Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-01-21

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to delay to provide suitable temno
rary home and school for Dependent
children, place to which they may h,
sent and from which they may be dis
tributed without having their misfor
tunes increased by the state.
STATE PRISON
The number Of conyicts confined ir
the state prison September 30 1850
was 271,-thirty-two less than Were
there 4 year previous, and decrease
Of sixty-nine in two years. The com
mitments during the year were 12l
OF the prisoners received only twelve
are known to have been previously in
any prison, and only ten could neither
read nor write. The total expenditures
for the year were $44 ,0S2.SS, an in
crease of Sl,157.SS over the amount
estimated i'll the preceding report, and
of this sum S47379 was paid on nc
count previous unreported liabilities.
The amount paid for salaries and wages
was $15,296.71, and for subsistence,
S14,2l473. The convicts' earnings were
$27 ,S734O. The expenses for the cur
rent year are estimated ut 81, 10000,
and the earnings mt $27 10000, but the
deficiency will he supplied from the
assets on hand and ne appropriation
\ will be necessary.
The reports of the directors and
wardens set forth very clearly all mat
tiers connected with the management
and condition Of the prison, and be-
speak for them Il careful perusal. 1t
must be matter of just pride to every
citizen that our prison population is
comparatively so small, and it is in
every way creditable to I'LL connected
with the administration Of prison af-
fairs that SO few of its discharged pri-
soncrs are reconvicted Of crime; but
the perfection of prison discipline can
not, in my judgment, be attained until
the laws are modified by the substitu-
ton Of indcterminate for fixed sen
fences.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The whole number of patients treat
ed mt the Northern Hospital for the
Insane during the last fiscal year was
10, the daily average 529 $40 and the
number under treatment at the close
of the year 4S9. The number dis
charged recovered was II, improved
73, and unimproved II. OF those dis
charged -. were removed to the State
Hospital and SO to the Milwaukee
County Insane Asylum. The total ex-
penditures were $13S,910-4j, Of which
1929, 056.22 were for current expenses.
The current expenditures for the
present calendar year are estimated ut
1921 1892, which will require an APP
preparation of S70,3l9.67 in addition to
the amount to be received from coun-
ties, and the surplus. which it was ex-
pected would remain on hand mt the
beginning of the year. The trustees
request special appropriations to the
amount of $l6,SO0.O0 for purposes
specified i'll their report.
The Wisconsin State Hospital has
given treatment to 753 patients during
the year, with daily average of 800,
and $50 under Treatment mt its close
The number discharged from the
hospital recovered is reported at
+, the number improved ut a, ami
the number unimproved at Il The
total expenditures were Sl7S,317 %; of
which $4S, $4,000 were paid for previous
years liabilities, and $453S.3i on nc
count of special appropriations. The
current expenditures for the present
year are estimated ut $l34 $4,000 re-
curing I'M appropriation of SSS,32600
in addition to funds on hand and
amount to be received from counties.
The trustees of this hospital also re-
quest special appropriations for the
purpose set forth i'll their report in
amounts aggregating So GOO.
In obedience to Il Joint resolution in
that behalf adopted by the last legisl.
ture, | appointed Senators Sutherland,
McGrcw and Smith, Il committee to in
vestigate the affairs of this hospital.
This committee has, believe, most
faithfully and thoroughly performed
the duties assigned them, and their re-
port, with the accompanying testimony
and papers, was filed in the executive
Office December -, where they now re-
main subject to such disposition as you
may be pleased to make of them.
There seemed to be such il general de-
sire to he informed concerning this re-
port that, with my permission, copies
Of it We're made, and it has been pub
liShcd in many newspapers. 1t is
therefore unnecessary that should oc-
cupy any considerable time in present
ing the conclusions arrived at, or the
recommendation made by this com
mittee 1t sutfices to say that the com
mittee find many things TO criticise and
some to condemn, in the methods and
manner III which the business matters
Of the hospital have been conducted,
and in the absence of order iii the
management of its multitudinOus de-
tails. Much of this, in the opinion OF
the committee, was incident to, if not
inherent i'll, the system Of government
provided by law, and they accordingly
recommend radical change III the
manner Of supervising and governing
the states charitable institutions.
by substituting for the several To-
cal boards OF management, one gen
eral board Of control for all The sub.
iect is one Of grave importance. inyoly-
ing the conservation Of the high and
widely diverse purposes for which these
institutions Were established, rs well rs
systematic and economical business
management. While, therefore, the
recommendation OF the committee
should receive Your most COnsideratp