The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-14

| ORE mace 10 winch your attention Is re
spectfully invited.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The report of the condition of the mis-
torical society marked Exhibit n" i:
herewith transmitted. The report show:
many valuable collections made in the
two years past and much historical mat.
Ter preserved which would otherwise
| have beer lost. The territory is 10 be
| congratulated upon having thus early II
| It's history begun the preservation OF
| matter which in many states was entire
ly lost. Complete files Of newspapers
have been kept and a very interesting
and valuable collection Of Indian relics
tribal history and general information as
| 20 Indians has been made which vii
| make an interesting chapter in the his
| tory of Oklahoma A liberal appropria-
ton for the maintenance OF this society
will certainly commend itself to the peo-
PIE Of the territory.
| THE INSANE.
The third legislative assembly passed
an act. published as Chapter 30, Session
Laws Of 1895. authorizing the governor
| 10 contract with responsible individuals
| or private corporation, for the care and
| treatment of the insane within the terri
| tory, for term not exceeding three
years from the 18th day of June, 1895.
| Under authority of this statute a con-
| tract was entered into with the Oklaho-
| ma Sanitarium company. private con-
poration. This company established an
institution al Norman and furnished a
building with all the modern convent
ences and has given the insane. / think,
better treatment than they received with
out the territory. The paints. at that
time confined at Jacksonville, Ill, were
transferred 20 Norman and have been
cared for there since that date. Under
this contract there has been saving Of
the transportation which would have
been iarg" item in the two years past;
besides, the large amount of money nee
essary for tie support of these people has
been expended within the territory. The
present contract expires June Is, 1898. AS
that is before the converting OF the next
legislature, it will be necessary 10 make
provisions for he care of the insane af-
ter that date or authorize the making OF
a new contract.
The report of the superintendent, to-
gether with some recommendations as TO
change in the law is herewith Submit
ed and marked Exhibit o." From this
report il will be seen that there are at
present 126 persons in this institution.
/ recommend that each county be re-
quire1 TO pay the expenses Of transpor-
stead of the territory.
The acs referred 70 also authorized the
governor to contract for the care of the
deaf and dumb. but no appropriation
was made to enable this authority TO be
exercised. Nothing could be done under
ii. Appropriation should be made to
care for this Class Of the unfortunate, as
well as the unfortunate blind.
PRISONERS.
The prisoners of the territory are con-
fined. under contract, in the Kansas state
penitentiary, located at Lansing. The
price paid by the territory for the main
tenance of each prisoner Is IS cents per
day and the territory pays for the trans
portation of the prisoners to the peniten-
tiary, also furnishes the prisoner when
discharged a suit of clothes valued at $40
and s. in money. 1t appears from the re-
por. of the warden, marked Exhibit P,
that he has now in his charge 113 pris-
oners from this territory. 1 desire to re-
new the recommendation made TO the
last legislative assembly that some pro-
vision be made for allowing prisoners
credit on their terms OF sentence on ac-
count of good behavior. Such an enact
ment Is to be found in the statutes of al
most every state in the Union. IL encour-
ages good conduct, and recommend that
You promptly pass an act of this charac-
ter.
iREPRIEvEs, COMPUTATIONS AND
PARDONS.
AS required by section $50. chapter so,
of the statute, there is transmitted here
with, marked Exhibit O." a statement
of the reprieyes, communications and par
dons granted during the two years last
rast In explanation of the extent of this
last il is proper to state that in nearly
every instance the pardon was granted
near the expiration Of the term, and IN
each case was made on the recommended
ton of the warden Of the prison and on
account of the good behavior OF the pris-
oner end at the time when the term of
sentence would have expired II the law Of
Kansas, wher the prisoners are confined,
allowing credit on term for good conduct,
had been in force In this territory.
INCORRIGIBLE YOUTH.
The act of March 3, 1895, authorized the
governor. until such time as a reform
school should be established in the terri
tory, TO contract with the proper authori-
ties of some other state or territory for
the punishment and education of youthful
offenders and incorrigible youths under
the age Of sixteen years. Quit an extern
sive correspondence was carried on in
the endeavor TO make contract as spec
tiled in this law, but il was discovered
that the statutes OF the several states
prohibit the authorities of the several in
situations contracting for the keeping of
any offenders from without the state.
Some private institutions proposed TO
make a contract but on such terms that
I did not deem II advisable. as the ex-
pense 10 the territory would have been
very great In fulfilling the terms OF the
oHr CO c
10 authorize the making OF a contract
with some person within the territory il
it is more than probable that satisfactory
could be made for the pun
ishment and education of this class Of Of
tenders.
FREE HOME LEAGUE.
BY act Of the Third legislative assembly
$500 was appropriated To the Free Home
League to aid in the work Of that organi-
cation. report OF the expenditure OF
which is herewith transmitted marked
Exhibit r." The object Of this organi-
Zation is familiar to all and has the I'M
questioned support Of the people of Okla
homa. The claim of the people Is found
ed in justice and supported by hereto
fore almost uniform practice of the gov
eminent Of the United States. No sub
ject with which the people Of Oklahoma
have 20 deal is Of greater importance
than this and perhaps upon no other does
our future prosperity so much depend.
With the enormous burden imposed upon
the people OF the territory by the present
avs OF the United States. the resources
OF the territory for several years 70 come
will be Sapped TO meet payments into the |
treasury OF the United States which will !
amount in the aggregate To s1s,044. 342. 80. |
Very few farmers viii be able 10 lay |
aside sum adequate 10 meet the pay
nent required by tie present laws and /
the inevitable consequences VIII be that !
the farm OF Oklahoma must be plasterei 1
VIII r,nnrtca zas and .hs. Ieos.f-r,a q -.rns.