Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-20

an establishment the money expended will go
much further and yield more satisfactory results.
/ therefore recommend that you give the subject
careful examination and such aid as in your Judg-
ment the interest of the state requires.
HAsTY LEGISLATION.
There are two evils which, III my opinion, you
should seek equally TO avoid. One Of these is I'M
duly prolongtng the session, every day of which
visits considerable burden upon the Treasury.
The otser is undue haste in the dispatch of bust
ness in the cltsing days OF the session, which
leads to the passage of crude laws, and makes it
impossible for the Governor to exercise proper
care in the examination Of bills that presented
for his approval. The remedy for both evils is, it
seems to me, that you should apply yourselves
promptly to the labors before you. and mature the
more important projects Of legislation at the earl
est possible day.
/ cannot impress upon you too strongly that in
all respects you will best meet the wishes of the
people by q strict regard for economy. In pur-
suance of this policy there is saving trifing
but that it is duty to realize it if can The
business Of the State ought to be transacted with
the smallest number of agents that transact it
efficiently. and possibilities for retrenChment
ought to be sought diligently in all departments of
the Government, and wherever they may be found
they ought to be improved to the utmost. 1t
has been remarked, with what justice [ cannot
assume to say, that the expenses incident to the
sessions OF the Legislature are greater than are
warranted by actual necessity. Ii such shall ap-
pear to be the fact if it shall he found that there
is single officer or attendant that can be dis
pensed with or any other source of expenditure
that can be closed, [ earnestly recommend that you
apply the remedy. In all departments of the Gov
eminent the same course should be pursued, and,
in your efforts to this end, pledge yOu my hearty
cooperation. The conditions that now surround
the people of this country call for private and pub
lie economy and for the reform of any habits of
Wasteful or needless expenditure into which we
may have fallen under more prosperous Circun-
stances.
STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND REFORM.
The State Board of Charities and Reform have
prepared very full report of their work for the
year and in submitting it to you l would call
your attention specially to the passages appro-
priatiOns and prison reform. The members Of the
board have critically examined the reports and
condition of the State institutions under their
supervision, and their recommendations are en-
titled to great weight. The of criminals is an
Important part of every scheme of good govern
ment, but, however much the penal statutes of the
State need systematizng, radical and fundament-
a changes ofthe law should not be made except
upon the most mature deliberations.
CONCLUSION.
It's not the part of wisdom disguise the fact that
the people of this State, in common with those OF
all other sections of the Union have suffered
abatement of the prosperity that they have
Joyed III the past. At the same time it is mani
testify true that in the relative condition of our
State there is abundant cause for CongratuatOn
and for gratitude to the Providence that has made
our history a record of uniform progress. We may
accept it az evidence Of the natural advantages
of Wisconsin, of the solid foundation upon which
her industrial and commercial interests are built
and of the intelligence and integrity of her Citi-
Zens, that amid the depressing conditions that
have oYeraken the country the credit of our bust
ness men has been only slightly impaired, that
our fiscal institutions have. with very few eXCep-
tons, maintained their sovency and that labor has
generally been able to command employment.
We have entered. gentlemen, upon the centen-
NAL of our existence az an independent nation It
is fit that we should renew the spirit in which the
Republic had its birth, and determination that
1t shall endure to fulfill the great purposes off its
existence and to justify the noble sacrifices of its
founders. Let us to whom the interests and the
honor of one of the States of the Union have been
committed invite the inspiration of the anniversa-
ry, and, with firm resolve that Wisconsin shall
bear her part wOrthily in the ssterhOod of States
proceed with the dis charge of our trust.
HARRISON LUDINGTON.
MADISON, Jan. Il, 1876.
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