Evening journal., 1895-01-01
ASSEMBLY BEGINS WORK
Continued from First Page.

insure protection In case its services
should be demanded, then again recon-
mend its abolition altogether.
state Lsbrary.
"The report of the state librarian,
herewith submitted, shows that hun |
drsds Of volumes of valuable books are |
yearly added to the state library, and |
that the want Of space in the library |
building necessitates the keeping Of
them Ia such manner rs to make tnem
barely accessible to those desiring to use
them. It has long been recognized
fact that this valuable collection Is
almost made useless for the want OF
proper building In which to keep them
and are indeed rendered unfit for use by
the manner ia which they are kept
This should no longer be the case II
the present structure cannot bs so en-
lerged AS 70 answer the purposes desired
then new building should be erected
aud the present one given up TO the
state Offices. which are at present much
too small for the fling and preserving
Of the public records and papers.
State Hospital.
II herewith submit the report Of the
trus ees OF the state hospital at
Fsrnhnrst, aud commend their
recommendation Of an sppr0pria
ton for the erection OF a separats
building. or out lying ward. for the
violent TO your favorable consideration
| endorsed this recommendation in my last
biennial message. and am now more con-
vinced than ever Of the Justice and
propristy OF making provision for the
desired improvements. A visit TO the
institution will satisfy you not only of
the Importance, but Of tho necessity for
these extra buildings, in order to secur-
the proper results FROM the present
outlay Of the state funds. The amount
asked for is not large, and the trustees
deduee from the records OF the hospital,
that It's revenues after fitting 1t up SO as
to make 1t proper to receive pay patients
would be sufficient to pay the interest on
the sum needed
THE statute regulating the admission
# persons to the hospital "a not suhi
clently explicit, and in conse quenee .
pnmber of idlota, who are doclle and
harmless and whose ndltion no
amount Of medical skin can possibly
better, have been made inmates Of the
Institution, when they should be taken
care Of by the counties. This defect In
the law should be remedlea
Inebriates.
eAnong the wards OF the state should
ba class d the 'habitual drunkard.
There should be the right to take charge
Of aneh aud con6ne them for treatment.
andatheir property should be preserved
for the use OF their families. To
this end would recon
mend such legislation Us will give
the court, upon proper application
the powtr at it's discretion, to issue a
warrant authorizing snch person 10 be
hrouaAt before Il, aud TO direct a Jury to
inquire whether he or size is an habitual
| drunkerd incapable Of taking care Of
himself or herself aud II the person be
20 found, that the rules OF Law and pro.
oeeding applicable To the property Of
inuafics should apply Aud the court
should be given the further power OF
authorizing the corfiaing or such person
ia I, suitable institution for such a period
az may be necessary for his or her com
plete reformation The term shsbitual
drunkard' should embrace any psrsor
who may be hahitually addicted to the
use Of alcohol, opium, cocaine, morphine.
or any other drug or intoxc ant
Prison Reform.
1.-THE prison system In our state has
long been recognized as inadequate for
the purposes OF it's creation. Criminals
should be punished, and II wouid seem
tnat imprisonment must necessarily
constitute the greater part Of that
punishment. The restraint or the liber.
iias OF the convict, however, should not
only serve AZ punishment, but should
Al least tend TO prepare the prisoner "a
be better citizen when restored to lib
frty Our system tends to contrary
effect Hardened criminals, fr,t offend
ers, and youthful convicts are all confined
together for long periods Of time without
any employment for mind or body
Health, ia many instances, Is broken
down, habits OF idleness are formed
their condolences are hardened by the
association without employment and
they are set at liberty less qualified tc
gain an honest livelihood or to perform
the duties OF good citizen
II would recommend the establish
ment Of a state work house or penitentl-
ary, where the prisoners could be set tc
work, and BY their labor help earn the
cost of their lging, and BY extra woi
10 aid those dependent upon them while
their term OF imprisonment lasts, or ia
lay up something by the day Of dis
charge.
"An act providing for the carrying oui
OF this general system would have
tendency to lessen the repetition O.
crime by the same uffenders-would
save TO the counties, and would be IN th,
line Of the best systems Of prison
reform
Youthful Conyicts.
"rhe laws OF this state provide thai
in cases Of larceny, where the prisoner
Is OF tender years, or is charged FOR th.
hrst time, (oeing shown to have befor,
had good chsrscter), the court may, il
It's discretion, omit from the sentenc'
the itfiction OF the lashes. This Is
very bene hcent discretion, aud In many
cases has resulted ia the reformation Of
the criminal. This being 80, / can see nS
reason why this discretion should not b
enlarged, so that the court should have
the power, ia similar cases, to suspend
its judgment and discharge the convic
from imprisonment, with the furthe
power to cause his rearrest aud ths
pronounclng Of sentence, upon satisfac
tory evidence being shown that such
aorxyfrk has ahuaad Tka 1arfanau - th.