The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-01-15

HOME anu Tue lNCl'nlh NClDbl, WIS, on llt
lst of October last, 3,2i1 You will lind the
details of the affairs of the State Charitable
Institutions and of the State Reform School
fully set forth IN the reports of the instltu.
tons and of the State Board of Charities TO
which refer you. The statements made IN
these several reports are worthy of your en-
tire confidence.
PENlTENTIARIEs.
The reports of the Commissioners and
Wardcns of the State Prisons at Joliet and
Chester make full and complete showing
of their transactions for the last two years
and OF the condition of each at the close of
the last fiscal year.
The Pcnitentiary at Joliet, as will be seen
by the report OF the Commissioners, has no
debt, and has used only a part Of the $4,000
appropriated by the last Legislature To assist
IN dciraying ordinary expenses This ap
preparation has made a considerable saving
of money to the State, and ! recommend that
a similar one be made for the next two years,
with such notifications as to the manner of
using II, if needed, as Will, without risk OF
waste or loss allow Its disbursement to the
best advantage This prison would be en-,
tirey selfsustalnlng but for the fact that the
prison authorities carry the expenses of furn-
ishing the discharged convicts with money,
so dlsbursod and which do not properly
form part of the expenses of subsistence and
administration, exceed the amounts drawn
from the State Treasury for ordinary eypen.
ses.
ask your attention to the suggestions Of
the Warden in relation to discharged pris-
oners. The interest OF society demand that
the State should provide some agency for
looking after and assisting that class of per.
sons.
Your attention is directed to the report of
the Commissioners on the subject Of life sen.
fences. recommend that the criminal
code be so amended as to do away with life
sentences, and that all sentences to the penl-
Tertiary be for n definite term of years.
The report of the Commissioners of the
prison at Chester shows the progress of the
work there for the last two years. The Com.
mlssoners have so far done good work in
the construction Of the buildings belonging
to that prison. The location has proven to
be a very healthy one, and promises to give
good facilities for the profitable use of con.
vict labor. The work of construction should
be carried forward as rapidly as the cOndi-
ton OF State finances will permit.
The General Assembly, at its last session,
authorized the Commissioners of the South
ern prison to begin work upon hospital de-
partment adapted to the custody and care of
insane convicts. This was wise and timely
legislation, and the Commissioners have fol-
lowed the instructions given them by adopt
ing plan for such department and com
mencing work upon the foundations. The
necessity and pr0prlety of separating insane
conviCts from other insane inmates OF our
State hospitals are so apparent that the Gen
eral Assembly will, doubtless, concur in the
an,iA tnly t,n nd
prosecution of the work to completion
APPoRTIoNMENT.
1t will be your duty, under the provisions
of the constitution, To appOrtlon the State !
according to the federal census of 1880, and
also to revise the con yressional apportion-
ment If Congress shall in time determine
the number OF members to which this State
will be entitled.
STATE LIBRARIES
The appropriation made by the Thirty
first General Assembly in aid of the State
Library has been judiclousiy expended by
the Secretary of State His purchases have
been well selected and economically made. |
1t has been the policy of the Library Com
mlssioners to buy works OF reference, ard
make the library useful to the student and
seeker after knowledge IN all departments
Idllti iIuil w Iiuht purchases III INV ii'tNA
est of those who read for amusement only |
Especial attention has been given to books of
State history and local interest, and this de-
partment should contain every book in print |
on these subjects.
But 50 tar it is only the beginning of Ii |
brary, and the State should continue to sup |
port it by liberal appropriations, until 1t be-
comes credit to the state, an invaluable |
agency for the instruction Of our citizens,
and place where an answer can be found
to any question which may arise in any |
branch of human learning.
For this purpose | recommend an appro-
priation of at least $4,000 per annum for the
next two years
FISH COMMISSION.
The report OF the Board OF Fish Commits
sloners, from its organization, has been sub
mltted, and explains the methods adopted for
increasing the native food fishes and
for introducing new varieties into the
waters of the State, with details of the work
accomplished. The subject of propagation
of food fishes is one of great Importance to
the people of the State, and | recommend
that ample provision be made for continuing
the work during the next two years.
CLAIMS.
The Commission of Claims, at their SEES
sion in 1880, made one award of Si,69l.17,
for the payment of which | recommend that
an appropriation be made.
DOUGLAS MONUMENT.
The Thirteenth General Assembly made
an appropriation of $4,000 to complete the
Douglas monument at Chicago. or this APP
preparation $4,79S was unexpended on the
Both of September, 1879, and lapsed, in &C
cordance with the provisions of the constitu'
ton. The Commissioners report that they
did not draw the balance of the appropria-
ton before 1t lapsed because the work was
not then completed, though contracts had
been made which contemplated its expendi-
turc. The monument Is now finished and
paid for, with the exception of the bronze
bias -reliefs-four IN all-of which two are IN
position and two IN process OF preparation.
The bas-reliets were contracted for before the
lapsed, and the balance, 81
1lS is needed 10 nnY for them. This amount