The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-12
GOEernor Raker,s Message.


Governor BAKERS biennial mes
sage to the Indiana Legislature is
one of the most able, comprehensive
and satisfactory statements of State
Affairs ever presented to the people OF
Indiana. Covering so much ground,
and devoted to so many subjects, it is
necessarily quite lengthy document;
but this should deter no one who
claims to be intelligent aud informed
on public matters from It's careful
pecusal. No citizen of Indiana who
has property or. personal interest 10
the State can well afford not to read
it. 1t will be especially valuable to
the members OF the General Assem-
bly,, who are called to the capital to
frame the legislation of the State, In
that 1t presents to them in clear
and Ineligible form the result OF
a thorough investigation of State
finances, institutions, and laws, which
the most of them have not the
capacity nor the inclination to make
for themselves. Though we have
published it IN full, we doom it mat
ter Of iHterest and value to give the
leading points and recommendation
of the message.
State Debt.-The exhibit made of
the State finances. is the most satisfae-
tory which has been made for gen.
GRAFTON almost. Under the Repub-
Iican administration of the past eight
years, the State debt has been reduced
from about eight millions of dollars
to three millions, and the Governor
assures us shat it will be totally ex
tinguished in two years. even with a
reduction of the present rate of taxa
ton, aud with large prospective out
lays for the improvement of State
institutions. And this has been ac-
complished, while the State was help
lug to bear the burdens of the most
gigantic war of all history. The Gov
ernor's earnest warning against any
projects to fasten the Canal debt upon
the State. will have its effect upon the
Legislature.
assessment and Iaration Import
ant amendments are suggested in the
Law for the appraisement of real es-
tate, having 10 view more correct
and thorough work by the appraisers
elected last Fall, to make the ap
praisement in the different counties
the coming year.
It will be gratifying to taxpayers to
know that the Governor recommends
a reduction of twenty five per cent.
in the State taxation; and still gives
the assurance that with a levy of
thirty Instead of forty cents, the or
binary and extraordinary expenses of
government can be carried on and
the State Debt obliterated in two
years.
Benevolent Institstions.-T Asy-
lums for the education of the deaf
and dumb, blind, and insane, and the
Soldiers and Seamens' Home are
heartily commended o the liberal
care of The General Assembly; and it
is recommended that tlese institu-
tions be enlarged to meet he growing
wants of the State.
Prison Reform. = The Governor.
with the heart of Christian and the |
sympathies of true philaahropist.
recommends Important changes in
our prison system. Under hi ad.
ministration the House of Refe-ma. |
ton for the correction of juveile |
offenders has been successfully esSb
lished. He urges upon the Legisa-
ture the Importance of establishing
an intermediate Prison. between tn,
Penitentiary AID the House of Ref
uge, to which the more youthful and
less hardened offenders should be
sent, and where reformatory infu-
ences would be. exerted to a much
greater extent.tha is possible in
our existing penitentiaries. He
also recommends the establishment Of
a separate prison for female convicts
and also reformatory institution for
girls, which latter, he thinks, may be
connected with the House of Refuge.
We wifi take occasion hereafter to
speak Of the Governors views upon
these important subjects, at greater