Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-01-15

a state tax of S24e, 900 in addition to taxes now
by law will be ample for all purposes.
My views upon the subject of appropriations are
well known, and it is unnecessary to elaborate
them at this time, The people of Wisconsin
are both able amp willing to pay all taxes levied
for necessary and Legitimate purposes, but they
insist that the came rules OF prudence and econ
omy shall obtain in public affairs that wise men
use in the conduct of their private affairs.
The reports Of the state superintendent and of
the boards of regents of the university and nor
NAL schools will be laid before you in due time,
giving full information as to the progress and
present condition of our public educational sys-
tem-the report of the regents of the university
being accompanied by an able and interesting
report by Professor w. w. Daniels, concerning
the tornadOes of last May. .t....T -.. 4.
1t does not need that should commend these
reports to your most earnest and careful consld-
Grafton. Whether viewed in regard TO their
transcendent Importance or their immense cost,
the schools of Wisconsin justly occupy most
prominent position inpnblic affairs In addition
to the amounts realized from the trust funds. and
the amount paid for tuition text boOks and other
school expenses, the. sum of So O61,162, more
than one fourth of all the money raised by taxa
ton for all purposes, goes TO their support.
I believe that our university. normal schools,
and the public schools proper. as well as the
universities colleges, academies, and the many
other excellent private schools not supported by
the state, are improving from year to year, that
they were never in better condition, or doing
more effective work than now. would not have
their capacity for usefulness in the least de-
".
larged; but that it may be so, and our present
system retain the public confidence it is tndis-
pensable that economy and Wisdom should
characterize all expenditures -sss E.mafE
/ sincerely hope that the textbook COmms-
sion, appointed by the last Legislature, may be
able to present for your consideration some feas.
ible plan for securing a uniformity in textbooks
throughout the state, and greatly reducing their
COST and that you will be able to afford the people
very material relief IN this direction a.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.
IN ri school
cha, report the whole number of boys in attend
ance during the year to have been 527, the aver
age attendance $50. and the number present at
the close OF the fiscal year 40. The expenditures
for the year amount to S4S,721.4 The expenses
OF the current year are estimated at s4511925, OF
which S1,l19.25 will be received from counties,
and the balance Of $34, 900, they ask may be ap-
pr Opriated by the legislature. -...
Attention is called to the Overcrowded cond1-
ton of the buildings and it is very evident that
unless in some way relieved provision must he
made for more room. The managers estimate
that with the funds and material on hand and an
additional appropriation of S1S,OOO two addition
al buildings, with capacity to accommodate 100
boys. can be erected and furnished.
l have no official report from the managers of
the industrial school for girls in Mi waukee, but
am able to say from personal knowledge, that the
appropriation made last winter has been most jul
diciously and economically expended The city
of Milwaukee has conveyed to the state most
eligible site, containing nearly nine acres, for the
location of the Institution, and structure in
every way adaptedto its wants has been erected
thereon, and is now nearlyyOr quite ready for oc-
cupancy. -h# esA e Ess e z as
DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
There are now in the industrial School FOR
Boys about one hundred boys, sent thither, not
are '' incarrigiblc but solely because s' they
have homes, and there is no 9TH
er place for them except the poor house. 1t is
not the best policy to senu such children to an
Institution OF that character. The true place for
them is in families: but for various reasons it
seems difficult to find places for them from that
school.
For this class of children the state Of Michigan
has provided distinct state school, which has
been in operation nearly five years. and is ac-
counted one OF their most successful charities. |
should very reluctantly approve any measure
looking to the creation of another state institu
ton in Wisconsin, requiring the present eXpend-
iture of any considerable sum of II oney, even for
so worthy purpose as the one now under con-
slderation. 1t will be remembered, however,
that Ex-Governor c.. G. WaShburn, with most
commendable lberality and philanthropy, last
winter rendered to the state free gift, his ele
CANT and COmmOdiOus residence at EdgewOOd,
near this city. and the grounds connected there
with, some fifty acres in extent. TO be used as an
industrial school for girls In view of what had
already been accomplished in this direction by
an association of ladies in Milwaukee, and the
reasonable expectation of the future success Of
their plans with very limited aid from the
state 1t was not deemed expedient TO accept the
generous offer for the specific purpose deSgna-
ted. but joint resolution was adopted accepting
it for that or such other purpose as might be APP
proved by the donor, and l have been given to
understand that if itshall be the pleasure of the
state to accept this properly and establish there
! school for dependent children, it will be con-
yeyed to the state for that purpose. s-.t.
Believing that such an institution may be made
the means of accomplishing great good, by res
culng the children Tor whom 1t may be designed
from lives OF ldleness, pauperiSm and crime. and
from thus becoming the progenitors of long lines
Of pauperS and criminals, and conceding the ne
ceSsty for the erection OF additional buildings at
WaukeSha, unless that school can be in some
way relieved, l commend the whole subject to
your careful consideration and wise judgment,
and shall cheerfully cooperate with you in car
rying forward any measure that may be deter
mined upon.
ts STATE PRISON -
The number Of conyiCtS confined in the state pris-
on, September 80, 1878, 346; the highest number
during the year $685. and the average 337 an in
crease of AZ the average for the previous year.
The number received during the year was 213 and
the number discharged, including two deaths and
escape, 49, The receipts from all sources were
$40, 743 10, and the disbursements So 0SS.65 The
estimated expenditures for the year ending Septem-
Der 80 1872 including the completion Of work in the
north cell room, S51 73S Is. The current earn
ing of the prisoners about twothirds the cur
rent expenses, but the deficiency will be supplied by
collections accounts of sales of chairs wagons
You should not in any degree relax proper legs-
latve scrutiny into the management of the prison.
cause it does not apply for appropriation. The
recommendations submitted by the directors and
warden, should receive your early and attentive con-
sideration t..
Reflection, study, and personal observation,
have led me to believe in the expediency OF a
most radical change in the law relating to SEN
fences. This is not the place, even if time would
permit, to argue this question at length. Both
the law and judges are too lenient in dealing
with professional criminals. Many times the
sentences pronounced in such cases are but little
better than traVestieS upon justice, and do not
tend to beget respect for the law on the part of
the offender or any one else. The opposite ex-
IRENE is sometimes reached, and sentences are
made too severe. Many of these cases come be-
fore the governor on applications for pardon
which it is difficult to deny, Notwithstanding it is
well known that every pardon granted in such
cases tends to weaken the public confidence in
law and its judicial administration. The inc
quality of sentences is another most serious eyi
to which attention has frequently been called
and which should not be longer overlooked. ]
ask your attention to the tables on pages 81 and
81 of the prison report setting forth the actual
results of the law as it now is.
A system under which such errors and Injustice
possible though hallowed by the practice of
centuries. ought not to be continued. Wisconsin
may better lead than follow in this matter of
prison reform. The substitution Of indetermin-
ate FIR fixed sentences has been successfully
tried, and is approved by those who have given
the subject most thought. and have had opportu-
nifty for widest observation. ..
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. ..
The report Of the trustees of the soldiers Or
phans' home shows that in pursuance of the pro-