Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-16
STATE UNIVERSITY.

economy. Ihelr request Is ior xlo,Uu less lnan
they asked two years ago, and 5000 less than
was than granted, yet the needs of the univer-
sity, owing 10 largely increased attendance, are
necessarily greater and more room on ana accom-
institution observation convinced me that
utility was the aim In all expenditures, and II
tho same policy is continued, as | think IL will
be, every dollar you may grant will be care
fully and judiciously used.
The University OF Michigan takes high rank
in The educational world, and eXerts a pow en-
fui influence on the intellectual life of the
state and nation. | commend its interests to
your favorable consideration.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL
The State Normal School is well organized
and managed for its especial work, and results
The State Board Of Education estimates its
needs at Sl04,06O for the next two years, as
against S1n!, 100 for the past two years. While
there Is an increase of students | think its
efficiency can TO maintained without addi-
tional cost. Some additional ground and some
sewerage improvement are needed, but the
necessity Is not imperative at this time.
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
The School for the Deaf is doing as satisfac-
tory work as any OF our public institutions.
The class OF children gathered there appeal
strongly 10 our sympathy and should have
your substantial support. The board ask for
an increased appropriation over that Of the
past two years. In view of the public demand
that taxation be lowered, / think tho material
interests of the school need not suffer If their
full request be not granted.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
have been unable to visit the Agricultural
College, but the State Board of Agriculture
have sent me their estimates for the next two
years, aggregating Sb2GD. While this does
not seem "a large sum for 50 important school,
the college has substantial endowment FUND,
and ii the board can, without injury TO the
college, prune their estimates, the farmers will
appreciate the effect upon their taxes. The
college is so near that trust your committee
will nal lNy inn IN ifg
be able TO do justice both TO the college and
your constituents.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
commend also TO your committees the In
terests of the School for the Blind and the Re
form School. Opportunity will cheerfully be
given Tor a fIL understanding ot their re-
spective needs. regret my inability TO visit
The State Public School, the Industrial
School for Girls, and the Soldiers Home, will,
trust receive your earnest attention. am
unable to speak of them from personal
knowledge, but they belong TO our system and
are justly entitled to their share OF your atten-
ton.
AsYLUMs FOR THE INSANE.
At the Eastern Asylum l met members OF
the other asylum boards, and the needs Of the
three institutions were discussed: 1t was
agreed that more room Is required in all our
asylums. This seems Imperative, unless some
plan can be devised to relieve them of a large
class of patients who are harmless but incur
able. IL is obvious that If this class were re-
turned TO their friends, patients who could be
benefited by treatment might be received. II
the present practice IL adhered to, the demand
for more room will BIO continuous, and the
cottage system will be far more economical
than the multiplication of separate institu-
tions. The reports submitted by the trustees
give full information, and the care of our in
sane Will require your serious consideration.
Michigan Is advanced in her treatment or
the mentally diseased, and one has only 10
visit our asylums to be convinced that these
nYlfn rfT To Ia aiNa NarV a
and comfort.
PRISONS AND REFoRMAToRIEs.
The prisons and reformatories are among
our most important institutions, not Only as
regards the value Of the plants and the char
actcr of their work, but also as regards the
policy which should control them. Successful
prison management requires special qualinca-
tons in the warden and his subordinates.
Questions other than the confinement and sup
port of convicts are involved in prison govern
ment, and long study and familia, ity with
criminal classes and their conditions are neces-
sary TO fit men TO deal with them wisely. Be
lieVing that our prisons should have the best
executive and business talent obtainable for
their management, / have elsewhere recon-
mended that all our penal institutions be
placed under the control of n single board.
This board should. SO far as possible, be no1-
partisan, and should appoint the wardens and
have general supervision OF the institution.
The wardens of our prisons are the only OFF,
GERS at the head OF state institutions who are
appointed by the Governor The other eXecu-
tive heads OF institutions are appointed by the
respective governing boards, and sound policy
demands that the prison appointments DC nom
ELECTION LAW.
All are agreed as TO the desirability of ballot
reform, and or new election law Is generally
approved as a step in the right direction. The
booth feature gives every voter an opportunity
to be alone with his ballot, and absolute
secrecy is the best guaranty of purity in cleo
tons a practical test of our law has shown
that some amendments are needed to render IT
entirely efficient and satisfactory. suggest
the following:
2. Let the distribution or using Of ballots
outside the booths be prohibited under the
severest penalties.
clerks under the superN ison OF the party com
.nittees, and BE- delivered by the county clerks
20 the inspectors OF elections. Let the ballots
&c paid for by the state in all state elections,
and by the townships and cities in township
and municipal elections.
4 A more expeditions method Of counting
8. favor the Australian system, or some
modification which would render unnecessary
the use OF slips or pastors.
WAGON ROADS.
call your attention TO the necessity for
some change in the laws relating 70 the high
ways Of the state.
The condition of all wagon roads last winter
was sufficient proof that our present system
of road leaking is a waste OF time and labor.
Roads ordinarily the best we're last winter as
bad as thoae on which little or no work had
been done. Good wagon roads all the year
round would be more TO the general advan-
tage, would add more TO the value OF farms,
and yield comfort, convenience and profit to
a larger number of leople than any other
work for which public money is expended.
We claim 10 be a practical people, but surely
on, road building has been n failure. A vast
an cunt of labor has been annually expended
" on our roads for many years, but IL has be- en-
done without system and without competent
supervision. AS a result the labor is largely
wasted and yields no final Improvement. The
ESTABLISHING Mt of general system of road
making which would gradually, even II slowly,
result In permanent good roads throughout the
state. would be wise and benetcent reform.
TAXATION.
There is general feeling among all classes,
but more pronounced, perhaps, among the
agricultural and industrial people, that public
expenditures have increased much more rap
idly than the ability Of the people to pay, aud
that our civilization is becoming very expen-
sive. Greater simplicity would better accord
with the present circumstances and condition
of our people.
There is no desire 10 lower our standard of
civilization or inll air the efficiency of our var
ious institutions, but the people believe that
simplicity and wise economy promote, rather
ment. Our people are willing to support gen.
the general welfare. but they also believe that
state taxes arr TOO high, and that no public in
stitution need suffer IL less tax was levied.
Taxation has steadily Increased wear bv wear.