Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-01-15

necessity TO our people. The Board Of Educs
tioo st thsir recent sss.ios dlrssssd the Trus.
tees OF tbs Univ srsty TO make provision for
Military Depsst0sst therein - soon - the
Gsi srsl Asss0bly shssld make the necessary
app opr,stions thsrstsr, and earnestly recon.
nei tn. sutject to your favorable considers
ton.
THE PESrKSrfAaY,
The affairs Of the Penitentisry have been
we'll conducted during the las, two years lts
present faithful and efficient officers, although
aboring under many difficulties have, by th.ir
careful aud skillfol mar sgement. msiutained
exc-lient discipline. preserv ed. In . remarkable
degree. the health Of the con victs. and have 90
economized its expenses, that Of the sum APP
propriatei st the last Kegulsr Session for the
general support Of the Prison, there remsios
un.xpended an amount SO large, that, in the
opinion Of the Warden, no appropriation for
that purpose will be e eeded at the preaent ses
sion. These officers. however. a. we'll a. those
in charge Of the lnrsss Asylum, the Asylums
fer the Deaf IN Dun b. and the Blind. aud oil
others who have been charged With the duty
Of procuring for the State either labor, mate
rails, or merchandise Of any kind tor ordinary
state purposes have been continually embar.
raised for want Of money. and have been com.
p-lled to carry on their operations. and make
their purchases at great disadvantage with
warrants on the Treasury. Of course they
have been compelled to pay higher prices in
warrants than they would have had 10 pay In
each Az soon AZ these warrants are delivered
| they are presented at the Treasury. and en-.
dl,sed unpaid for want OF funds, and from thst
| time draw eight per cent. interest, so that the
excess Of price and interest are SO much clear
| loss 10 the State that might be saved il our
taxes were promptly paid. Neither States nor
individuals can manage their affairs 10 this
manner without serious preeent embarrassment
and great ultimate loss, and In my Judgment
it is clearly your dutv. as guardians OF the pub.
lie welfare to see to IL that this state Of airs
shall not continue. The reports Of the officers
of the Pen Tertiary show the sums. which. in
their opinion, should be appropriated by You.
and the objects for which they are needed.
Whilst am satisfied thai all these objects are
legitimate. aud that the accomplishment Of
them would aid oh tn the safety and oom.
pletenese Of the prison. l cannot. 10 the pres
snt condition Of our finances, recommend APP
pr. priations for Oil. The completion Of the
third tier Of cells. additional accommodations
for the hospital. additional shop room. and a
new cistern. arc perhaps Indispensable, and
should be provided for.
The suit pending for some years between
the Warden and the contractors. for the labor
judgment, very unfavorsble to the Stste. 10
view Of this decision, it will be necessary that
considerable additions be made to the present
shop.room in the prison ysrd unless it be de.
tscmiEad 10 feed eGd olothe the con viat. st the
expense of the State and furnish tn cir labor
and shop-room for them gratuitously. l re.
commend that Special Committee be sent
to examine what further shops nay be need.
ed, and what steps can De taken to protect the
interests Of the State in this particular. The
present contract for convict labor will expire
on the lat day Of June, 1854. |, order to
have fair competition for the reletting OF that
labo; ct the expiration OF tina pseseDt con
tract, provision therefor should be made q,
the present session, and If possible, such pro
vipion ehould be made by law as will pre-
vent, under q new contract, the heavy Losses
the State has sustained under the present
one
CT ARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The Reports Of the proper officers OF th,
Deaf and Dumb Gnd Blind Asylums are here
with submitted. These institutions appeal 81
strongly 10 our better feelings and the neces
s,ies Of those for whose benefit they are 10
tended, are 60 peculiar and SO urgent, that
canno, within Id my recommendation that tn,
usual appropriations be made for their support
The appropriation made at the last regular
session for the new building for the Blind. a
Vinton, has been expended in the manner re
uuired by law The building IL now enoloaed
: and is not, as understand, liable to injury by
exposure to the weather, and submit whethe
it is not advisable. in our present hnancis
condition, TO withhold the appropriation Dec
oscar, to complete it until the next session o
The General Assembly. The failure to maxi
this appropriation will not prevent the proper
| - To-
time, as they can be well provided for in tn,
building now occupied by them. You viii
learn 6y the Reports Of the officers Of III,
Insane Asylum that that institution, 60 lont
and 70 much needed, has been for some month";
10 successful operation. The appropriation
made At the last regular session for finishing
and furnishing the Center and East Wing o
: the building has proved to be more than cuff
> cient for that purpose, and there is consder
able balance unexpended The number 0
nat, epts nov il the institution ID nearly O
a ute suficient to fill all the finished portion
r Of the building. and much Inconvenience arise
, from the fact that patients Of both sexes ar
. confined ia the same wing. This fact. will
. the additional one that before the next session
, large portion of the now unfinished part o
the building will in all probability be neede'
for the reception Of patients. induces me Il
~,
J. priation be nov made which, with the unex
: pended balsnce of the last appropriation. vii
!, be sufficient to Hnish and furnish the Wes
wing. Every one who has witnessed the nit
e ery and degradation and knows the hopeless.
t nass ct the cure Of those poor unfortunate
D when confined in tbs cells OF our county jaila
{ and has also witnessed their comparative hap
piaess and comfort, and knows the prospect 70
their res.orstioI in the Asylum, Will insist tha
= the met terrible diseases shsll no longer b
treated AZ 4 crime and that the State shall d
, her duty by providing and caring for these
the most bel pless and most unfortunate OF he
|, people. An abundant and unfailiDg supply o
vetsr 10 absolutely essential to tho successfu
8 operation Of an institution OF this kind.
reliance for such supply upon c!sterns and com
mon wells would be uncertain and unsafe. an
, a. these we're the only resources heretofore pro
vided, the Trustees and Commissioners. IN or
der to remove the difficulty, have undertake.
the digging Of an Artesisn we'll. The detail
r Of the work for this purpose thus far viii b
found in the reports. and recommend that
sufficient appropriation be made TO complete
| or to chow lite imprseticsbiDity. also recon
, mend that the law requiring the several coun
E ties Of the State to paw for the euppOrt G
. their own pauper insane be 80 changed - /
? require such payment to be made in advance
. In this way only will such payment be promr
and reliable and the State be relieved pract
cally {. ON the burthen If supporting the In
] stitu,ion. canno: perceive the necessity TO
Q the two Boards OF Trustees and commission
D ers. Either Of the Boards can easily perforn
10 sdd:,op TO its present duties the duties Q
I the other Board ana Ly the CO aolidaiion 20.
, sible conflicts Of authority would os avoided
3 a. we'll al considerable expense.
RECLAMATION OF vuoIr!vEs FROM JUSTICE.