The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-01-21
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LEGISLATION


tries, and the protection of immigrants
OF their arrival at our lake ports. A
very large proportion of our most pros
porous and Intelligent population came
here from foreign lands under the en-
couragement afforded by our liberal con-
stitution and laws, and our policy III this
regard has contributed in a very marked
degree to its general welfare. The con-
tinuance of this liberal policy in future
legislation, both with reference to 1mml-
grafton and the social intercourse Of the
people, is encouraged by the experience
Of all the Western States, and especially
by that Of Wisconsin.
OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The able and exhaustive reports of the
several boards having charge OF our
state educational, charitable and penal
institutions deservedly command your
careful perusal and earnest consideration.
During the past year the institution for
the education of the blind, at GAINESVILLE,
was unfortunately destroyed by fire, and
[ recommend an early appropriation for
its reconstruction upon such plans and
IN such manner as will most practically
serve the wants and necessities of the
institution. Under the operation Of
time and law, the home provided at
Madison for the orphans Of soldiers, has
become vacant, and [ suggest your
careful attention to the propriety OF de-
voting the building hereafter either to
the support of a reformatory school for
girls, similar to that now maintained at
Waukesha for boys, or to the care Of
the incurable insane now occupying
HI vt,+C
enduring lives of lingering and unpitied
suffering in our county jails and poor
houses. The progress already made III
the construction of the Northern Hospi-
tai for the Insane. deserves the highest
commentator. The work has been
economically and substantially perform
ed. upon the most approved and merit
orious plan OF the times, and [ recon-
mend your special attention to the i'm
portance of It's immediate completion.
LOCAL INSTITUTIONS OF CHARITY.
Among the appropriations the past
year was the sum OF $4,000 contributed
by the state towards the support of be-
nevolent institutions i'll or near the city
of Milwaukee. Too much cannot be
said in praise Of the many noble chari-
ties literally bestowed, through the ac-
tive instrumentaIity Of these and kindred
organizations elsewhere. Located in
portions Of the state which contribute
very largely, and always punctually, to
the support Of the state government,
and which have never been awarded any
of the benefits incident to the location
of any state institution Of education or
beneYolence, they minister generously
70 4hn of Of 4bo f,..o
and the poor, and thus serve in an i'm
portant degree to Tighten the burdens of
the public. [ know OF no reason why
any organized effort of this kind, so
manifestly consistent with the better in
stincts of the human heart, should be
denied on merely technical grounds. the
bare pittance hitherto granted by way
Of encouragement and support. With
Cue care to avoid religious or local par
TALLY, [ sincerely trust that a policy so
clearly dictated by the two fold consider
ations Of profit and humanity VIII not be
hastily rejected.
THE STATE PRISON.
The first annual report of the Direct
ors Of our State Prison deserves and
viii undoubtedly command more than
ordinary attention. It appears from this
report that the internal affairs of the
prison the past year have been admins
tered with intelligence and fidelity, and
that important improvements have been
made Tor the purpose of economising
labor and decreasing expenditure. The
recommendations Of the directors with
reference to a further reduction OF the
annual cost Of the prison commend
themselves to your approval. 7 suggest
the propriety Of further inquiry, in con-
junction with the Board of Directors
and the warden, as to the possibility of
more effectively utilizing the labor of
the prison, by a partial or total change
III the character OF the work to which
the prisoners are assigned. Evidently
the great amount of raw material re-
Qulred in the class Of work now engaged
IN at the prison, materially diminishes
the revenue which ought to be derived
from the convict labor Of the state.
Under the circumstances it seems to me
apparent that the most profitable pro-
duct 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 transportation and
the material used.
RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES
Complaints are made that portion of
the inmates of the Industrial School at
Waukesha are denied the religious free
dom accorded in other institutions of
this and other states. If such be the
fact, the present statutes should be
promptly amended, in such manner as
to enforce in all our public institutions
full and Jlndoubted 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 in
fringed. This privilege is as dear to the
inmates of our penal institutions as to
any other class OF people, and is entitled
to special guardianship in the case of
children of tender age, deprived OF the
wholesome Influences of intelligent home
intercourse and parental protection.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
The state of Wisconsin has never fail
ed to recognize agriculture as the found
alton of all our industries and the