The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

The message of Gov. Smith is 'splain
unvarnished" document, no effort being
| made at literary excellence nor is it filled
with suggestions relative to needed legis-
lation. 1t contains many valuable statis-
tics gathered from the reports made to
the governor by the heads of institutions
and state officers. The message is brief
and is not given to lengthy discussion
of any subject. 1t is to be regretted that
the governor did not more fully discuss
the need of provision for the care of the
Insane of the state. He simply refers to
the number cared for by the two state
institutions, and the fact that Milwaukee
has adopted the County Insane Asylum
system. The governor, if he were pro-
perly acquainted with the needs of the
state in this respect and the impractical
bility of the law of 1873 to any county.
except Milwaukee, would have counseled
the repeal OF that law and an appropria-
ton to enlarge the present state institu-
fortunate people of the state.
The governor devotes some space to
education and very wisely counsels econ
omy and wisdom in appropriations to
Normal Schools and the University. He
also suggest the ACCESSIBILITY of providing
q school for the care of dependent child
ren and the acceptance by the state of
the proffered gift of ex Governor Wash
burn for that purpose. in treating of
the charges made against the trustees
and teachers of the institute for the deaf
and dumb, the governor lays himself
open to the most unfayorable criticism
The governor must be in possession Of
information not given to the general
public, on which he bases the opinion
that the grave charges were unfounded.
The people generally, perhaps with the
exception of Gov. Smith, the trustees
and the board of Charities and Reform,
were of the opinion that the charges were
sufficiently proved to justify the dis
| charge of Denote as well as the Stew
ard. But the Board whitewashed and
the trustees re-engaged De Motto, though
it was indisputably proved that he was
very improper person to be in charge of
| the institute. When the governor states
that the general management Of the
institute was very highly commended, he
| puts himself in the position of counter
ancing the proceeding of De Note,
which raised such howl of Indignation
throughout the state.
The suggestions relative to the necess-
| ity of laws relating to ban kruptcy in the
absence of any United States law on the
subject, SO as to prevent voluntary as
| signments to the prejudice of other credi-
| tors, and his advice to enact law more
severely Furnishing vagabondage, will
meet the hearty approval of every law
abiding citizen. His remarks on the IN
wise leniency Of the law in the punish
ment of some offenses will, it is hoped
| bring about needed reformation in this
respect. As great an evil as light SEN
fences for heinous offences, is the indis-
criminate pardoning of criminals by the
governor. A petition seems to be ON
nipotent in securing the pardon of SEN
fenced criminal no matter how just his
and signatures are easily obtained. A
little more sturdy denial to prayers for
pardoning would be as productive of as
much good as more severe penalties for
the commission Of crime.
The governor concludes his message
with reference to intimidation at the
south. The growing public sentiment
against intimidation before election and
| frauds after election is sort of two edged
| sword But the national government
does not care to punish frauds after cleo
. tion.