Litchfield enquirer., 1880-01-15

'that careful consideration should be given to proposed changes in laws relating to in vestments. that public confidence in the banks may not in any measure be weakened" In this advice I heartily unite '' s'''
 Task your careful attention to what they say respecting the bonds of treasurers of sav- ings banks and of trust companies. ...,- ..f- l cannot forbear to call your attention to the manner in which the Commissioners speak Eof certain misconduct on the part of some off cers of savings banks. I deem it worthy of praise If all watchmen set to guard the pub lie would speak out as plainly and as fear lessly as do these, there would be much less official misdning and a great deal less occa- sion for public regret.
 STATE BOUNDARY LINE. ..
 The boundary line between this State and the State of New York on our western and southern border has never been mutually agreed upon. This condition occasioned great uncertainty, frequent disputes and much vexation to the citizens of both States living along the lines This matter was brought to he1,tttention of the Legislature in 1878, when an act was passed providing for the ap- pointHient. by the Governor, of commisslon- CTS authorized to meet like commissioners on the part of New York, who should be empow- cred tp settle and agree upon the said bounda. ry lines No concurring legislation was had by the State of New York till March, 1879, when the Secretary of State, the. Attorney General and the State Engineer were created the commissioners on the part of the State with power precisely similar to the power of the Commissioners of Connecticut. Upon re- ceiving notice of such action, appointed Hon. Origen s. Seymour, Hon. Lafayette s. T. II<,.~ TN | missioners on the part of this State. The resolution under which those Commis- sioners were appointed provides that they shall make their report to the General Assem- l bly. lam informed that they are prepared l so to fFport, and am also informed that the | joint Commission has unanimously agreed upon the entire boundary line between the two SAtes defining accurately the limits of this State upon the west and south. l ain not officially advised as to the details | of the agreement, but know mat the Commis- | sioners of both States have examined the mat ter in difference with great care and industry. | The well known character of the Commission | CTS for learning and integrity gives to their action the force of a judicial determination
 It may, in some particulars, not be precisely l as we would like, but think the State IS pledged to abide by the result I recommend that the agreement be ratified by the General Assembly.
 - -5.a OYSTER COMMISSION
 Tue immense tracts of valuable oyster ground on the southerly boundaries of the State, which are at present unused, and which it was believed could be 80 disposed of as to bring large sum into the treasury of the State, induced :he last Legislature te provide for commission of three persons to prepare a plan for the gradual disposal of such grounds. Upon this commission appointed Hon. Robert Colt of New London, Hon. Hen- ry B. Graves of Litchfeld, and Charles w. Bell, Esq, of Norwalk They have attended | to the duty with which they were charged, and will report to you the plan which they have agreed upon. and which, 1 have no l doubt, will be acceptable to you, and of great value to the State.
 The whole number of persons confined at the State Prison on the Both day of November last was 251. There has been received dur ing the year no, and discharged 137. The income from the prison has been sufficient to pay for the board, clothiDg.~and medical care of the prisoners, the salaries of all the off, cers, with the incidental expenses, and leave balance os $692. 19 to credit for the new
 
 Treasury, on account of the Prison, the sum of $,7, GA 95, which has been expended for re- pairs, and for other purposes not mentioned above.
 | The new direction of the prison. ordered by the last Legislature, went into operation on the first of April. These Directors have brought great intelligence to the discharge of their duty, have expended much time, and have displayed the utmost zeal and public spirit. After careful inquiry they chose a warden. and changed many of the other of ficers The new officers have faithfully sec ontied the efforts of the Directors The re- suit has been successful almost beyond expec- tation. Our prison, save that it is an old fash toned, structure, built before any of the mod ern improvements in prison buildings came in- to use, might well be a model. In cleanliness, healthfulness, good order; in the intelligence activity, judgment and fidelity of all the off, cers; in the obedience, cheerfulness, industry and discipline of the prisoners; and in that general feeling of satisfaction, security and pride which comes from doing, and doing we'll the work which it is set to do, the State Prison of Connecticut is now surpassed by no institu- tion of similar kind in America.
 For few years past some classes of work ingmen have contended that the system of con- tractor labor in use at the State prison unjust ly affected them Tbey applied to the Gener al Assembly of 1879 TOT some legislation. Such action was had that commission consi- sting of not more than five persons was auth orized to be appointed by the Governor, whose duty it should be to inquire into the feasibility of abolishing the system of con- tract labor carried on at the prison, and to de- wise some plan for the employment of the prisoners other than by contract {; and |. to in quire further what kinds of employment could be successfully carried on in the prison with the least conflict to established interests On the commission appointed Lucius P. Deming of New Haven, W. F. Wilcox of miah Tierney of Norwalk, and Merrick A. Marcey of Union. Their report will be laid before you at an early day. This is an i'm portant matter, involving on the one hand the interests of many working men, ard on the other possibly requiring an entire change in the management of the prisoners. I trust you will be able to devise some plan whereby the labor of the prisoners can he utilized in re- muneratiye way without unjustly bearing up- on the labor of honest men. as' }t''' @7~7
 Alspecial law, passed in 1869, provides that the Governor, in certain cases, shall issue an order to take any person confined in the State prison, who shall become insane, Jto the Gen eral Hospital at Middletown. During the last summer the Warden of the prison reported to me that two or three conviets were insane, and requested that measures be taken for their transferto the Hospital One of these was a man confined in the Prison for murder and whose Insanity impelled him to murder every body else. The life of no person within his power was safe for an instant At the Prison he could be so restrained that he could not take the life of any one. At the Hospital his presence would endanger the lives of many. Under these circumstances deemed it my duty not to approve the report or to make the order for the transfer 's 5'e' -'ta a~'
 The Hospital is overcrowded, and is obliged to reject or postpone pending applications for admission of persons who are not criminal Besides, it is a question of very grave doubt whether the criminal insane can safely or wisely be put into the same institution with the innocent. I recommend the repeal of this act, and that some special provision be made for insane conyicts tsl.5f s.Fs" '-t7 5tf
 THE INDECENT INSANE. egEy