Year: 1878

form" which, | am thoroughly con-
vinced, must ante-date any perma-
manently healthful condition of our
financial affairs.


l do not wish to convey the idea
that you will be able to successfully
overcome all the evils of which the
people complain. This l know is


possible; for the wisest Legislation is
at best an expedient, and often falls


far short of meeting the public need.
Still, if this be true of the Wisest,
then 1t must be apparent to all, that
lncOnslderate and unwise legislation


will oDl y make matters worse In
stead of better. Hence, while


would urge upon your attention the
Importance of such Legislation as
will help TO restore confidence in f.
nancial affSirs, and bring activity
and energy again to our business
circles, | would at the same time


warn you that this relief must come
mainly by instituting vigorous re-
forms, rather than by high sounding
statutory enactments.


Closely related to the matters al.
ready considered, is what is usually
called the labor question, and which
has recently been forced upon our
attention with very decided empha-
sis. In your deliberations you can
not safely ignore this question.
Hence | hope it will receive a most
thorough and candid consideration.
The proper adjustment of capital
and labor has long occupied the most
thoughtful attention of some of the
wisest statesmen and profoundest
philosophers. And in a country like
ours, where prosperity depends SO
much upon this adjustment, it is not
strange that every earnest patriot
should feel anxious to reach the
wisest conclusions in reference to
this important matter. 1t should be
your purpose, as far as possible, to
avoid all distinctively class legisla-
tion; for, as general rule, this kind
of legislation is ruinous to the best
interests of the country. In fact,
too much of it is one of the evils
with which we are at present cursed ;
hence you cannot be too careful
when dealing with such subjects
as the relation of capital and labor;
for no legislation that attempts to
build up one at the expense of the
other can possibly be productive of
any substantial good to the people.
And should the suggestions already
submitted in reference TO economy
be carried out iu your deliberations,
then l am satisfied that very little,
if any other legislation will be need
ed to restore harmony between capi-
tai and labor, and make them what
they ought to be, and what they
really. must be, if either is success
full, hearty co-operants in all that re-
lates to the material growth and
prosperity of the country.


l do not wish to consume your time
on the present occasion in psrticlariz-
ing,since it will be my pleasure from
time to time, should l deem it ne
cessary, to communicate with you in
special messages concerning matters
which l cannot even hint at. But |
feel that there are some things
which ought to receive your i'm
mediate attention, and | therefore
deem it proper to specify few of
them.


The present condition of the Pub
lie Works should be carefully and
thoroughly Investigated. Recently
there has been considerable excite
ment growing out of the fact that
the lessees of these works have vir-
tually repudiated their contract
with the State. The matter has
been submitted to the courts for ad-
judication, and though decision
may be reached at an early day, still
the whole subject is of such vital i'm
pOrtance that you should not fail to
give it full and candid investigs-
tlon; not only as regards the con-
tract referred to, but as regards what
shall be done with these works for
the future.


Our State has rightfully given
great prominence TO the building
and support of institutions. In this
respect we stand among the fore
most; and of this enterprise in good
works we have right to be proud.
Still, all this has cost us immense
outlays of money. But where ju-
diciously expended, these outlays
ought not to be regretted. But my
is such as to lead me to
believe that, in the building and
of these institutions,
much might be saved to the public
treasury. l certainly do not wish to
restrain the public enterprise and
beneVOlence which prompt the build
ing and sustenance of these inStitu-
tions, but l would, at the same time,
heavily restrain that tendency to OK
travaganee and waste, which often
accompanies the most generous and
useful undertakings. In building
houses for the institutions | think
proper discrimination should be
made between those intended for
the poor and unfortunate and those
which are for criminals. 1t is Ger
tainly right and proper to surround
the unfortunate, as far AS possible,
with responsibility and comfort;
but it is very questionable policy, to
saw the least, TO offer premium Of
these blessings to those who are
crimmally wicked. All should be
properly provided for; but the pur-
poses of some of these institutions
would he better served if they were
conducted upon the principles of a
more rigid economy than has here
tOfore characterized them. At any
rate, | aIn satisfied that a close inves-
oa your part, will discover
the fact that in the future much can
be saved to the public treasury with
out, in any way, detracting from the
best interests of those persons COM
1nitted to their charge.


In reference to the prison system
of the State, l would call your at
tention to an important suggestion


l. IL. II e GanAn Ehnl.i. .