The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-20

upon subjects confided to the direc-
ton of the Chief Executive, as upon
quarantine, upon appropriations
under the control of the Governor,
upon the sale and exchange Of bonds
authorized 10 be issued by the Six
teehth Legislature, and upon loans
10 railroad companies OF the special
school fund.
These reports and messages, with
the others that have previously. been
referred TO, are designed to exhibit
TO the Legislature a full aud COM
piete view of the operations of the
government, during the two proceed
lug years of my administration, and
to present for consideration such
recommendation of amendment a.
have been shown to be necessary,
which L most respectfully recon-
mend to YOUR favorable consIdera-
ton. To some of them, il is design
ed to call your attention more es-
pecially hereafter as the basls of re-
commentator. When they shall
have been fully examined, it is con-
fi1entk believed that, notwithstandI
ing the general reduction of expen-
Sos, YOU viii find that in every de-
partment and branch of the govern
mental service their efficiency has
been sustained and generally increas-
ed, and that more system has been
introduced, and that they are in bet
ter condition now than before, for
progressive Improvement
For the present, now at the COM
mencement of your labors for the
good of the state, ask your atten-
lion especially to the reports Of the
asylums, and of the penitentiaries, at
Huntsville and at Rusk, that may
enter plea for the unfortunates of
the land-the lunatic, the deaf and
dumb. the blind, the convict, and es-
pecially for the youthful criminal
who has been led into crime by the
bad example and teachings Of older
and worse people. = -,
We have now on hand q large
surplus of reYenUe-a thing that
never occurred before in the history
of this state: so large indeed, that
the frequency lately of the robberies
VI DdiiNS anu SlulC uOu5OS, dHd VI
people, on the roads, suggested to me
the prOpriety of. having it guarded
by a military force that may now be
seen in,,thc Capitol enclosure, so that
soHlehodY. should certainly be, hurt
hf ,rheg peopleis,rmoney,fcol collected in.
tho Treasury, should bes al tepaptcd
to be robbed!F s1rivorq 81 s-5sr-, Z.
II respectfully. recommend thai.
enough -of this surplus -revehnebe-
appropriated t6 enlarge the IIunatiG'
Asylum, so as to enable it to receive.
every lunatic III The state, and atfiat
promptly, for medical attention for
if found incurable, of whom there
are now not fewer than two or.
three hundred III jalls and other
places suffering for want of proper
care; to the institutions of the Deaf
and Dumb and Blind, that those un-.
fortunate classes of persons may
have their misfortune alleyiated,
and of whom there are now not less
than one or two hundred, that
might be benefited ; and to the two
penitentiaries, so as to make con-
victs, condemned to that sort of
punishment, be sent to place of
penitence, and reform, in fact, and
not as now to be placed in servile
bondage; and to a reiormatory in
stitution for cOnvicts under seven
teen years of age, that should not,
as now, be placed in contact, with
experienced and hardened felons.
1t can hardly be necessary in this
age to present reasons for these OBJ
jects, which must be esteemed, in
amy civilized country, the most de-
serving of charity and benevolence
of any other, and as placing the
state under the highest obligations
for relief at the first moment it finds
itself able to furnish it. Fortu-
nately il now has the ability, by the
use of this most fortunate surplus
revenue, if it should be used for
those purposes.
To enlarge the improvements Of
the Lunatic Asylum so as TO receive
all that should be in it now, will re-
quire an outlay of about 100000, as
it has been estimated. To do the
same in regard TO the Blind and
Deaf and Dumb Asylums will re-
quire about $4,000 each. To finish
improvements and furnish machin-ll
cry for each one Of the two peniten-,,
tiaries viii require about $150,000i
each, which will be seen from esti-i
mates that will be furnished, and
when completed they can gradually
be filed up with convicts, as they
can be utilized within the walls
numbering from twelve to fifteen
hundred Of them. And to provide
a reformatOry institution, embrace
ing small farm and workhousG
with other things necessary, will re-
quiTc $25, 900 TO $4,000. '''' -r'.i I
II is submitted that the state, hav-
ing undertaken TO give relief and
make reform on these subjects,
should not stop halfway in the
effort, but being now able should
complete these things that have
been begun so as to fully accomplish
the objects designed, than which
there could be nothing more credit
able to her people, and it must be
presumed more conformable to their
patriotic aspirations. ss.i
These institutions are, each, and
all Of them, under good manage
ment, and are, and have been, most
satisfactorily and harmoniously con-
Quoted, with increasing usefulness,
and inereasi'g favor and apprecia-
ton, that give full assurance that
the favor of the government will be
profitably bestowed on them.
Respectfully submitted.