Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-09

ment A large share of the State expenditures
| of Massachusetts is met by the proceeds of q
State tax upon the valu alton of the corporate
stock of railroad and other corporations over
and above municipal taxation for real estate
and machinery, and upon the business OF
Fire and Life Insurance Companies. With
out indicating more in detail what sources Of
revenue may be made available to this State,
| desire to call your attention to the subject
and to suggest a careful inquiry and investi-
CATION, with view Of devising methods OF
lifting some portion Of the burden of taxa.
ton, from real estate. Such policy would
give needed encouragement to cur agricultur-
al interests, and promote the development Of
the resources of the State.
Insurance DEPARTMENT.
Although the object sought in establishing
Department of Insurance, was simply to
secure such supervision Of the business OF
insurance as would protect the public inter-
osts, yet the fees received for licenses
have not only paid the salary and ex-
penses of the Commissioner, but also
yielded to the State revenue OF
about eleven hundred dollars, for the year
ending July l, 1873. The indications thus far
are that the revenue for the present year W ill
he as much. The Department has conferred
great benefits upon the public by preventing
many doubtful companies from doing busi-
ness in the State, and supplying needed in
formation on insurance topics by means Of
its annual reports.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
| The reports of the Inspectors of the State
Prison and Trustees OF the Reform School,
which will be promptly laid before you, con-
tain information and suggestions of much
Importance. The report of the Trustees of
the Insane Asylum has not yet reached me.
| For the highest success of these important
| State institutions, it is important that through
! your several committees intrusted with
their interests, you should make your over
sight OF them not simply brief formal vs-
tation, but a thorough and careful annual
inspection and Investigation, in the early
part Of the session when at least a portion of
the members Of each committee could give
the time necessary for this work. Thus you
would bring the people into closer relations
with these institutions, remove abuses, if any
had grown up, disarm criticism and inspire
that generous confidence on which their sue
cess SO largely depends.
TIE STATE Prison.
According 10 the report OF the Inspectors
the earnings OF the conyicts have betrayed the
expenses Of carrying on the State Prison dur
ing the year ending Nov. so, 1873, and yielded
to the State net profit of SG,54i.9S, which
t las been added TO the working capital OF the
institution. The salaries of the Warden and
inspectors, amounting the past year to ST.
! 4G0.3J, are paid from the State Treasury, in
accordance with the system which has always
obtained in making up the prison accounts.
Deducting this amount, and there still re-
mains a balance Of 81 ,0S4.G3 in favor Of the
State, after paying all the expenditures of
supporting the prison, including salaries Of
1r1a nd Tvs Of
tation of prisoners from the several jais and
payments to convicts when discharged.
Should this favorable financial condition of
the institution continue, the State will be re-
lieved of all expenditures on prison account,
except so far as may be necessary to keep the
buildings in safe condition, and provide for
possible losses by fire. The recent increase
of prison accommodations by the erection of
new wing, supplies all the demands which
will be made in this direction for years
The Inspectors report that the value of the
tools, stock on hand and balance of debts due
the prison, on the 30,h of Nov. last, was
SIPS, 1898. A few days after, one of the
workshops was unfortunately burned, in
volving a loss Of the building, valued at
about $4,000, and also of stock and tools val
ued at $4,000. This loss reduces the value
OF the tools, stock, etc, to about SlOS, 900;
but il is thought that the operations of the
prison can be carried on as usual without
any appropriation TO supply this part
of the loss. A new fire-proof work shop will,
however, be required another summer, wheth-
er the labor of the prisoners is disposed of to
contractors, or employed on account of the
State. For the erection of such building
as shall be well adapted to the wants of the
prison, the Inspectors recommend an appro
priation of Sl2 1000.
With the exception of a period of six or
eight years, the State has always employed the
labor of the convicts in manufacturing opera
tions on its own account, on the assumption that
such a course was preferable on grounds OF
| economy as we'll as discipline. Inasmuch as
it is thought by some that it would be more
equitable to the public, and more advanta-
geous to the State, to dispose of the labor Of
the conyicts~to contractors, | would suggest
that your committee on that institution inves-
tgate the subject, and give a hearing 70 all
persons interested in this or any other matter
| connected with the management of the prison.
REFORM SCHooL.
| The Trustees of the Reform School give
| expression to a Judgment forced upon them by
observation and experience, and in fall har-
| mony with the advice of officers of similar
| institutions in other states, that large part
of the benefits which might be expected from
|
| faulty an arrangement of the interior of the
building as to make it impossible to properly
separate the different grades of boys. AS it is
now, there must be an enforced association of
boys who are committed for truancy or some
petty misdemeanor, which by no means argues
more than want of parental care, with youth
who are to a great extent depraved; as well
as an indiscriminate herding of all classes of
crime. Under such circumstances any methods
of reform must be largely counterbalanced
by bad influences. The Trustees ask for an
appropriation of $40, 900 to make the changes
in the building required in order to overcome
the insuiierable difficulties suggested, and are
thorougly convinced that unless this can be
done the institution mast continue shorn Of a
large part of its power for good. l am so
profoundly convinced Of the correctness of
this view, that | trust you will give the recon-
mendations of the Trustees that favorable con-
sideration which they so well deserve.
INSANE HosrIrAL.
The report of the Trustees of the Insane
Hospital, which has been delayed for a
thorough examination of the accounts of the
late Treasurer of the institution, will be laid
before the Legislature as soon as it is placed
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