Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-01-13

as the board OF worlds fair managers
for the State OF Michigan.
This board CONSISTS consists Of six members.
who have proceeded under the provisions
OF the act to erect state building on
n SSb ahd 20 hs prodetsp of tbs
farm. factory. forest and mine. They
can do certain things with the amount
comfortable while there, and make a fair
exhibit. There are, however, certain in
terests, notably the vast live stock In
represented as they should be without
small additional appropriation. This
interest is very important one to the
expense OF exhibiting there is very large,
and few men can afford to exhibit on
their own account. Unlike q manufactur-
err. who is advertising for the sale OF an
unlimited stock breeders are In the
nature of things advertising very linz
tied stock, and yet IN the "a asgTegfateT b It
board will submit on account OF their
expenditures. and an itemized estimate
to our ct9ens Snd to Reep % our 40 state up
with her sister states at this exhibition
when the representatives OF the nations
or the earth will be present to view us
and make comparisons. / recommend the
appropriation of such an amount, under
proper safeguards. as may be needed
to carry out these objects.
INSTITUTIONS.
Michigan now has seventeen state in
situations.
ducational-University Agricultural
College, Normal School and Mining
Charitable-Michigan Asylum for In
sane, Kalamazoo; Eastern Michigan Asy-
MGh aGr A ayfn fSnf INSANE Tra
verse City; Michigan Asylum for Insane
Criminals, Ionia; Michigan School for
Dear, Flint; Michigan School for the
Lansing. MiChigan
School, Coldwater; Michigan Soldiers
Home. Grand Rapids.
Reformatory-State Prison, Jackson;
State House OF Correction and Reform
atory, lonia; State House OF Correction
and Branch OF State Prison, in Upper
Lansing; Industrial Home for Girls.
Adrian.
These institutions, with their millions
or permanent investments. and the large
amount which is appropriated by the
Legislature for their maintenance speak
highly for the people OF this state, who
have so generously contributed OF their
means for educational institutions which
stand second TO none in the country.
No state or country ever dealt more gem
erously by the unfortunates within her
boundaries than has Michigan. Her pris-
ons and reformatory institutions are
abreast OF the times.
Notwithstanding this almost unparal-
| leled provision for the unfortunate, fur
Their provision In some directions is ur-
| gently needed now. The present accom-
modations for insane are inadequate to
| meet the demands of this unfortunate
class, and Il will become your duty 70
their care. The feeble minded and cpl
leptics should also be provided for
While additional accommodations for
these classes just noted are urgently
needed. we have surplus OF prison
room. nor Is IL probable We shall need
II all for some time TO come. The ques-
uon whether the inmates of the Upper
| Peninsula Prison may not be transferred
TO the other prisons and this establish
ment at Marquette transformed into an
asylum for the insane is worthy of your
consideration. Besides. the saving in re-
| modelling this building instead OF build
| ing another is the reduced cost of keep
ing prisoners when there are several
hundred over that where but 100 are kept
| is an important item. Then, IL the prls-
on at Marquette is to be continued 1t will
| soon be necessary to have shop room and
machinery In order TO employ her in
mates. This is already provided at Jack
son and Ionia.
These institutions are all needed, and
are worthy OF the care and support OF the
| people OF the state. But they are st the
| increasing family. demanding the sup
| port of the state. Their numbers increase
from year - year. and those established
are growing In population and their needs
are increasing. While every absolute
need should be supplied. yet, in view OF
their numbers and multitudinous wants
the same care should be exercised in
making appropriations for their support
| that a practical man should exercise in
| his own business, Sc that a dollar in
| value is received for every dollar ex-
pended. Things not absolutely needed
| may safely be postponed until they are
| needed. In other words. Il is not neces-
sary 10 finish them all this year, as 9TH
ers Will come after us TO care for their
needs as they arise.
| For many years the government and
| control OF our institutions has been by
| boards for each institution. who have
either served gratuitously or for mod
crate per diem compensation when ac-
/ N ha nrfa 81
| their duties. In the case OF the regents
OF the university and the State Board
| prescribes their powers and duties and
| nXes their compensation. During the
more than fifty years this system has
been in operation in the state each year
has given additional evidence of the wis
dom of our predecessors in establishing
II. TWO years ago the law was changed
| ana all fhs institutions. except the asy-
| lums for insane. were placed under the
| charge OF two boards. This system has
been on trial but two years, and II is
| claimed by Its advocates that it has not
| had fair trial. That there is some force
| in this claim / do not deny. The boards
are now composed OF some OF the very
| best citizens OF the state, who have given
| their best Efforts for the benefit OF the in
| mates OF the institutions under their con-
| troll
| Now. as to the benefits derived from the
| change. After paying the salaries there
| has been no saving I'm expense of super
vision; 1 have not been able to learn OF
| anything done by the rev board for the
| benefit or the institutions or their in
| mates that could not or would not have
| been done by the old boards, and in the
| nature of things they could not be as faS
! miliar with the control and management
| OF the several institutions as the old
| boards would with the one institution
| think system OF boards whose members
| serve without compensation except ex-
| penses, has more to recommend Il than
| any other. Experience has shown that
| members become acquainted and interest
| ed In the institution under their charge
and they give the matter a painstalIing
| care which cannot be purchased with
| money, and Is second only to their inter-
| est in their own family and home affairs.
| In view of the number OF institutions
! and their liability TO loss or damage by
| fire, l respectfully recommend that pro-
| vision be made to meet such an ener-
| gency without calling the Legislature to-
| gether, by providing that the Governor
| and Board of Auditors can authorize the
| repair rebuilding OF any such institu-
| ton, and providing the necessary means
| therefor. This is more necessary from the
| fact that the state carries no insurance.
| In the case Of the damage to the East
| ern Asylum the board was able TO rebuild
| on account of surplus earnings on hand.
| But for this. IL would have been necessary
| to have called the LEGISLATURE together
| Had the loss occurred 20 any other insti-
tuition, an extra session OF the Legislature