The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-13


Sent So 1875, inventory
OF property amounted .,-.
Outstanding claims and
cash. .............. .fbh,<9i...
Less llabIltes............ 5i6@62e ,,s,,,
Permanent improve o,.,.o,
Old accounts paid. go. l3,6O96l
Total. .9G5,OO4l
Net gain............. sl5173.9i
The sanitary condition of the prison is be.
yOnG all precedent,-due largely to plain,
wholesome diet, pune water, comfortable
clothing, regular habits, and the best medi.
cal attendance. Yet, the confinement OF so
many in small cells and III one dollhouse,
tells upon the general health After few
years of Imprisonment many convlcts go out
with broken constitutions. This Is no part
of the punishment contemplated by law: and
humanity, Christianity, and the civilization
of the age demand n remedy.
The general depression in business has ma
terially affected the financial interests Of the
penltentiary. Idleness, starvation, and suffer
ing are the sources of crime, and have IN
creased the number of convicts. 1t has been
difficult and even impossible to find remun.
erative employment for all. Many have been
employed at reduced rates. The contractors,
like other business men, have suffered by de
probation ofvalues and the dizziness of trade.
The surprise Is that the penitentiary, amid
the financial disasters of the country, has
been carried on without state aid It's out.
standing claims, if paid, would meet its la
billtes and leave balance in its favor. II
the present state OF things continue long, it is
apparent the penitentIary must have some re-
lief. How much, and in what manner, ! sub
nit to the wisdom and judgment Of the legis.
Lot, Ia I nl,n Int AN
suggestion: BY law each convict on his
discharge from prison, is furnished by the
penIentiary with a suit Of new clothes,
transportation to his county, and $40 bounty
money. The amount expended for such pur.
poses the last two years Is over $4,000. As
this expenditure Is made for the benefit of the
convict after the prison doors are closed be
hind him, I recommend that the state here.
after assume this burden and the necessary
appropriation be made therefor.
The crowded condition of the penltentiary,
and the steady and probable increase of the
number of convicts sre causes of alarm. Larg-
cr accommodations are required and human.
ity and the administration of justice impera-
lively demand the same. This subject should
be carefully considered, and some definite ac-
tion taken by this legislature. All the cnar-
liable and educational buildings are now fin
shed and, financially, the state can now per
haps better undertake to enlarge Its prison
accommodations than at any former time.
There will be a difference Of opinion as to
what additional accommodations should be
furnished. Some may suggest system of
warehouses established throughout the state,
in the larger counties or cities, for the con
fnement of the younger and less hardened
offenders. This system would save transpor
tation and Avoid the association of hardened
criminals Some may favor another peniten
tiary and, notwithstanding the presence OF
penitentary has 10 elevalng tendency, nat
urally and properly will claim its location.
A new prison should be located in the cen
lral or southern part OF the state, and conve
nient TO stone, fuel, water, and market. Such
location would lessen the expense OF build
ing, maintenance, and operation. Others may
favor an addition TO the pententiary at Joliet
BY the aid of convict labor the penltentIary
could be duplicated at the cost of about $780,
OO0-less than half the original cost. 1t could
be managed by one set OF officers, and grad
ed prison established. But the propriety of
so many cOuviCis into one lnsti
tuition is matter worthy of consideration
Whatever views may be entertained BY this
general assembly, it is important that some
plan be devised for the relief of the peni.
Tertiary
AGRILULTURE.
"The department OF agriculture" was estab-
lished in 1871. BY appropriations and pub
LEGATION of ITS annual report, il has been reor'
ganzed and aided by every legislature since
tina, time. The state has assigned 1t large!
and commOdIOus rooms in the new capitol.
lis officers contemplate an agricultural mu,I
scum. The department represents the most
important interest in the state. In addltionI
to The usual appropriations to state and cOun-I
~ fairs, advise that the state provide for the
salary of the secretary of state board of agri.
culture, necessary clerks, office expenses, and
care of rooms | also advise thatthe geologl-I
cal specimens he placed in the care of the
state board of agricullure; and the museum
be fitted up Tor geological and agricultural
collections, aud such horticultural and en-
tomological collections, as the the Illinois
State Horticultural society and the stale en-
may desire to deposit therein.
recommend the usual appropriation to-
the Illinois State Horticultural society, and a
reasonable appropriation to the state entomo-
lrgIst for office and travelling expenses.
TAXATION.
Great dissatisfaction exists among the peo-
pie growing out q! the revenue system.
BY the constitution, 1.-THE general assembly
snail prOVluc SuCh revenue rs may De neeulul
by lrvying taA, by valuation, so that every
person and corporation shall pay tax in pro-
portion to his, her, ar its property" but the
general assembly has power to tax certain
persons, interests, and franchises. Revenue
must be provided by one or both Of these
methods Though the general assembly has
power To tax certain persons, interests, and
franchises, ii is required TO provide such reve-
nue. as may be needful, uy levy ing "a tax by
valuation. II such revenue as may be need
ful is thus provided there can be no necessity
to resort TO the other mode OF taxation If all,
or part of the revenue is raised by taxing per.
sons, interests and franchises, can the other
requirement of the constitution be observed q
No II after how the constitution may be con-
slrued, the policy of the state, for a long peri
I'D, has been 10 raise the most Of the revenues,
state and municipal, by levying "a tax by valu
alton. On the principle that property is to-
a IL. Of ~ lie