The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-01-18

deficiency will be supplied by collections on
accounts OF sales OF chair and wagons.
You should not in any degree relax a
proper legislative scrutiny into the manage.
ment OF the prison, because it does not apply
for an appropriation. The recommendations
submitted by The directors and warden.
should receive your early and attentive
consideration
Reflection, study and personal observa-
tion nave led me to believe in the expedi-
ency OF d most radical change in the law re-
latlng to sentences. This is not the place,
even II time would permit, to argue this
question at length. Both the law and judges
are too Ienient in dealing with professional
criminals. Many times the sentences pro-
nounced 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 extreme is sometimes reached, and
sentences are maze too severe. Many of
these cases come before 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
inequality of sentences is another and most
serious evil, to which attention has been
frequently 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 are 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 indeterminate for hxed
sentences has been successfully tried, and
is approval by those who have given the
subject most thought, and have had oppor-
tunity for widest observation.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The report of the trustees of the Soldiers
Orphans Home shows that in pursuance of
the provisions of chapter y of the laws of
1874, there has been paid for bounties TO the
mothers or other legal guardians OF the
former inmates of the Home, and for ex-
penses connected with the administration
of this trust, and the distribution of the
Ward and Smith fund, the sum of 81 1924,
leaving balance of $33337 in the hands OF
the treasurer, September 30, 1878. The
names of twenty children still remain upon
the rolls entitled to bounty during the cur
rent year, and it is estimated that the sum
of 5000, in addition to the amount on hand,
will be required 10 meet these demands.
Inadvertently the whole law relating to
this subject was repealed by the revision OF
the statutes, so that there is now no board
of trustees, or other body, or officer,
to carry out the provisions OF the
law of 1874, or to complete the distribution
of the Ward and Smith fund. | recommend,
tn erefore, the re-enactment of so much of
the law IS may be necessary under the cir
now existing, and the appropria-
ton of the amount asked for by the trustees
in their report.
Wisconsin has appropriated from her
state treasury 1888, 100, to aid in the educa.
ton and support of her soldiers orphans.
No money was ever more cheerfully paid,
or more worthily applied. 1t is not proposed
to continue payments beyond the present
year, and henceforth this noble charity will
live only in history, and the hearts of the
hundreds of fatheriess children who have
been the recipients of the bounty of CRATE
ful people.
The report of the trustees of the Northern
hospital fer the insane shows that 727 pa
tients have beeI.caytd for st that institution
at cost Of 5 At, $40, inclusive of $32, 707.5 80
expended for repairs and improvements.
The average number of patients was SAB,
and the number under treatment at the
close of the year $50. The estimated ex-
penses for the present year amount to $121,-
S84, of which $47, $3.50. 40 will be received
from counties.
The Wisconsin State hospital for the in
sane has had a total of $50 patients during the
year, the average been $50 and the number
under treatment at the close OF the year.
$685. The expenditures have been STA, 443-
92, inclusive of S105 33 for repairs and
The estimates for the pres
ent year are $120, 900, of which $37 1872 Is will
be received from counties.
Milwaukee county has availed itself of
the provisions of chapter 29S of the laws of
1878, and has under contract an asylum de-
signed to accommodate $50 patients. With
this building completed, | anticipate that
the pressure upon the state hospitals will be
so removed that most, if not all, of the in
sane in the state may be comfortably ac-
commodated.
The expenditures at the institution for
the education of the blind have been $19,-
950.97, including 81, 5S2 50 for completing
building and grounds, and house furnish
ing. The average number of pupils in at
tendance was II, and the total during the
year 80. The trustees ask an appropriation
of SIS 800 TO enable them to meet the ex-
penses of the present year.
At the Wisconsin institute for the educa-
ton of the deaf and dumb, $50 pupils were
enrolled, and the average number in at
tendance was 40. The expenditures were
p29, 522. 40, and the trustees ask an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the cutren: year.
In April last, various charges of immora!
and corrupt conduct, on tn part of trustees
and teachers connected with this institute,
were brought to my attention, and it be-
came necessary that an investigation into
its management should be made Accord
lngly, at the request of its board of trustees,
who expressed a desire that rigorous ex-
animation might be had by disinterested
and impartial tribunal, the state board of
charities and reform was directed to make
the investigation, and report the facts of
the case in.full as provided by law.
Inc investigation was made and the re-
port thereof filed in the executive office,
July 8, 1878. 1t satisfactorily appears from
a careful persual of this report, that the
investigation was both thorough and i'm
partial, and that the gravest of the charges,
including all those against the trustees, were
proven to have been unfounded.
The general condition and management
of the business and education affairs of the
institute were warmly, and as ] believe,
very Justly commended.
copy OF this report was furnished to
the local beard Of trustees, VINO proceeded
to make further inquiries in the premises,
and upon mature consideration, dispensed
with the further service Of the steward and
reelected the superintendent The men,
bers OF this board are gentlemen of in-
tegrIty and good Judgment who deseryedlv
rank among our best citizens Ii seems 70
me, therefore, but prudent TO let time and
experience determine whether in this mat
ter they have acted wisely. | am fully ner.
suaded that upon the first indication that
the interests of the school are being
by any action of theirs, thew
Will unhesita ingly modify it as the occas-
ion may require.
AS required by law, have visited all the
state Ins tituti1us during the past year and
take great pleasure in saying that | found
them, each and all, in most excellent order
and apparently answering the ends for
which they were established and are main