Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-01-09

VIZ ACAAINAN ~ Pave CuuCdSiOA lsVt
only within the reach Of all the people,
but to compel them tOavail themselves
Of its benefits. An elementary educa-
ton should he considered as much
legal obligation as it is a necessity,
md the Territory has the same power
{ enforce it that it has to enact any
other law to promote the public vel
fare. All lcgiS laticn designed to adj
vance the public interests, contribute
to the general llappinesso Of thepcople;"
give vitality and stability to the gov
eminent; snd promote virtue and i'll
tclligence, are proper subjects Of legis-
lation. The States of both Europe
and America, where the law requiring
compulsory education Mas been tested,
crime has decreased, pauperism dimin.
islled and marriages largely augmented.
The INDECENT in every country, as a
rule, belong to the illiterate class; and
the same rule will apply with almost
equal force to the cOnvicts confined III
the prisons of the country.
The report of the Superintendent
of Public instruction disclOses the
fact that but little over One-half of
the children Of school age in the Ter
ritory attended school during the last
year. l think this should induce the
Legislative Assembly to provide by
law for compulsory attendance OF
children between the ages of six and
sixteen years, at least three months
in the year, where their parents reside
within two miles of a public school
taught for that period.
The violation Of the School Law by
the Commissioners of Meagher coun-
ty, in refusing to levy tax of three
mills on the dollar for school purposes,
as required by law, demands OF tire
Legislative Assembly the enactment
Of a law to punish county officers byI
fine and Imprisonment for refusing to-
perform a plain legal duty. No officer
Is above the law, and when he takes
an oath to enforce the law and violates
it, he should he punished as q Grimm
al and forfeit his Office. I
Authority should be granted tho
Superintendent of Public instruction.
to enforce the provisions of the school
law by suit; and YOU should provide
for the expenses Of the same. l cOm1
mend the report to you as worthy oil
your careful consideration, and recomf
mend the printing, at least, one thou!
sand copies of the same. \
In obedience to the requirement OF
law, submit the Report Of the Dir
ectors, Warden and Physician of the
Montana Penitentiary at Deer Lodge
City, showing the operations Of the
prison for the six month ending No
vcmber 18th, 1873. The penitentiary
building, with all the property con
nected Herewith, was on the 18th of
May last transferred by the United
States to the Territorial authorities.
The Directors appointed last May at
once assumed the control and manage
ment of the prison, and in their report
say: "The cost Of guarding, cloth
ing and maintaining the prisoners for
the past six months, and for all re-
pair; and Improvements about the
prison, is SG,7ol II. During that time
the prisoners have earned @46O 20,
leaving the actual cost 81, 900 3S.-|
These figures may seem to E"H large,
but when we take into account that
the building and fixtures were sadly
out Of repair and the supplies of all
kinds nearly or wholly exhausted, and
many Of them had to he supplied in
quantities which will run far into next
year, necessarily increased our ex-
i,enscs; from personal observation we
are safe in saying that the cost of re-
pairs and maintaining the prisoners
for the next six months cannot exceed
one dollar and sixty cents against two
dollars and three cents for the six
months just ended"
The Directors recommend that an
application be made to Congress for
an appropriation of ten thousand dol
lars, to complete the upper row of cells
in the building now occupied, which
approve. The increasing demand for
prison accommodations, both by the
United States and the Territory, and
comfort and security that the compile
ton of the cells will add to the prison,
clearly justi6es the recommendation.
The expenditures of the prison are
in excess of what was anticipated, and
are, in my judgment, larger than they
should have been had the late Warden |
practiced strict economy. The vouch-
crs, which hope you will carefully
examine, will exhibit the purchase of
many unnecessary articles, which com
mon prudence would dic1nte should
not have been purchased. The amount
thus expended was not inconsidera-
BILE, and appeared to increase each
month, although the attention Of the
late Warden was frequently called to
it, without accomplishing the desired
purpose.
On the 10th day of December last reque St. |
Ell him to resign the position Of Warden,
which, he did. and Isaac N. Buck, Esq. ri
: 's.r Gos1aRs s'vu"ty. was appointed to MI the
upon the discharge Of the duties If Tie o. |
Nee. From slIe character OF the new War.
Cen think I caA safely assure you that the !
affairs Of the prison will be conducted with
more economy hereafter than heretofore.
IL have no changes to recommend in tl,c
present law. bclie.:e its provisions are
wise, and when strictly enforced will pro-
duce satisfactory results. The same system
has s'een adopted In nearly all OF the States,
and years Of experience have demonstrated
its wisdom. The plan heretofore adopted BY
some Of the States Of leasing prisons aud in.
mates for nrmbcr OF years hrs been aban.
hOneu in every instance 50 lar rs INV knOwl.