Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-01-17

that they will emerge at the expiration
of their term confirmed criminals
In this connection | desire to quote
another Recommendation made In it,
report by the state board OF control
Provision should be made for A re
formatory for first offenders ut the
earliest possible day. This would re
lieve the crowded condition of the
prison, and would be long stride In
the right direction toward attempting
the reformation Of criminals"
This latter Recommendation of the
board may contain solution Of the
problem presented in the condition u
the state prison, BY providing re
formatory for first offenders relieved
of the most degrading features Of the
state prison discipline, and where the
primary duty OF the wardenship woult
be the reform of the inmates, thG
crowded condition of the state prison
might be relieved, and more wise
and humane treatment of first offend
ers be instituted.
recommend, in view of the urgency
Of the needs recited, that the legisla
ture provide for the appointment, early
In the session, Of a committee which
shall investigate the condition Of the
state prison, and report before this
close of the session, that there may
be no unnecessary delay in determin
ing what should be done in the prem
iseS.
School For FeebIe-Minded.
In most respects Wisconsin has been
generous and humane in the treatment
of the unfortunate and criminal elias
SEES, but in its care of the feeble-mind
ed it Is far behind many other states
A majority of the unfortunates named
of the poorer class, are kept in aims
houses; some are in insane asylums
and others are cared for at theil
homes In the seventeen states IL
which homes for the predetermined
have been established, the most be
nign results have been attained. II
has been demonstrated that even the
lowest grades of imbecileS are capable
of some degree of cultivation, while .
large percentage have developed al
ability for self-support and become q
blessing rather than a burden to theil
fellows. The report of the state board
of control says of this class of un
fortunates: SIT is an absolute neces
sity that some provision be made fol
their care, as there is now no place
in the state where they can be legally
committed" 1t Is not necessary tina
large appropriation be made for the
! Establishment Of school home for tht
feeble-minded. 1t would be the wiser
plan, | believe, to make a small be
cir ming; but for economical as wei
as humane reasons, that beginning
should be made as soon as practicable
Agriculture.
The importance TO the people Of the
! highest possible diyersitication and de
yelopment of agriculture cannot bt
oyerestimated. The growth of Wis
consin in this respect during the pas
ten years has been more marked thar
in any other decade In our history
Many thousands of acres in the north
ern portion of the state have beer
cleared and developed into profitable
farms; and in the older farming sec
tons progress has been marked by
the adoption of the most improved
methods, and a wider diversity OF
products.
table in the dairy industry. 1t is es
timated that there is now invested In
the dairy industry of Wisconsin more
than S160,0O0,000; and according tc
the last report to the State Dairymen's
association the milk products OF the
state for 1894 aggregated $30,000,000
With this growth, however, there
have appeared serious dangers to the
future Of the industry. The high rep
utation which the Wisconsin cheese
product earned, and for long period
maintained In the market, has been
Injured by the manufacture within
the state, and sale, of what Is called
filled cheese. greatly inferior In quail
ity, but not distingulshable from the
better product by ordinary inspection
While not favoring paternalistic legis
lation, | deem 1t to be the duty Of the
Legislature to protect by adequate
measures this great industry against
permanent injury by fraud. and tc
protect the people against imposition
| recommend, therefore, the enactment
of some well-considered law which
shall, under appropriate penalty, com.
pei the manufacturers and vendors
of such cheese to so brand, mark OF
color 1t that II shall no longer be sold
for what 1t is not,
In this connection commend to your
attention the necessity for legislation
which shall protect the bntter-makerS
of the state from unfair competition
with substances manufactured In the
similitude of butter, and sold as but.
ter, which are not made from milk OF
cream. If oleomargarine and other
elements can DE combined into an ar
ticle which people are willing to use
as a substitute for butter, and not
detrimental tc public health, know OF
- 4, IN,