The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-14

road companies nearly eGuaiied one-third the
weight OF all our merchandise by rail- and repre-
eenGed productive foreo beyond the possibility Of
even on approximate estimate Any legitimate ac-
ton On your part to cheaper this valuable product
and encourage the further development of our
manufacturing industry cannot fail 10 coninand
the general appreciation Of the people. Roads that
will add so much to the convenience, the comfort
ana to the material prosperity of state, arc en-
tleled TO great encouragement at your hands.
ADJpDBcATIoN OF EXECUTIVE DUTIES.
In the admins tration of the executive depart
ment OF the government, legal questions OF q
grave ch9rac er frequently arise, demanding prompt
ana hnal decision, The issuance of certificates to
the Wisconsin Central Railway Company last year.
ana B. recenb demand for patents of land by the
N9rth Wisconsin company, strongly contested By
other parties, examples of the legal problems
watch the executive is often called upon to deter
NINE Under circumstances which invest an erro-
neolls or diatory conclusion with grave consequel
ces to all the interests involved submit to you
the propriety of providing for such an amendment
OF our laws, as shall be necessary to permit the di
rect reference of intricate legal and clearly excep
tional questions Of this character to the Supreme
toult for immediate and final adjudication. While
the proceeding suggested would apparently conflict
IL no respect with the interests of the public it
would be likely to prove an important safeguard
against error partiaty on the part of the execu-
tive, and this practice is sanctioned by the example
OF several other states.
FOREIGN IMMIGRAT1oN~-LIBERAL LEGISLATION.
1t remains with you to determine whether further
legislation is now required for the encouragement
OF immigration to this state from foreign countries
and the protection of immigrants on their arrival
at our lake ports. A very large proportion of our
most prosperous and intelligent population came
here from foreign lands under the encouragement
afforded by our liberal constitution and laws, and
our policy In this reg ard has contributed in very
marked degree to the general welfare .EThe contnu-
ance OF this liberal policy in future legislation both
with reference to immigration and the social inter
course Of the people, is encouraged by the expert
al that
OF Wisconsin.
OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The able and exhaustive reports of the several
boards having charge Of state educational,
charitable and penal institutions deservedly COM
mand your careful perusa and earnest considerG-
ton. During the past year the institution for the
education of the blind, at GAINESVILLE, was unfor-
tunately destroyed by fire, and r. commend
early appropriation for its reconstruction upon
such p ans and in such manner as will most prac-
ticaly serve the wants and necessities of the ins-
tuition. Under the operation Of time and law, the
Home provided at Madison for the orphans Of
soldiers has become vacant, and suggest Your
careful sttenton to the propriety OK devoting the
building hereafter either 80 the support Of re-
forrnatory school for girls. similar to that now
maintained at Wauk eeha for boys, to the of
the mcursble insane now occupying valuable room
IL our state hospitals or enduring lives or hnger
ing and implied suffering in county jails and
Toor houses. The progress already made in the
construction Of the Northern Hospital for the In
sumo G66IFVGS the 0Ay0eSt cOIuIneuG2L1On. Inc
work has BEEN economically and substantially per-
formed, upon the most approved and meritorious
plan OF the tins 8, and l recommend your special
attention to the Importance of Its immediate COM
pletiOn.
Among the appropriations the past year was the
of 81 900 contributed by the state towards the
support OF benevolent institutions IN or near the
city OF Milwaukee, Too much cannot be said in
praise of the many noble charities literally bestow
ed through the active fundamentally of these and
kindred organizations elsewhere. Located in por-
tons Of the state which contribute very largely and
always punctually TO the support of the state gov
ernment, and which have never been awarded any
of the benefits incident to the location of any state
institution Of education or benevoence, they min
lister generously to the relief of the SICK the friend
less and the poor and thus serve in an important
degree to tighten the burdens OF the public
know OF no reason why any organized effort of this
kind, so manfestly consistent with the better i'll
stincts Of the human heart, should be denied on
merely technical grounds, the bare pittance hitherto
granted by way Of encouragement and support.
With due care to avoid relgious local Partially,
sincerely trust that policy SO clearly indicated
by the two-fold considerations Of profit and human
ity viii not be hastily rejected.
s rHE STATE pRIsoN.
The first animal report of the directors Of the
state prison deserves ana will undoubtedly COM
Inand more than ordinary attention. 1t appears
from this report that the internal affairs OF the
prison the past year have been administered with
intelligence and fidelity, and that important i'm
provements have been made for the purpose Of
economis1ng labor and decreasing expenditure.
The Recommendations of the directors with refer
ence to further reduction OF the annual cost of
the prison commend themselves to your approval
suggest the propriety Of further inquiry, in con-
junction with the board Of directors and the
den as to the possibility OF effectively utiliZ-
ing the labor of She prison, by partial or total
change in the character of the work to which the
prisoners assigned Evidently the great amount
of material required in the class OF work now
engaged in at the prison, materially diminshes the
revenue which ought to be derived from the con-
vict labor Of the state. Under the circumstances,
| it seems to me apparent that the most profitable
product of prison labor would be that the value of
which mostly consists OF the labor performed in it's
production, rather than III the cost Of transporta-
ton and the material used.
RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES.
| Complaints are made that portion OF tie in
mates Of the Industrial School at Waukesha are de-
MED the religious freedom accorded III other iastitu-
tons Of this and other states If such be the fact
the present statutes should be promptly amended in
such manner az TO enforce in all our public insti-
| tutions full and undoubted compliance with the
letter and spirit Of those wise provisions Of our
constitution which assert that the right to worship
God according to the dictates of conscience shall
never be infringed. This privilege is as dear to
the inmates OF our penal institutions to any 9TH
class Of people, and is entitled to special guardi-
| anship in the case of children OF tender age de-
prived of the wholesome Influences Of intelligent
| home intercourse and parental protection,
| THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
Iue SIbIe Oh N1acOlSlH uSS never IaueQ 10 re-
cognize agriculture the foundation Of all our in
dusries, and the prime source Of our material pros
perity. Without reasonable doubt, all the inter-
ests of labor have been wisely promoted through
the agency of the state and county agricultural
ceties, partially organized and sustained by means
of Legislative aid. Our mechanical and nanufae-
turing interests largely participate in the benefits
SO conferred and wholesome spirit of competition
and enterprise is promoted at tritng cost in COM
parison with the advantages derived from the ex-
penditure. The annual report of the Secretary OF
the State Agricultural Society furnishes abundant
proof Of the continued efficiency and utility of this
benefcent organization, and cordially recommend
the usual appropriation for the encouragement of
this and the county associations the ensuing year.
The State Historical Society is steadily advancing
In its work of collecting the materials of North
western history, and forming great historical and
general library. 1t has published several volumes
of history, and now numbers over sixty thousand
bound and unbound volumes in its library; being
thus early the third in Importance among the his
torical societies Of the United States.
The Wisconsin Academy Of Sciences, Arts and
Letters, also provided with rooms In the Capitol
has during the year published second volume of
valuable scientific papers, and, embracing in it's
membership many of the most learned men of the