Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-05
Total taxes for all
purposes. =. s4,698,77l 81 SIS, 1875, s59 Al

Average rate for
all purposes. :. II $40 mills Is All mills
change IN the fiscal year is suggested by
the state auditor and otker officers. A habit
that has grown up in some of our institu-
tions of receiving and disbursing money in
December as of November,leads to delay
of their reports for two or three weeks.
which might be avoided. But I think it
desirable now that the legislature meets
only biennially, that the full reports of
the state institutions and Officers should be
furnished in print for the deliberate con-
sideration of the members elect, much
earlier than can possibly be under the ex-
listing law.
The dates for making official reports
should be similarly advanced. The law
should be amended so that such reports as
are required to be made and printed for
the use of the legislature, except that of
the commissioner of statistics, need be
made only biennially and on the years
previous to regular sessions. I recon-
mend also that the regular annual appro-
priations be hereafter made for fiscal, in
stead of calender years, your own provis-
ion in that regard to close with the fiscal
year ending in 1886.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The various charitable, reformatory and
penal institutions of the state present a
satisfactory record as regards their man.
agement and the results accomplished. An
unmlstakable evidence of the rapid in
crease of our population, is the fact that
nearly all these institutions have already
reached the limit of their capacity, and are
asking at your hands appropriations for
additions and enlargement
STATE PRISON.
The inspectors of the state prison sub
nit a voluminous report, which exhibits
in much detail the affairs Of this institu-
ton. The management of the prison
is highly commended and the
record of its inmates as to conduct
and condition is represented as very
satisfactory. The total population at this
time is 279, an increase of 25 during the
past two years. The current expenses for
1881 we're $49,964.56 and for 1882
S54,972.65.
The earnings were $26,277.O4 and $780,
952.7S for 1881 and 1882 respectively, most
of which was credited to apply on purchase
of machinery under the award of 1881.
The warden estimates the expenses for
1883 to be $4,000 and for 1884 $65, 900,
and the earnings $4,000 and $35, 600 for
the same time.
There has been expended during the
past year 36,912.55 in construction of ad-
ditional wall, for which an appropriation
of $4,000 was made in 1881, also liabili-
ties incurred for paving streets within the
enclosure, $1,000, painting roof, $3.50, and
premium for insurance $500, for which
there was no appropriation, and which is
presented in the form of deficiency. The
inspectors recommend further appropri-
alton of $4,000 to complete the wall, and
$4,000 for the construction of 100 addi-
tional cells. There are but twenty vacant
cells In the prison. most of which will soon
be occupied. The additional cell room
should be provided, and therefore ap-
prove the recommendation of the inspect
ors in this respect. The completion of the
wall would add greatly to the security of
the prison, which as the population in
creases. becomes more of a necessity. The
expenditure might be made to cover a
period of two or more years, and thereby
relieve the treasury to that extent. A com.
mittee of your body by personal examina-
ton can best decide as to the urgency of
this matter.
The prison enclosure will afford ample
room for 500 or 900 cells, about double the
present capacity. It will doubtless prove
economy to the state to concentrate the
population of this class in one institution,
where the cost of management will but
slightly increase with It's growth, until its
full capacity is reached. According to the
inspectors estimate the prison can be
made to meet all requirements for ten
years to come, by increasing its cell ca
pacity to the limit allowed by the enclos-
ure, and without any increase of shop |
room or machinery the labor of the con-
victs can be fully employed. Some of the |
gravest objections to the location of the |
prison are now overcome, though at large |
cost to the state. 1t would seem to be the |
part of wisdom now to make complete as |
possible the present institution, when it is
confidently believed it will be placed on
basis.
REFORM SCHOOL.
The report of the board of managers of
ne Reform school shows a gratifying
ecord for the past two years. The com
W tliiS AuoOAbut1OA c1uCc llS 0S-
ablishment in 1868 have been 573; of this
lumber 225 have been in connection with
{ during the past two years, and 123 are
inmates at the present time. I ask your
areful consideration of the reasons urged
y the managers for change in the law
egulating commi !ments, especially that
eature which provides for the mainte-
ance by each county of the youth they
send to the institution. The
easons that may have existed in the early
istory of the school for this discrimina-
ion in the maintenance of its inmates,
ave lost much Of their force by the gener-
development of all portions of the state.
Without repeating here the argument most
orcibly presented by the report for the
hange referred to, concur with the man ]
gers in their conclusions that the useful
ess and efficiency of the school would be ]
realty augmented By placing it upon the
lme footing in this respect as the other
ate institutions. The engine house con-
ected with the mandatory of the school 9
it'll its contents and attachments, was de-
royed by fire last July. The property
as been restored in much improved
,rm, at cost of S5,731.79. The expendi-
Tres, current fund, were for 1881 $780,
)1.64, and for 1882 $31, 550.S1. Appro- ic
riations are asked as follows:
TRENT expenses, 1883. S35, 900 90 .
1rrent expenses, 1884. 3 5,hO 90 t