Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21

our most enterprlslng population. Tn,
| number Of tons Of coal imported into Wisconsin
by rail the past year, as shown by the reports o
| railroad companies, nearly equaled one-thrd III,
weight OF al our merchandise by rail- and repre-
sented productive force beyond the possibilit,
Of even an appropriate estimate. Any legitimat,
action on your part to cheaper this valuable prod
uct and encourage the further development o
our manufacturing industry cannot fail to com
mand the general appreciation OF the people
Roads that will add SO much to the convenience
the comfort, and TO the material prosperity o.
our State are entitled to great encouragement a
your hands.
ADJUDICATION OF EXECUTIVE DUTIES
In the administration of the Executive Depart
ment of the Government legal questions of gres,
character frequently arise demanding prompt and
final decision. The issuance of certificates /,
the Wisconsin Central Railway Company las
year and recent demand for patents Of land b,
the North Wisconsin Company strongly contest
ed by other parties, are examples OF the legal
problems which the Executive IL often called
upon TO determine under circumstances which in
vest an erroneous or dlatory conclusion with
grave consequences TO all the interests involved.
! submit to You the, propriety of pro-
vidng for such an amendment of, our laws as
shall be necessary to permit the direct reference
of intricate legal and clearly exceptional ques-
tons of this character to the supreme Court for
immediate and final adjudication. While the
proceeding suggested would apparently couhict
III no respect with the interests of the public IL
would be likely TO prove an important safeguard
against error or partially on the part Of The
example OF several other States.
FOREIGN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. LEGISLATION.
1t remains with you to determine whether fur
Their legislation is now required for the encour.
agement of immigration to this State from for
cign countries and the protection of immigrants
on their arrival at our lake ports. very large
proportion of our most prosperous and mlelli-
gent population came here from foreign lands
under the encouragement afforded by our liberal
Constitution and laws, and our policy in this re-
gard has contributed In a very marked degree to
the general welfare. The continuance of this
liberal policy in future legislation, both with
reference to immigration and the social inter
course of the people, is encouraged by the expe-
rience of all the Western States, and especially
by that of Wisconsin
oUH PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The able and exhaustive reports of the several
boards having charge of our State educational
charitable and penal institutions deservedly com
mand your careful perusal and earnest considera
ton. During the past year the institution for
the education Of the blind at GAINESVILLE was un-
fortunately destroyed by fire, and l recommend
an early appropriation for its reconstruction up
on 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 propnety
of deyoting the building hereafter either to the
support OF reformatory school for girls, similar
to that now maintained at Waukcsha for boys,
or to the care of the incurablc insane now occu-
plying valuable room in State hospitals or
enduring lives of lingering and unpitied suffering
in our county jails and poor-houses. The
progress already made in the construction of the
Northern Hospital for the Insane deserves the
highest commentator. The work has been
economically and substantially performed, upon
the most approved and meritorious plan of the
times, and recommend your special attention to
the Importance of IT immediate completion
LOCAL INSTITUTIONS OF CHARITY.
Among the appropriations Of the past year was
the sum of $4,000 contributed by the State toward
the sunDDft of bpnpy violent institutions in n
the city of Milwaukee. Too much cannot be said
in praise of the many noble charities literally be-
slowed through the active fundamentally of
these and kindred organizations elsewhere.
Located in portions of the State which contrib
ute very largely and always punctualy to the
support Of the state Government. and which
have never been awarded any of the benefits in
cident to the location of any state institu-
tion of education or bencyolence, they min
lister generously to the relief of the sick, the
friendless and the poor and thus serve in an i'm
portant degree to tighten the burdens nf the pub.
lie. know of no reason why any organized
effort of this kind, so manifestly consistent with
the better feelings of the human heart. should be
denied, on merely technical grounds, the bare
pittance hitherto granted by way of encourage
ment and support. With due care to avoid re-
igious or local partiality sincerely trust that a
policy so clearly dictated by the two.fold consid-
eraions of profit and humanity will not be has.
tily rejected.
THE STATE PRISON.
The first annual report OF the Directors OF the
State Prison deserves and will undoubtedly COM
mand more than ordinary attention. Ii 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
economizing labor and decreasing expenditure.
The recommendations OF the Directors with
reference TO further reduction OF the
annual cost OF the prison commend them
selves to your approval ! suggest the
proprety OF further inquiry, in conjunction
with the Board OF Directors and the Warden, rs
TO the possibility Of more effectively utilizing the
labor OF the prison by partial or total change in
the character Of the work to which the prisoners
are assigned. Evidently the great amount OF raw
material requredin the class OF work now engaged
in at the prison materially diminishcs the reve
nue. which ought TO be derived from the convict
labor Of the State. Under the circumstances, 1t
seems to me apparent that the most profitable prod
uct OF prison labor would be that the value Of
which mostly consists Of the labor performed in its
production, rather than in the cost Of transporia
ton and the material used
RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES.
Complaints are made that portion of the In
mates " the Industrial School at Waukesba are
denied the religious freedoml accorded In other
institutions OF this and other States. II such be
the fact, the present statutes should be promptly
amended IN such manner as to enforce In all
our public institutions full and undoubtcd com
pliance 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 Il as dear to the inmates Of our penal
institutions as to any other class of people, and
is entitled 10 special guardianship in the case Of
children Of tender age, deprived OF the whole
some influences of intelligent home intercourse
and parental protection.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
The State Of Wisconsin has never failed to
recognize agriculture as the foundation of all our
Industries and the prime source of our material
prosperity. without "A reasonable doubt, all the
interests Of labor have been wisely promoted
through the agency Of the State and county agr-
cultural societies, partially organized and sns-
tanned by means Of legislative aid. Our me-
and manufacturing interests largely
participate In the benefits conferred and II
wholesome spirit OF competition and enterprise
the advantages derived from the expenditure
The annual report Of the Secretary of the State
A Agricultural Society furnishes abundant proof
of the continued efficiency and utility Of this