Connecticut western news., 1873-05-16
bonds an6 mortgages, and it's income the last year aggregated $l56, 15s. .96.
 HuMANE rNaR,Tr1T1oNs.

stitutions are accomplishing. Beyond tn ordinary police duty of government, know of no obligation devolvihg upon tn state superior to that of providing fo those whose misfortunes are so exceptional that individual charity cannot reach then with efficiency.
 1 GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
 There are at present under treatment a the Hospital for the Insane at Middletown 27l patients, and during the last twelv, months there has been under treatment daily average of 264 patients. Seventy four nave been admitted and 65 discharged during the year. The applications for ad mission were 19O.
 SCHOOL FOR IMBECILEs Sixty-one pupils have been under tn, Jealous care of Dr. Knight, at the Schoo for 1mbeciles, d! Lakeville, in Salisbury during the past year. The present number in attendance is 50, of whom 20 are state benifcaries; l7 of them being orphans. commodious building has been erected with the $lO, 900 appropriated last year, and the institution will soon be enabled to receive all the pupils of that unfortur ate class. fol | whom the state may nave occasion to pro- vide.
 AMERICAN ASYLUM
 The American Asylum for ths deaf and dumb, at Hartford, continues to be in a prosperous condition. The number of pu. pills now in attendance IS 225, of whom 5l are from Connecticut. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. Tue Connecticut Industrial School fol girls, at Middletown, Seems to be fulfilling the purposes of it's organization.
 During the past three years l23 girls have been admitted to it's care, of whom 34 have been discharged The results have been very satisfactory to those by whose efforts the school was established.
 STATE PRISON.
 The report of the directors of the State Prison will give you the details of it's man agement. It has yielded an income during the last year of $26, ,452.96, against an or dinary expenditure of 1928, ,O22.57. The appropriation of $s.oOO for repairs made by the last General Assembly will complete the repairs then contemplated.
 But the buildings are old and generally in poor condition, and they must soon be superseded by others better adapted to the purposes of the modern prison system. 1, is worthy of your consideration, whether true economy, as we'll as regard for the interests of society, SO closely involved in it's penitentiary arrangements, do not re. quire immediate provision for a new prison.
 NEW STATE HOUSE.
 am advised by the chairman of the Board of State House Commissioners that a contract for the erection of new state house in Hartford, was completed by the board in September last, with MT. J. G. Patterson, of Hartford, at a cost of $s75,- 900, the building to be completed by the lst day of Nav 1875. The work under the contract has been commenced, but has been delayed by the severity of the season.
 LlChNBE LAW.
 The license law enacted by that body has, 1 think, operated satisfactorily in the main but amendments in some of its de- tails may be expedient.
 UsURY LAWS.
 The substantial repeal of the usury laws has not been attended with the same favor. An exceptionally stringent money market has generally prevailed since that legisla- tion, of which the lender has naturally talk en advantage, and the necessitous borrower has, doubtless, been subjected to unaccus- toned and, in many instances, extortionate rates of interest. The result has been the development of public sentiment favora- ble to restoration of legal limit to the rate of interest. shall cooperate with you in any effort to remedy these abuses, in response to this public sentiment.
 OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
 In connection with the demoralizing in- auences have noticed, the corruptions which have attached to the official service of the country, cannot be overlooked. With 8 common shame, our people have wit messed the development of this great evil, through municipal governments and state legislatures, until it's recent culmination in the exposure of hidden scandels vitally af- fecting the purity of congressional legisla- tion. DeploIable enough in itself, the peril of thls exposure lies in the shock it has given to public confidence in the civil ser vice of the country, and the popular belief it has excited in the existence of more f1a- grant abuses of official trust which only await the favorable circumstance to disclose them. And certainly no graver peril can threaten our institutions-resting, as they do, and as in Republic all institu- tions of government necessarily must, upon the moral sense of the people for their sup port. The whole fabric is undermined whenever the public service ceases to be respected and the suspicion becomes fixed that It's official positions are prostituted to private profit-its legislation traff1cked, or even so mnch as the hem of the garment of it's judiciary soiled with venality. CONCLUSION. The Constitution of the state requires me ito give to the General Assembly informa. ton of the state of the government" have endeavored to perform the duty. If l have adverted to matters not strictly within the domain of your powers, it was because they have lesson for us. They bring into bright contrast the excellence of that self-government, which it has ever been the pride of the people of Copnecti' cut to maintain for themselves, and with out which for it's local support, the fabric of our republican institutions cannot be upheld.