The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-01-12
A. F ] ] AIRS j OF STATE.
GOV. mel soN,s INAUGURAL SPEECH.

Message to; tire Legislature which
Embodies u Concise ana Master
~ Review OF the States
business. II:
1 Gov. Nelson took the oath Of Office in
| the presence of the members Of the
house and senate and then delivered
his annual message to the legislature,
IN which he reviewed the condition Of
the states finances and institutions, and
outlined necessary and useful legisla-
! ton. p sts25. 3. 5a
! Gentlemen Of the Senate and House of
Representatives: In obedience to law and
| confsrmable to custom, submit to you this
message, touching the condition Of our
state and its public affairs. The financial
aHalrs OF our state government are in
sound and prosperous condition. With
| population OF l, 40 .OOU, and an assessed val
nation nat Of $500 100000. there Is an outstand-
| ing indebtedness OF only 81, 1874 900, subject
! to an annual interest OF but SIT $780, ana on
the last day OF November 1852, there was a
the derent funds If sueh
| showing as this clearly indicates that the
| government has been conducted prudently
| and on careful business principles ~ .-~1
! The correctional and charitable institu-
| lions of the state are fulfilling their mission
to an extent that keeps rs abreast with the
times and up to the demands Of modern
| civilization. ..E7 #, ~ o.,
It is gratifying to observe that, notwith-
standing our rapid growth, no increase has
taken place In our prison population during
the last three years. AS a matter of fact
there was smaller number Of state con-
on the 3lst day of October, 1885 This fact
| Indicates the prosperous, industrious and
law-abiding character OF our population and
demonstrates that the problem Of American
| finding
The reformatory at st: Cloud is success
fully accomplishing. the benign purpose for
likely to be embarrassed and handicapped
by existing recent legislation. Constant en-
is srS Se the
the reformatory was located upon a vast
that. the problem of keeping the convicts
employed was solved, and that ample work
But Gnaer the ps Of
only IS per cent Of the convicts can be en-
for sale The balance 1 Of the co5victs, if
engaged in granite work at al, can only be
eube IL o ne a 1ae u an qn fs
formatory. With this law in force, It is
employment for two thirds of the convicts,
must either utilize the granite for public
OF Wf5n the indus
formatory. Under these conditions, mas
m nndad as ad d buildings are urgently
De the part OF wisdom. at as early day as
Rrac 1aG to make use Of the granite and
In th aoor 81 the eonyets IS far possible
State Institutions Reven9Ge.
.e Ine ,manu1aSture of twine has been sue
cessIully established at the state prison and
meets with much favor among our agricul-
tural population. This enterprise should be
greatly enlarged and extended; not only for
0tf0 rGn
1or convict labor, as little in conflict with
other labor in the state as can well be OBJ
tanned, but more especially for the reason
tnat our state prison twine if furnished to
the consumer at near its actual cost, will
always to some extent afford our farmers
protection against unjust combinations and
abnormal prices on the part Of the Irvine
manufacturers.
It Is encouraging to note that, though for
dlme insanity seemed to Increase at an
undue pace, yet that within the last two
years the increase has not been as great as
was anticipated. nor out of proportion to the
ae v2ehp IL }Bs FUTURE hs VIII F Se
past, VIII no doubt tend to further decrease
ing outlook will obviate the necessity for
any unusual haste in constructing addi-
ttoaal bnj1ai 5 ana WIN also save Is from
Of i TIE hoapiss for Tor
the insane. An appropriation Of s3s: 500 is
upgeEy NEEDED to finish ,, and equip the
\
Fergus Falls. This wing. when completed,
Will furnish accommodations for 200 add-
tional patients and will thus meet our i'm
mediate want for room for some time to
come: Large appropriations are asked for
RSildingS At the h25PsIS at Rochester apd
feeble minded. When You come to con
slider these requests in detail you will no
doubt take such action as the necessity for
burdens of taxa,icl Will warrant. -
The soldiers home It Ninnehaha Falls is
s4e s;s; performing tts great mission Of
the needy dad xsteran nstr OF 51r
wars. The institution is a monument of the
gratitude and patriotism Of a great people:
existing under the same law, is Il scheme Of
furnishing assistance at their residence to
such needy veterans as have families or
homes Of their own. and to the widows and
| dependant minor children, and dependant
parents of soldiers. This mode of relief Is
especially intended for those VINO cannot
well enter the home. but who are neverthe-
less as much entitled to public aid as the in
mates Of that institution. Under the pru-
trustees, none but these absolutely in need
can get relief, and this aid is not given in
money, but in the absolute necessaries Of
life and only to Il limited extent. From per-
sonal observation In many cases. am con-
WINGED that this method Of assistance is as
, salutary and as mush needed as the home
| Itself, and Is much more inexpensive. The
money from which this relief is granted is
known as the soldiers relief fund. and is
| derived from a TAX OF One-tenth OF mill
on all the property of the state. This 1blnd
is fast oyergrowing the demands made OH it.
At the beginning Of the present fiscal year
there was = balance from the preceding year
of $24. "a, and there will be derived from
| the tax levy ct the current year the sun Of
$59, 55S.s5. thus giving total available fund
i Of $S3,966.69 for the current fiscal year.
During the FISCAL year ending July 31st.
| 1892. there wss eNDended but S39. 37O.42 out
Of this fund, and there is not likely. in view
of the increasing results Of the dependant
pension law. to he any greater demand on it
in, the future, In view Of these, facts. it
seems to me it would be advisable to trans
fer $4,000 of this fund to the so-called sol
diers' horne fund. which would afford that
fund ample supply for its wants during the
d fiscal years commencing Aug. 1. 1898. and
Aug i, 1894. thereby ohViating the neces;
sity of any other appropriation for that fund
! during those years. In addition to this, the
annual tax levy for tho soldiers home relief
fund should be cnt down from one-tenth Of
/ . mill To nna-half that rate which i think