The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-01-11

meet dencltS III rev
'onN i iA0Ai' enuc to aggregate
more than $4,000 at any one time. This
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 rs with proper restric-
tons to put it within the power OF the
State to borrow money in cases OF neces-
sity, rather than carry so large balance.
/ desire to renew my recommendation OF
two years ago that if possible some means
be devised for the nbrogation OF old spe-
cial charters. so that all our railroads
may be placed upon the same basis so lar
ms 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-
ton 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
nil things are considered, stands at the
head of this class of institutions. 1t, in
the nature Of things, is n very expensive
school. l would recommend that you
take some measures. if possible, without
I'm 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 it.
In the principal State insane asylums
, baIO :"
leaving sixty-twO unoccupied beds. For
ten years past the average annual in
crease in the number admitted to the
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
I'm the next six months. The increased ac-
commodatons afforded by the new asy-
1um at Newberry might be augmented at
n minimum expenditure by enlarging the
Home for Feeble-Minded and Epileptic
mt Lapeer, so the epileptics at present in
5ur 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-
tinue to be heavy burden upon the tax
able property of the State. The total
cost Of keeping the BOG prisoners, which
was the average number for the last two
years, was $G44,3JS. The cost over and
above the earnings was S210,S41. The
cost at Jackson, where there was an
average Of SO prisoners, was Al cents an
Inmate q day. Ionia, $1.0S, and ut Mar
auette, $1.13. At Marquette the eXecu-
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 haze been sol elhlg either radical
" wrong i'm the management at Ionia or
the business was run III such way that
n 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
It 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
IL can hardly be said that there was any
serious interference with free labor there
1t 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
Me may be, is capable Of carrying on sue
kcssfully, in all their details, anywhere
from ten TO twenty-five different branches
Of business. 1t is needless to call
your attention TO the fact that il Is not
practicable or reformatory 10 keep prs-
sncrs without labor. Ii is sincerely hoped
no action will be taken 10 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 60 the duties of the
Governor, provides he may grant re-
Drieyes 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
iccf TO regulations provided by law rela-
sive TO the manner of applying for pardons.
IT sccms to no that q law should be en-