Litchfield enquirer., 1867-05-09
WHOLE NO. 224O.

Denses $22, 245. 24, showing net gain of Sl, ,O7685, after expending some five hum dred dollars in repairs and improvements about the prison.
 VITAE STATISTICS.
 From the carefully arranged report of the State Librarian, it will be seen that there has been . large increase of births in the State over the registration of the previous year; and, what especially indicates a healthy growth in our population, the num- ber of births is greatly in excess of the deaths The number of marriages is also remarkable, being considerably greater than ever reported in one year before. The year 1866 appears to have been one of remarka- ble general health throughout the State.- The information embodied in these reports of the Librarian is highly valuable and will be eagerly sought after by those interested in the vital statistics of the State
 EDUCATION.
 Tho subject of public education, import ant at all times to the welfare of the State, is continuing to receive the attention due to the magnitude of it's interest. The Board created by the law of 1865 has taken the general supervision of the public schools and it is believed that the cause of educa- ton has been favorably advanced underi it's management The report of the Secretary of the Board will exhibit in detail the con ditinn of these important State institutions, so long the pride and boast of our people.
 It Is hardly necessary for mo to add that 5hey should continue to receive the foster ing caro Of the Legislature.
 MILITIA.
 Tho present militia law of the State ap- pears to meet the general expectations of its friends The whole number of men or
 ra2lizeI into companies and duly armed and equipped under the law, is four thou
 sand one hundred and forty-onc. Among
 whom a highly croditable proficiency has
 been attained in drill and soldierly deport-
 mer,t is the law now stands, 1t authorizes tho formation of sixty infantry companies.
 The present number is forty-one which
 would seem to be fully adequate to the re- quircments Of the State. The report of the
 Adiutant General will show the organiza-
 tion Of tho force in detail; and present the
 facts necessary to a correct understanding of this important branch of the public ser
 vice.
 MINORS IN FACTORIES.
 The practice prevalent in factories of employing minors in violation of law, is so universally admitted to be injurious to
 their physical and mental developement, that 1 submit to the wisdom of the General , Assembly whether 1t is not practicable to ) provide by further enactment for the due [ enforcement of the existing statute to pro- tecH children of tender years from such op- l pressive labor as deprives them of the ad- ! vantages ofa common school education. ! THE JUDICIARY.
 I renew the recommendation of my pred z ecessor that provision be made to remedy
 the over crowded condition of the court
 dockets in the large counties of New Haven
 and Hartford especially, the business of the court is badly in arrears No greater can be conferred upon the people of the State generally, than to afford them the , means of speedy and consequently less expensive administration of Justice; md while I am too distrustful of my own judge nent on the subject to indicate at present just what is necessary to remedy the evil, : I shall gladly cooperate in any plan of leg
 islati0n which may upon inquiry be found adequate to the purpose.
 , THE HOURS OF LABOR.
 Upon the products of labor depend the ] material prosperity and happiness of the I people; aud any legislation tending to ame- : iiorate the burdens of labor can but : promote tho general welfare of the com
 monwealth. The policy of the State to
 provide by statute 8 standard for 8 legal
 days labor, where no specific contract in : tervenes, is well settled l therefore rec a commend that the forty-ninth section of ; Chapter ", of the General Statutes con- U corning domestic relatjous, be so amended ! as to make eight hours of labor done and
 performed in any ono day by any one per I son in any mechanical of manufacturing es tablishment a lawful days work, unless ' otherwise agreed by the parties. WAGES OF LABOR. .D , Under the present law of foreign attach @ ment in this State any debt due for person l al services not exceeding ten dollars, is ex- : emptad from attachment. In my judge $ ment this sum should be increased and I - recommend this subject to your favorable V consideration.
 ' Recognizing tho principle that taxes : should be assessed upon property and not : upon persons l recommend that so much I I of Chapter l. Titlo 64, of the General Stat i utes, entitled ''An Act for the Assessment
 and Collection of Taxes" as relates to the
 assessment of the poll tax, be repealed. 1 COERCION OF VOTERS. l. There is no subject which should demand 8 more constant scrutiny, or have greater
 safe gualds and protection thrown around : 1t than the constitutional right of the citi- Q zen to the elective franchise. It is right { held sacred in all free governments, as up e on it's unrestrained and independent exer- else depend the stability and permanence a of all free institutions. It is believed that ! 8 most reprehensible practice has grown up l in certain portions of the State, whereby t the undue weight and influence of employ CTS, or threats and intimidation frem them,
 of4o +bo off of ;Lo on voters. This is an evil too intolerant in
 It's spirit, and too pernicious in its charac- ter and influence, to be permitted to exist : under any pretext or color of authority
 whatever, in free representative govern ment A contract for labor carries with it 1 10 consideration, pecuniary or otherwise, impairing the right of an elector to vote &C.,
 cording to the strict letter of his oath,. without respect of persons, or : favor of any man." There has been Q
 growing complaint against this practice in