New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-01-03

of unfortunate women than now OBJ
tains.
Zone serious objection against the
establishment of any new institution
is it's initial cost and that Of it's sub
sequent maintenance.
Possibly in the case of such a re-
formatory this cost might be minim-
lied if it was established in connec-
ton with our Connecticut Industrial
School for Girls in Middletown. The
location is ideal. and the state has
expended substantial amounts in the
erection of buildings for the care of
the girls there committed. The title to
the property upon which these build
| ings are located is in a corporation
created by the general assembly in
1868. I would suggest the appoint
ment of a committee to investigate
the feasibility of establishing a re-
formatory for women upon this prop
erty, and to ascertain the probable
cost of acquiring the title to the prop
erty by the state. and to make a re-
port to this general assembly if prac-
ticable, and, if not to report to the
next general assembly.
It would seem as if the title should
be in the state of all property upon
which are located institutions estab-
lished and supported by the state.
County Jails.
"It is believed by many of our citi-
zens that our jails, especially those In
our more populous counties, are an
tiquated, unsanitary, exposed to scri-
Gus fire hazards, and that in some
other respects they are in an unsatis-
factory and discreditable condition.
II recommend that a commission
be appointed to investigate the con-
dition of the jails in the several
counties of the state and to make
report thereon to the 1919 General
Assembly, with such Recommended
tons as the ascertained conditions
warrant.
State Department of Health.
1.-THE infantile paralysis outbreak
of last summer, and the wide spread
smallpox epidemic with which we are
now threatened, have emphasized the
urgent need Of more adequate organt-
zatfon for the protection Of the health
of our citizens. Modern health science
is in q position to yield large and
tangible results in the saving Of
human lives. The cities Of Connect
cut are for the most part well pro-
tected, but the residents in our rural
communities are too often unable to
secure the benefit of the best modern
knowledge and the most efficient SAN
itary administration.
What is needed is the re-organiza-
ton of our state health machinery
SO that the state board Of health may
be strengthened and placed in a posi-
ton to furnish to the local health
officer the advice and the moral sup
port which he needs. urge earnest
consideration of this question, with a
view to a remodeling Of our state
health laws and that you make an
appropriation for the state board of
health sufficient to give our state a
state health administration adequate
for modern needs.
Consolidation of Commissions.
I'm my 1915 message I recommend
ed the consolidation of several COM
missions. In compliance Herewith
the duties of the building and loan
commission were consolidated with
the bank commissioners department.
with a single commissioner in charge
of the department; and the duties of
the factory inspector were transferred
to the bureau of labor statistics, re-
sulting in a benefit to the state in
both instances My recommendations
that certain other commissions be
consolidated were not adopted.
Il now renew my recommendation
that the Offices of commissioner of
domestic animals, dairy and food
commissioner, state ornithologist, and
state board of agriculture be abolished
and in lieu thereof that the office of
commissioner of agriculture be created
with adequate powers to perform the
beneficial duties Of these several COM
missions. If you shall not concur In
this recommendation, I would recon-
mend that at least the duties of the
commissioner of domestic animals be
transferred to the dairy and food
commissioner. I renew my recon-
mendation that such of the duties as
it is desirable to continue Of the board
of examiners of BARRIERS and of the
Connecticut board of embalmers, be
transferred to the state board of
health.
Motor Vehicles.
Automobiles have come into gen.
eral use in this state during the last
decade. In 1907 we had less than 5000
registered motor vehicles for which
the state received in registration
and license fees $11,686.5O. The
1916 registrations were 66,807, and
the receipts $768,727.91. There was
an increase of about 4S per cent in
1916 over 1915. With like increase
during the present year we shall have
more than $4,000 registered motor
vehicles and revenue therefrom of
at least a million dollars.
1--WE are having a constantly in
creasing number of automobile homi-
cides and casualties. Existing condi-
| lions require the enactment of strict
| err laws relating to motor vehicle traf-