Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-01-10

more than SJO,OOO at any one tinle. MS
provision of the Constitution was adopted
more than forty years ago, when SoO,OoO
represented more than five times that
amount does to-day. 1t would seem to
me advisable to provide for so amending
the Constitution as with proper restric-
tions to put it within the power of the
State to borrow money in cases of neces-
sity, rather than carry so large balance.
1 desire to renew my recommendation of
two years ago that if possible some means
be devised for the abrogation of old spe-
cial charters, so that all our railroads
may be placed upon the same basis so far
as taxation and supervision and other
legislation is concerned.
The action of the Legislature two years
ago in providing for the one-sixth mill tax
places the State University upon proper
and substantial foundation. With the in
creased amount charged for tuition and
gradual increase of the fund as the valua-
tion of taxable property in the State in
creases will place this institution beyond
the need of asking further aid from the
Legislature for years to come. The
Michigan Mining School, when age and
all things are considered, stands at the
head of this class of institutions. 1t, in
the nature of things, is a very expensive
school. / would recommend that you
take some measures. if possible, without
in any way injuring the school, to pro-
vide that those having the benefit of it
shall bear some portion of the large ex-
pense necessary to maintain 1t.
In the principal State insane asylums
there are 3,226 beds and 3,164 inmates,
leaving sixty-two unoccupied beds. For
ten years past the average annual in
To- tko hAr a1n a1 fn hn
State asylums has been about 165, so that
there is to-day provision for less than the
average number of inmates who would
normally be admitted to the asylums with
in the next six months. The increased ac-
commodations afforded by the new asy-
lum at Newberry might be augmented at
a minimum expenditure by enlarging the
Home for Feeble Minded and Epileptic
at Lapeer, so the epileptics at present in
our State asylums may be transferred to
that institution. Aside from providing
for the increase in the number of the in
sane there does not seem to be any neces-
sity for additional legislation in regard to
insane asylums.
Maintenance of State Prisons.
The State Prison at Jackson, State
House of Correction and Reformatory at
Ionia, and Branch Prison at Marquette,
constituting the prisons of the State con-
tnue to be heavy burden upon the tax
able property of the State. The total
cost of keeping the ,3O6 prisoners, which
was the average number for the last two
years, was $644,35S. The cost over and
above the earnings was $210S41. The
cost at Jackson, where there was an
average of $40 prisoners, was Al cents an
inmate day; Ionia, $1.0S, and at Mar
L.
tive expenses are comparatively large, as
the number of inmates cared for is limit
ed, and owing to the rigorous climate and
distance from supplies, the expense of
keeping prisoners there is larger. There
must have been sor ething either radical
ly wrong In the management at Ionia or
the business was run in such way that
large amount of money was lost. The
former warden of this institution was re-
moved for cause. Since the change in
wardens there has been a marked reduc-
tion in the prices of articles bought, but
IL is not probable that all the reforms
needed have yet been adopted. The State
accountant has been ordered to conduct
an investigation, and he reports verbally
that the system of keeping accounts is
imperfect, and that many Of the practices
there should be changed. 1t is hoped the
law may be amended so as to provide for
better methods and much less expense to
the State for keeping prisoners. This
brings up the question of contract labor
In jackson prison, where most Of the
prisoners are on contract, the result is
such as to show that had all the men been
employed the prison would have been self
supporting and possibly little more, and
II can hardly be said that there was any
serious interference with free labor there
lit is clearly shown that contractors of
prison labor do not usually make larger
profits than those who employ free labor,
30 that the competition cannot be very
severe. No warden, however competent
he may be, is capable of carrying on sue
cessfully, in all their details, anywhere
from ten to twenty-five different branches
I of business. 1t Is needless to call
your attention to the fact that il is not
practicable or reformatory to keep pris-
oners without labor. 1t is sincerely hoped
no action will be taken to deprive the
prison management Of the right to con-
tract the labor of the prisoners.
Sec. IL of Art. of the Constitution OF
Michigan, relative to the duties of the
Governor, provides he may grant re-
prieves. combinations, and pardons after
conviction for all offenses, except treason
and cases of impeachment, upon such
conditions and with such restrictions and
limitations as he may think proper, sub
ject to regulations provided by law rela-
fiveto the manner Of applying for pardons.
il seems to me that law should be en-