Litchfield enquirer., 1875-05-13

4f the Trustees appointed by the state, whose interest i'll it's humane object leads khem to give to its affairs careful super vision commend their report to youI zfEentIon.
 There are at present four hundred and if ky patients m the institatisn, and it's Eca- pacty of accommodation has been reached. The new south (maIe) wing, which was opened Ill January, 1874, became filled Alth it's complement of patients in just Thirteen months from the date of opening. Since then, however, vacancies have oc- euredsas frequently as new patients have nrrived; so that thus far no waiting has been required on the part of the appIi- eants. For two years past, on the female side of the house, the pressure for admis- sion has so far exceeded the accommoda- ang capacity as to necessitate on the part of applicants waiting period of several weeks. The number of female applicants how on the waiting list is twenty-five, and 3s cannot be long before similar condi- lion of things will exist on the male side
 Ifia subject demands youa serious con- sderatlon> Since the hospital was pro- gected the disease of insanity has un- uouDfediy increased, and especially in fhls country. The statistics of other states and of foreign governments show this very clearly. Moreover. there is less aversion to treatment of the disease in a hospital than formerly, while there is at the same time an increasing conviction that hospital treatment is especially bene- hcial during the incipient stages of the disease. For these reasons the demands upon the hospital have been greater than vas anticipated at its institution. It should, however, be borne in mind that m 1865 1t was officially reported to the General Assembly that there were over seven hundred insane persons in the state (and this probably included only the fglly developed cases), whereas the com DIneu OIDaUIUy OuIy IropE5rst-.., m the state, the State Hospital at Middle town and the Retreat at Hartford, cannot advantageously accomodate more than six hundred patients.
 2. It is the opinon of the Trustees, in which I fully concur, that the present hos pital should not be enlarged. Experience seems to have established that the num- Der of patients now there are as many as can be benefcially treated, under proper classification, In a single institution. We can at present avail ourselves of the pri- vate institutions in other states to'a con siderable extent, in providing for those not admitted to the hospital, but, if the pressure for admission continues to in- crease, new hospitol would seem to be unavoidable.
 The State Reform school has at present two hundred and ninety-four C294) boys m its care. Its expenses during the year have been about fifty six thousand five Hundred dollars, and it's receipts nearly sixty thousand dollars, of which over thirty thousand dollars were received from the State for weekly support, under the Statute.
 I would refer you to the several reports of those entrusted with the management of this institution for the details of its administration during the past year, which the Trustees report, has been equally suc- cessful with that of any other year, al. though attended by many changes.
 The directors of the Industrial School for Girls report the condition of the school as in every way satisfactory, although they pressed for room to aceommedate the present number of inmates; its income being sufficient for It's expenses with a balance in its Treasury.
 Since the opening of the school two hundred and twenty two girls have been received. Ninety-one remain at present. The payments from the State Treasury, on account of the school, during the year having been something over sixteen thou sand dollars.
 Under resolution of the last General Assembly. I appointed William K. Seeley of Bridgeport and Samuel 4. York of New Haven to revise the pauper laws of the State--but their report is not yet com. pleted.
 PENAL RESTRICTION.
 Under the successful administration of Warden Hewes the affairs of the State Prison are in a satisfactory condition.
 In spite of adverse circumstances, the income of the Prison during the year has exceeded its expenses by the sum of two thousand seven hundred and twelve dol lars and seventeen cents ($2, ,712.1D.
 There are two hundred and thirty-six (236) convicts in the State prison Gall but five being males), an increase of fifty over the previous year. Ninety-fve are natives of Connecticut and eighty-nine natives of other states in the Union
 The commission continued from the last session of the General Assembly to inquire into the penal treatment of inebriates and kindred offenders, will at this session make report which you will find to be of special interest. The facts presented are exceedingly valuable and need to be very carefully considered. The gentlemen of this commission have devoted themselves to its objects with a disinterested zeal that must add great weight to the recom- medations they make.
 EDUCATION.
 The popular interest in public education is very strikingly evidencedIby the changes which our school system has undergone during the last ten years and since the or- ganization of the State Board of Educa. ton To appreciate them fully I must refer you to the statistical details accom-. panying the report of the Board for the present year. There has never been so large a proportion of the children of the state taught in public schools as at pres ent and, notwithstanding the depression of business, the sums raised and expended for the schools during the past year have largely exceeded the expenditure of any previous year. Whether the regularity of school attendance would not be increased, and therefore much desired advantage gained, by provision that the appropria- tlon from the State Treasury to the sever al towns shall be apportioned on the basis of such regularity of attendance, is a question now mooted and which I submit for your consideration.
 THE NATIONAL GUARD. -..,.- ; The Adjutant Generals report will give to you, in detail, the condition of the National Guard of the state. It maintains it's high state efficiency, which is second to that of no other state military force in inc Union. The present force is compos- ed of thirty-six companies of Infantry divided into four regiments and one sec ton of Light Artillery, giving total of twenty three hundred and ninety-three l2393) officers and men. The commuta- tlon tax shows a slight increase and is sufficient to defray all the ordinary ex- penses of the force. a-r r.r .....,-..- ls REVISION OF CONSTITUTION. z55
 Pursuant to the act of the last General Assembly, the proposed amendment to Gha tsnncfTfutiar, nf kHa eAc c&1