The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-01-04
HIS BIENNIAL MESSAGE.
Gov. Rich Sends It to Michigan's
State Legislature.
A Paper of Review and Suggestion
CONGRATULATIONS for the Insane
and Criminal Classes-Contract Labor
Salaries OF Ohicials - Recent Labor
Troubles.

+. IrouDieb.
LANSING. Mich. Jan. 4-Gov. John Il. Rich
delivered his biennial message before Joint
convention of both houses yesterday afternoon.
He said In substances:
On November |, 1893, after the apportionment
Of the primary school fund was made, for the
first time in many years Michigan confronted
an empty treasury This was not caused so
much by increased expenditures, as 1t was by
the failure OF the legislature OF 1891 to levy
taxes SUFFICIENT TO meet what might reason
ably have been contemplated would be
the needs of the state and while there
was no direct authority for hiring money the
railroads were offered an inducement OF per
cent discount from November | to January
following, to advance their taxes due In jan
uary. This was done by the Michigan Central
and Lake Shore g. Michigan Southern rail-
roads to the amount of nearly 900 Through
the First national bank Of Detroit an addi-
tional $3.50 COO was obtained Owing to this, on
November 1, 1894, q similar condition of affairs
presented itself. except that only S250,000 was
then needed to bridge over Section 3, OF arti-
Gle IA Of the constitution, provides that
the state shall not contract debts to meet def
cts In revenue to aggregate more than
$4,000 at any one time. Under this pro-
vision OF the constitution, perhaps the oblga-
tion entered into may not have been strictly
legal but it was u necessity, In order to
branches Of tine state government and was
paid out of the first money received This pro-
vision Of the constitution was adopted moro
than forty years ago, when $4,000 represented
more than five times that amount does to-day.
II would seem TO mo advisable to provide for
so amending the constitution as, with proper
restrictions, TO put 1t within the power OF tho
state to borrow money in cases of necessity,
rather than carry so large o balance. 1t may
reasonably be presumed thet the people have
to pay at least six per cent. interest. Banks
usually pay three per cent. on state deposits
While 1t is desirable to have enough in tho
state treasury to meet all legitimate demands
upon 1t. II Is very undesirable to carry large
balances, to be loaned at a low rate of interest
when not needed TO meet the expenses OF gov
eminent.
Railroad Taxation.
BY act No 179. Public Acts OF 1898 the Mich
igan Central railroad charter was amended so
as to place that road under the general law for
the purposes of taxation. by the provisions OF
the charter this act could not become opera
tive until accepted by the company, which it
did on the Cd day OF February, 1894. L desire
10 renew my recommendation of two years ago
that II possible some means be devised for the
abrogation of those old special charters. so
that all our railroads may be placed upon the
same basis so far as taxation and supervision
and other legislation Is concerned
Asyiums for the Insane.
The substance Of the following facts and
recommendations is taken from paper read
by DR.. W. M. Edwards, medical superintend-
ent OF the Michigan asylum, before the joint
asylum boards at Traverse City, November Is.
1894 The recommendations seem so practical
and reasonable that indorse them.
"At present the Michigan asylum for the in
snne has 1,176 beds and LIZA inmates. The
Eastern Michigan asylum has 90 beds and
1908 inmates. The Northern Michigan asy-
lum has 1000 beds and 80 inmates The Michi-
gan asylum for dangerous and criminal insane
has 1913 beds and 207 inmates. The Wayne
county asylum has 800 beds and 2C3 inmates
According to these figures there are In
our public asylums 3.7l0 beds and 1884
inmates In the principal state asy-
lums there are S,226 beds ana 3.lGi in
mates, leaving CO unoccupied beds. For ten
years past the average annual increase
in the number admitted TO the state asylums
has been about 1G5, so that there is to-day
provision for less than the average number Of
inmates who would normally DO admitted to
the asylums within the next six months. 1T
the new upper peninsula asylum cottages arc
being constructed to accommodate dominates.
These cannot be opened until the legislature
makes an appropriation for furnishing, so that
at the best all the available room for patients
will be theoretically occupied before this in
stitution Is opened, though there may be, on
account OF geographical conditions some
vacancies ut the Eastern Michigan asylum
Even with the upper peninsula asylum opened
for use next summer previous conditions
would warrant the statement that oil the beds
for the insane win be filed"
The new asylum at Newberry Is we'll along
towards completion and viii accommodate 100
patients An appropriation for furniture will
be required before the institution can receive
any patients. Additions to this institution
will need to be considered In connection with
n -
new home for feeble minded at Lapeor. While
accommodations for this unfort nate class
must be provided, it should only be done as
fast as absolutely demandol.
THE increased ccco-:-c dations Afforded by
the new asylum might be augmented. at min
1mum expenditure, by charging the homo for
feeble minded and 'epileptic ut Lapccr. so that
tho epileptics at present in our state asylums
may be transferred to that institution. There
Is growing tendency in the United States to
make separate provision for the colonization
OF epileptics The benefits to be derived from
the separation OF the epileptics from the In
sane are two fold, as each class is improvedby
It. Epileptics can be better treated alone, and
treatment can he more regular and sysi ematic.
Proper restrictions In diet can be made when
It affects the entire class, without exciting
jealousies. With the better classification,
there can be given that special Kind Of care re-
CURED ut all times, and especially at night to
prevent suffocation."
Cost of Maintaining State Prisons.
The state prison, at Jackson. state house of
correction and reformatory, at Ionia, and
branch prison at Marquette, constituting tho
prisons OF the state, continue to be heavy
burden upon the tax0blo property Of the state.
The total cost OF keeping the 1906 prisoners,
which was the average number for the past
two years, was SGi43j830. The cost over and
above the earnings was S2l0941.12 The cost
at Jackson, where there was an average of $40
prisoners was 4f.6 cents per inmate per day.
AT Ionia IL was I1.0SS per day, and at Mar
quette S1.13.1 per day. The net cost at jack
son was 125 cents per day per inmate, at
Ionia 80 cents and at Marquette Col cents.
This shows great difference in the cost OF
keeping prisoners at the several prisons Com
pairing Jackson with Marquette. there would
be many things TO the advantage Of Jackson
in the reduction Of cost. The executive ex-
penses would be comparatively small, while
the number of prisoners would be very large.
The conditions at Jackson have been much
better than at Marquette although there has
been n portion OF the time more than 200 idle
men at Jackson, because no employment
could be found for them. At Marquette the
executive expenses are comparatively large,
as the number OF inmates cared for is limited,
and owing to the rigorous climate and dis
tnnce from supplies, the expense OF Keeping