Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-20

grounds of right or expediency, longer
to delay to provide a suitable tempo
rary home and school for dependent
children, place to which they NAV be
sent and from which they may be dis
trlbuted without having their misfor-
tunes increased by the state.
STATE PRISON
The number Of convicts confined in
the state prison September 30, 1880,
was 217,-thirty-two less than were
there q year previous, and a decrease
OF slXty-nlne in two years. The COM
mltments during the year were 121.
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 $44,082. S8. an in
crease of 81, .8S over the amount
estimated in the preceding report, and
of this sum S473.79 was paid on ac-
count Of previous unreported liabilities
The amount paid for salaries and wages
was So, 1861, and for subsistence
Sl4, 2l4.73. The convicts' earnings were
ST ,S73.4O. The expenses for the cur
rent year are estimated at $40. 100000
and the earnings at $27 10000. but the
deficiency will be supplied from the
assets on hand and no 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 I be-
speak for them a 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 all connected
with the administration of prison af-
fairs that so few of its discharged pri-
soners are reconyicted 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 indeterminate for fixed SEN
fences.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The whole number of patients treat
ed at the Northern Hospital for the
Insane during the last fiscal year was
719, the daily average 529 $40, and the
number under treatment at the close
of the year 4S9. The number dis
charged recovered was ~, improved
73, and unimproyed II. OF those dis
charged % were removed to the State
Hospital and SO to the Milwaukee
County Insane Asylum. The total ex-
penditures were $138, 91045, of which
$129, O56.22 were for current expenses.
The current expenditures for the
present calendar year are estimated at
$121 ,863.92 which will require an ap-
preparation of 70,319.67 in addition to
the amount to be received from coun-
ties, and the surplus..which it was ex-
pected would remain on hand at the
beginning of the year. The trustees
request special appropriations to the
amount of $16,S00.00 for purposes
specified in their report.
The Wisconsin State Hospital has
given treatment to 753 patients during
the year, with daily average of $50,
and $50 under Treatment at its close.
The number discharged from the
hospital recovered is reported at
~, the number improved at AZ, and
the number unimproved at IS. The
total expenditures were $17S,317 80; of
which $48, 1863. 90 were paid for previous
years liabilities, and $4,538.34 on &C
count of special appropriations. The
current expenditures for the present
year are estimated at 1874, $4,000, re-
quiring an appropriation Of $88,326.00
III 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 in their report in
amounts aggregating $27 600.
In obedience to Joint resolution in
that behalf adopted by the last legisla-
ture, appointed Senators Sutherland,
McGrew and Smith, a 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 a general de-
sire to be informed concerning this re-
port that, with my permission, copies
of it were made, and it has been pub
lished III 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 suffices to say that the COM
mittee find many things to criticise and
some to condemn, in the methods and
manner in which the business matters
of the hospital have been conducted.
and in the absence of order in the
management Of its multitudinous de-
tails. Much of this, in the opinion of
the committee, was incident to, if not
inherent IN, the system of government
provided by law, and they accordingly
recommend a radical change in 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
ject is one of grave Importance, involv
ing the conservation of the high and
widely diverse purposes for which these
institutions were established, as we'll as
systematic and economical business
management. While, therefore, the
recommendation of the committee
should receive your most considerate