The Van Buren press., 1875-11-09
lions ss I might see proper to make.

i' - mibut see proper 10 make.
addressed q communication to the com
mlttee containing all the facts possessed.
and recommended the employment of
those gentlemen to attend to and prose,
cute all the claims and rights of the State
OF the character and name referred to.
now earnestly renew that recommends.
ton.
BLIND INSTITUTE,
submit to you the report Of the trus
tees for the management of the Institute
for the Education of the Blind, and re.
quest its consideration. in connection
with another report therein referred to,
presented at your last meeting. This in
sttute has had severe struggle to main.
tain itself, but it is gratifying to know
that it has not suspended, but it has con
tlnued to work with good results amid
great difficulties and trials winch are fully
set forth in the report presented. The
trustees ask for an appropriation, and ac-
company the request with statement
which l think entities them to it, and |
hope it will be your pleasure to grant the
same.
PENrrENTlARY
A recent investigation into the man.
ascment of the peniientiary discoses the
fact that change is needed in that insti.
tuition. | transmit to you full report OF
that investigation, and ask careful con,
siderat!on thereof
The buildings and the grounds are too
small for the number of convicts confined
there, and this number is now being in.
creased almost daily; besides the build.
inSs arc ont of repair, and lily adapted
for the uses they are devoted to. During
the last summer the commissioners at
tempted to remedy, in part, these defects
but received no bids to do the work,
nothing was accomplished in this direc.
ton. The working OF the convicts out
side the walls is greai evil, and legisla.
ton should be had to put an end to this
at the earliest practicable moment. As
the first step toward this, it will be neces
sary to enlarge the grounds to about
twice their present area, which, if | mis-
take not, can be done by agreement with
the trustees of the blind Institute as to
ground sufficient OH the south, as cmbod.
led in bill which originated in and was
passed by the house, last winter, but was
not acted on in the senate When the
grounds are enlarged, additional build
ings sufficient for the comfort and safe
keeping of the prisoners should be more
direct and specific as to the time and
mode Of working the conviets; as to the
punishment to be administered, and by
whom; as to the quality and quantity of
food and clothing, and the food should
be more varied than it is. Doubts are
entertained as to the power of the com.
mssieners to do what is necessary to
reach these various points, and how far
they can go in remedying existing evils
These doubts arise upon construction
Of the present law itself, and also upon a
construction Of that law with the con.
tract Of the present lessee, which is more
fully referred to in the report. | recon
mend such legislation as will beyond all
question, remove these doubts. and put
in practical oper ton the suggestions
here offered.
TIE MONEY OF THE STATE AT sToDpARD S
BANK.
By joint resolution of last session, this
matter was referred to the attorney gen.
eral for investigation aad action. In an
official communication from him to nc,
on the subject, it appears legal steps have
been taken to realize this money out oil
the property and assets OF the Stoddards
and thus far the States right to sue and
recover has been sustained by the court,
and her claim to priority established, in
an opinion of Chancellor Eakin, which
not only receives the approval of all who
read it, but challenges their admiration
for its research and legal accumen. Tho
communication of the attorney. general is
herewith submitted. l feel sure this suit
will be pushed with all possible zeal and
that all legal agencies of every character
and description will be used to regain
this money from the Stoddards no one
need to doubt. Should the State fail in
this, when the failure is made known,
and the sureties of II. c. Newton, the
treasurer Of the State when this alleged
deposit was made with Stoddards, as is
claimed, know the amount really due,
they will not wait to be sued, but will
promptly meet the demand that is legal
ly due, and pay it to the State.
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
In order to make effective the provision Of
article 6, section ~, Of the constitution in re-
terence to the removal of county and town
ship officers unfit to hold the same, think a
law should be passed providing for their sus-
pension from office during the investigation
and until the inquiry is disposed Of.
In some cases made known to me by the
prosecuting attorneys, the object of this very
wise provision in the constitution has been
deferred for the want Of such law.
ARKANSAS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY
In pursuance ef IAN act approved March 5th,
1875, ! appointed six gentlemen. from dilicr-
ent parts of the State, os a board Of visitors
to the Arkansas Industrial University. lThey
attended the annual commencement In June
last. and spent several days in examining in
To the management and discipline of the
school, witnessing the exercises in the differ
cnt departments, as well as examining the
buildings, etc, and made report to me of
the results OF their investigation, which re-
port is herewith submitted.
1t is indeed most gratifying to see that in
stitution in so flourishing a condition. 1thas
outstrpped the hopes of its most saRguinc
friends, and we should be ready to affrod all
reasonable aid and encouragement to it we
can. / ask your attention to the different
points of this report. and join the board of
visitors In their recommendation for appro-
priations for the benefit of the university.
In this connection desire to present me-
mortal to the general assembly from the coun-
ty court OF Washington county, in reference
to interest paid in bonds issued by that county