Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-01-16

I recommend reduction in the number
of regents to, perhaps five A board
consisting OF only five members would be
able, believe, to perform it's work with
greater expedition than is possible with
a larger number Of whatever number
the board may consist. the clerk of the
BOARD should not be a member.
State Superintendent.
The salary of the state superintendent
OF public instruction as now provided for
Dy the constitution is inadequate. 1t
should be increased to sum which shall
pear proper relation to the Importance
and responsibility of the office. The last
Legislature, by the adoption Of a resolu-
ton known as ''joint resolution No. TO-"
took the preliminary step toward increas-
ing the salary. I recommend that your
honorable body supplement- this with the
proper measures.
State Banks.
While the calamity which has befallen
a number of the banks of our state has
been but the natural result of the general
~ disastrous condition of the country, 1t
has been made clear, / believe, that a
proper supervision Of the financial institu-
tons of the state might have averted the
disaster in many cases. This is a question
which affects profoundly all classes of citi-
zens. Upon the integrity of the banks of
the country depends to great extent the
industrial fabric. l am convinced that
there is a pronounced sentiment through
out the state in favor of some sort OF
bank supervision Whether such super
vision may be provided for without re-
vision Of the banking code is matter for
you to determine, but that some measure
should be adopted looking to a supervision
of the state banks in a manner similar to
the method employed by the general gov
eminent in the examination of national
haT 1lYS IC hn1in al y 6or11 o1lH cd n
the protection of the public and for the
proper maintenance of the financial inst-
tutlOnS themselves.
State Prison.
From the biennial report of the state
board of control, which is before you, you
will learn the condition in detail of the
charitable, reformatory and penal lnstltu-
tons of the state. The report emphasizes,
as former reports have, the needs of GER
tain of these institutions. | desire to call
your attention to some of the most press
ing of these necessities.
Notwithstanding that, during the last BIZ
ennial period, there have been added to the
capacity of the state prison at Waupun
seventy-tWo cells, the prison is now great
ly overcrowded. The following statement
from the last report of the state board OF
control explains the situation:
A large number Of cells are now occupied &c
by two convictS This condition is both IL
legal and inhuman. The prison is too small
for the number confined therein. The pres
ent prison mast be enlarged or new one
erected. The board will strongly recommend
the latter remedy.
The remedy for such condition should
be- and | have no doubt will be, prompt
ly provided by your honorable body. If
penal institution may not be to some
degree reformatory, it should not at
least be made means of cnltivating
vice. The opportunities afforded for the
latter in the state prison under the con-
ditions named are appalling. In that
institution are many men who are suffer-
ing the penalty of their first criminal
offense. The close association of these
in cells with hardened criminals pre-
cludes the possibility of their being in
spired to reform and makes it extremely
probable that they will emerge at the
expiration of their term confirmed Grim
inals.
In this connection I desire to quote an
other recommendation made in its re-
port by the state board Of control
Provisions should be made for a reforma-
tory for first offenders at the earliest pos
sible day. This would relieve the crowded
on s 81 n the e Prison af Vow De a
tempting the reformation of criminals.
Reformatory for First Offenders.
This latter recommendation of the board
may contain a solution of the problem
presented in the condition of the state
H.
first offenders. relieved of the most de-
grading features of the state prison dis
cipline, andWhere the primary duty of the
wardenship would be the reform of the
inmates, the crowded condition of the
state prison might be relieved, and
more wise and humane treatment of first
offenders be instituted.
/ recommend, in view of the urgency
of the needs recited, that the Legislature
provide for the appointment, early in the
session, of a committee which shall in
vestigate the condition of the state prison
and report before the close of the session,
that there may be no unnecessary delay
in determining what should be done in
the premises.
School for FeebIe-Minded
In most respects Wisconsin has been
generous and humane in the treatment
of the unfortunate and criminal classes,
but in it's care for the feeble-minded it is
far behind many other states. A ma
jority of the unfortunates named, of the
poorer class, are kept in alTushouses some
are IN insane asylums, and others are
cared for at their homes. In the seventeen
states in which homes for the feeble-mind-
ed have been established, the most benign
results have been attained. 1t has been
demonstrated that even the lowest grades
of imbeciles are capable of some degree
of cultivation, while a large percentage
have developed an ability for self-support
burden to their fellows
The report of the state board Of control
says of this class of unfortunates: 1T is
an absolute necessity that some provision
be made for their care, as there is now
no place in the state where they can be
legally committed" It is not necessary
that a large appropriation be made for
the establishment of school home for
the Predetermined. It would be the wiser
plan, believe, to make small beginning.
but for economical as well as humane
reasons that beginning should be made
as soon as practicable.
Agriculture,
The Importance to the people of the
highest possible diversification and devel-
opment of agriculture cannot be over-es-
timated. The growth of Wisconsin in this
respect during the past ten years has been
more marked than in any other decade in
our history. Many thousands of acres in
the northern portion of the state have been
cleared and developed into profitable
farms, and in the older farming sections
progress has been marked by the adoption
Of the most improved methods, and
wider diversity of products.
Especially has the growth been nota-
Bile in the dairy industry. 1t is estimated