The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-01-12
AFFAIRS OF STATE.
COW NELSON'S INAuouR | SPEECH.
A Message to the Legislature Which
EmbOdies a Concise and Master +.
Iy Review of the States
Business.

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.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives: In obedience to law and
conformable to custom, submit to you this
message, touching the condition OF our
state and it's public affairs. The financial
affairs OF our state government are III
sound and prosperous condition. With
population of ], 100000, and an assessed val
uation of 5000, 900, there is an outstand-
ing Indebtedness of only $2,154,0 200, subject
to an annual interest OF but $TI39O, anu ON
the last day of November, 1892 there was
balance in the state treasury to the credit
of the different funds OF 81, ,6SS, ,946.54 Such
a showing as this clearly indicates that the
government has been conducted pfuuently
and on careful business principles.
The correctional and charitable inshtu-
tions of the state are fulfilling their mission
to an extent that keeps us abreast with the
times and up TO the demands OF mouern
civilization.
1t 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 matter or fact
there was smaller number of state con-
yictS OH the 31st day of October 1S92, tnan
on the 31st day of October, 1889. This fact
indicates the prosperous, industrious ana
law-abiding character Of our population ana
demonstrates that the problem of American
civilization is here finding its best solution.
The reformatory at st. Cloud is success
fully accomplishing the benign purpose for
which it was intended, but its usefulness ls
likely to be embarrassed and handicapped
by existing recent legislation. Constant EN-
ployment is absolutely necessary for the
physical and moral well-being and the per-
manent reformation of the convictS. When
the reformatory was located upon a vast
granite quarry, it was hoped and expected
that the problem of keeping the conVicts
employed was solved, and that ample work
for many years to come would be round in
the quarries. But under the provisions OF
chapter 112 of the General Laws of 1891
only 33 per cent of the convicts can be en-
ployed i'll quarrying and preparing granite
engaged in granite work at all, can only be
employed in quarrying and cutting stone for
public buildings of the state, and for walls
and improvements on the grounds of the re-
formatory. With this law in force, it is
evident that the state, in order to provide
employment for twO-thirds of the cOnvicts,
buildings or inaugurate some new indus
trial enterprise within the limits of the re-
formatOry. Under these conditions, mas
much as additional buildings are, urgently
needed at the institution it would seem to
be the part of wisdom, at as early a day as
practicable, to make use of the granite and
the labor Of the convicts, as far as possible,
state InsfitEfi0Hs ReVenGe.
The manufacture of twine has been sue
cessfully established at the state prison and
meets with much favor among our agrieul
tural population. This enterprise should be
greatly enlarged and extended not only for
the reason that it affords 3 permanent field
for convict labor, as little in conflict with
other labor in the state as can well be OBJ
taincd, but more especially for the reason
that our state prison twtne, 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 tWtne
manufacturers.
1t is encouraging to note that, though for
a time 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 ont of proportion to the
Increase of our population. The growth OF
our state, which in the future will be less
rapid and more from within than in the
past, will no doubt tend to further decrease
the proportion of the insane. This promiS-
ing outlook will ohviate the necessity for
any unusual haste in constructing addl-
tional buildings. and will also save us from
any material increase in appropriations for
the current expenses Of the hospitals for
the insane. An appropriation OF $685. is
urgently needed to finish and equip the
southwest wing of the third hospital at
Fergus Falls. This wing. when completed,
will furnish accommodations for 400 addj7
tiopal patients. and will thus meet our i'm.
mediate want for room for some time to
come. Large appropriations are asked for
buildings at the hospitals at Rochester and
Fergus Falls, and at the school for the
feeble minded. When you come to. con-
slider these requests In detail you viii no
douDL take such action as the necessity for
further accommodation calls for and as the
burdens of taxation will Warfaht.
The soldiers home at Minpehaha Falls Is
successfully performing its great mission OF
affoPding cheerful and pleasant retreat for
the needy and homeless veterans of our
wars. The institution is monument OF the
gratitude and patriotism OF great people.
Subsidiary and supplemental thereto and
oHiCfinO nn6pr the same law. is q Scleme OF
furnishing assistance at their residence to
such needy veterans as have families or
homes Of their own to the d WIDOWS ana
parents OF soldiers, This made OF Fellef IS
especially intended for those VINO 6annof
well enter the home. but who are peyerthes
less as much entitled to public aid as the in.
mates of that institution. Under the pru-
dent and rigid rules adopted by the board OF
trustees. none but those absolutely In need
can get relief. and this aid is not given In
money, bat in the absolute necessar1es OF
life and only 10 BMytQd extent. from per-
sonal observation in many easss, | aEfl CON
yinced that this method of assistance is as
salutaPy and as mush needed as the home
itself and IS much more inexpensive. The
m0IfaV from which this relief ts granted Is
known as the soldiers relief fund ana is
derived from a tax Of one-tcnth of mill
on iii fha property of the state. This fund
is fast oVerg4o oEing the demands made on 1t.
At the beginning or haa present nscaa year year
of $24, ,407.S .S4, and there Will pc deEiEed nom
the tax levy of the current year the sum Of
$a9, ,55S So. thus giving total available fund
3urHs 81 fSs'f2 the fiscal sS year ending July 31st
1892. there was expended but aa9, $40 ~ out
of this fund. and there is not likely, IN yleE
of the increasing results of the dependant
pension law, to be any greater demand on It
in the futaro, In view Of these facts, it
seems to me it MaeId be advisable to to Il trans ms
di,rs' home fund, which wonld anoGq that
fund ample supply for its wants during the
fiscal years commencing, Aug !, ls95, and
itIs an. other aufirnnriatiOn for that fund