Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-02-08
ApprOp fi0tions.

LII UKSDAI MUkNlNU, FEB. 3, 1872.
Appropriations.
The several committees have been
visiting the State institutions, and now
the question Of appropriations i. the
one Of most general discussion among
legislators. The aggregate sum De
mandcI from the State treasury for
charitable purposes is far greater than
it can possibly yield, and no doubt con-
sidcrnbly greater than ought to be sup.
piled ut this time. The State is young,
only few Of the rcvcnuc-producing re-
sources are fully developed; her people
are in debt; her agricultural classes
have suffered terribly from storm and
fireA while the great manufacturing in
tcrcsts have been retarded and burdencd
with heavy and unanti,ipated expense
/, preserving the wonderful water pow
o. At St. Anthony.
Minnesota is rich in raw material !;
but this richness is not available with
out labor. Thousands arc coming to US
yearly, bringing brave hearts and strong
hands, but, with them, come the Deepen.
denotes and necessities, and after sup
plying these annually, only q SMALL
excess remains for investment or to
expend for public purposes. The State
is poor in everything except its capabil-
tiles Tor production and achievements.
These are fabulous, (not fabled) and
will ultimate in giving US boundless
wealth, but to-day there is not money
enough here-we mean owned here
to purchase what is needed by our peo-
pie to provide them with the necessaries
Of lie. We arc living upon borrowed
capital. and this is true whether we
speak Of the State, or Of the individuals
who compose it. We are simply an in
digent family, "poor but respectable )"
ambitious and not without reasonable
expectation of improving our condition.
We have some unfortunate ones. The
insane and the deaf and dumb. They
are entitled to our sympathy, and to our
care and protection ; but are We able
TO do more at present than make
them comfortable? We would be glad
to do everything which might in the
least degree serve to make their condi:
ton less calamitous than it is. but with
the advantages that they enjoy, are
they, relatively, worse of-aside from
their mistortune-than those Of US who
are sound in body and in mind?
1t Is oaaoubtedly true thut the ur.
gent necessity t''r the speedy completion
Of the magnificent institutions which
the State has in progress for thu care
treatment, and education Of its unfor'
tunates, is vastly more popular than
resi-. There are no lack Of reasons why
this is 50. In almost every instance We
have employed eastern men to take
charge. Coming from old and wealthy
States, such bring the notion. Of those
States with them but leave their wealth
behind. They can see neither conve
nience nor comfort, nor decency even
in anything less grand and costly than
tho institutions which have occupied
nearly century in attaining to thei
present degree Of perfection and mag
ni6cence in the old States They i'm
portsse the Legislature through thei
repe<ts, and prominent private citizen
through their appeals, 50 that the put
lie mind IL seld>m at rest, and benevt
lently inclined people never free fro,
the impression that the State is guilt
of gross injustice in its treatment .
&hose whom misfortune has made d,
pendant upon ita charity. Acting III
der such influences and such imprc
sions appropriations are made, fir
quently, without reference to tho abili'
Of the State to meet them, and witho'
providing any restraint whereby II
almoners Of this muni6cence may
kept from diverting it from its prop
stream into side cham IL which for
= confluence with official pockets, fro
which there are no outlets but for p,
vste purposes.
TIE immediate aud pressing wants
the insane should be supplied; eve
instinct Of humanity and of justi'
prompts to this conclusion, but de
ear should be turned to the clam
which demands the immediate COMP
tion of the building. Aside from ca
siderations Of State importance there
sufficient reason why St. Peter may
anxious for the expenditure Of an ado
tional $4,000 ut that point, but i
State has no interest there except I
Asylum, and it should not be cajol
into making an outlay Of money viii;
its own interests do not immediate
require. The same may be said 50
stantially Of the institute at Faribau
1t has less than one hundred inmat,
and With the completion Of the adj
.ionai wing, which is already enclose
its present capacity will be more til
doubled. For this purpose $4,000