4 65410.
 ! Many of our citizens, aware, regard our mili- tary system as which only increases the burdens or the State without comforting corresponding bene its Others there are. who regard all military sys tens as both adverse to the public interest and in. consistent with that spirit of peace which so exten. siveiy pervades the hearts of our people. But We must remember, that in government like ourS. there may be- and always are, men whose passions are liable to be excited by real imaginary griev- | ances-men who will seek to redress their wrongs oy wanton attacks upon the property and persons Of others, in defiance of all legal authority. During the past year, we have had striking example of this ill adjoining State. To quell such scenes of riot and insubordation, and to conserve the public peace, we must rely upon some organization which shall possess sufficient physical power to hold in check these dangerous and destructive clements To this end know of no more effective and economical 1 organization than well disciplined militia With us, it cannot justly be regarded system to en- courage or prosecute but an armed force, at all times subject the call, and under the control Of the civil authority. Entertaining these views, should deprecate the adoption of any policy which would essentially changeour present militia system For the purpose of maintaining it with economy, have felt it my duty to decline organizing mum. l Der of military companies in localities where they did not appear to be necessary for the purpose above 1 indicated. To make our system more effective I | commend to your consideration the suggestions of the Adjutant General especially those relating to e code of regulations which shall defne more clearly the course to be pursued in of Courts Martial together with the duties of the troops and of the commander-in- chief. From the report of the General Railroad Commis- sioners, 1t will be seen that the only line of new road put in operation during the year has been al, extension to the New Haven, New London and Stots. 1 ington Road, between Groton and Stonngton. There are now six hundred and two miles of rail. road constructed within the limits of this State. The amountsol capital paid in is, SIS 727. .367 3l. The amount of floating and funded debt chargeabls to construction, is Sll ,256, 50 The net income for the year, has been S1 046 40492, or three and one-half per cent. on the aggregate cost while tj gross receipts have fallen off half million of dollars. The New London, Willimantic and Palmer Road, and the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Road having failed to meet their obligations havo passed into the hands of trustees and are ope- rated by them for the benefit of the bondholders Three of our Banks have been enioined and placed In the hands of receivers for liquidation Quite an amount Of circulation not presented to the re- celvers within the period limited for presenting cialms and must remain unredeemed, and must bear constant testimony of fraud against the public
 The brief period of the existence of these Banks and the manner in which their business was man. aged, give evidence of the false representations which were made to obtain their charters, and should ad dmonish us of tile importance of thorouQhly examining the ground upon which we grant such privilege, and of using every precaution to guard the public from loss by mismanagement of institu- tions already established.
 There are now in this State seventy4three Banks with aggregate capital of $21, $40 556 and cir culation of s7 720. The circulation has ncreas. ed $3335,5 582 during the year, but is traction less than the average for the preceding ten years With the exceptions referred to- these institutions have maintained their reputation by rendering all needful facilities to business and by furnishing sound cur. rency.
 13,938, ,462 9alv
 The Public Acts of 1858, respecting Savings Banks and Building Associations were designed ta