The Indianapolis journal. [volume], January 06, 1883, Page 3, Image 3

About The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904

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THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
A Doenment Full of Valuable Infor
mation and Good Suggestion.
Comprehensive Statement of the Financial
Condition of the State—Effect of liogus
Insurance Companies.
Recommendations as to the Various
Retievolent and Penal Institutions.
Work of the Subordinate Executive Bureaus
—Fee and Salary Legislation Urged—The
Constitutional Amendments.
Gentlemen of the Sounte and House of Representa
tives:
The circumstances under which you assemble;
could not well be more satisfactory. The condi
tion of the State lias never been more prosper
ous. During the year just ended the products of
our fields have been unusually abundant. Our
manufacturing und mining Industries have
yielded good returns. Within the past year
SGO miles of railway have been built within the
State—a larger number than in any previous
year. Os the nlnety-rwo counties In the State,
there are only four through which railroads do
not pass, and three of these, happily, border on 1
the Ohio river. More than 225,000 acres of
land have during the year been brought for the j
first time into cultivation. The practice of un
derdraining soils charged with anexoessjof mots- j
ture nas never been so energetically pros©- j
cuted. Along with it has come increased pro
ductiveness, and a lessening of all malarial dis
eases. Our commoh schools, uuder the careful
superintendence of a diligent and capable, officer,
have Increased iu usefulness and in public fa
vor.
The State’s Finances.
THE STATE DEBT.
The States is Indebted as follows:
Five per cent, certificates, State
stock $14.4G9 99
Two and one-half.per cent, certifi
cates, State stock 2,355.13
Five per cent, bonds, parable in
New York, due Dee. l, 1889. but
payable at the pleasure ot the
* State after April 1, 1884 585,000.00
Twenty-four internal Improvement
bonds, past due 24,000.00
Six five percent, internal Improve
, jnenr bonds, due duly 1,188 G,
held by the United States 6,000.00
’ Total $631,825.12 j
The accumulated Interest upon the twenty
four old bonds above mentioned should be
added, but the precise amount cannot now be
stated.
The indebtedness of State to the school
fund is evidenced by fir* tinn-negotiable bonds !
for the aggregate sum of $3,904,783.22, bearing j
sir per cent. Interest,; and the indebtedness to
Purdue University is evidenced by one bond for
$340,000, bearing five per cent, interest.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
At the beginning of the fiscal year
1881 there was m the general
fund of the State Treasury a bal
ance of $504,894.94
There whs received into the fnnfl
from all sources during the year 1,408.025.08
Total *1,912.920.02
The total disbursements from the
fund during the fiscal year were 1,034.091.50
Leaving a balance at the end of
that year of $278,228.22
The estimate of expenditures for
Cite support of the State govern
ment for 1881, made iu ier-u
---anee of law by the Auditor of
fctatv, ii, 1879, amounted io the
aggregate sum of 1,200,570.09 j
These estimates worn insufficient
with resoect to several import
ant items Tim expenditures on
account of benevolent and penai
institutions exceeded the esti
mates by $166,878.28
The expenses of the Legislature
consequent upon the extra ses
sion, made necessary by the re
vision of the laws, were in excess
of the estimates in the sum of .. 2G,G2C.53
The estimates did nor include the
following items of disburse
ment:
A trausfer from the General fund
to the State-Pause fund, pursu
ant to an act ft the General As
sembly, of 100,000 00
A payment of the remaining war
loan bonds 139,000.00
A payment of an old internal im
provement bond, principal aud
interest 5,563.10
A payment of a per cent, cer
tificate of State stuck 603.22
The salaries of the five commis
sioners appointed pursuant to
an act of the General Assembly,
to aid the Supreme Court in
bringing up its decisions in sub
mitted cases 8,199 00
Expenses of Commissioner of
Fisheries 500 00
Expenses relating to printing es
Revised Statutes 510 09
Total $443,384.33
Deducting from the total disburse
ments for the year 1881, which
were, as above stated $1,034,691.80
The unestliuated amounts above
specified, viz 443,33 t. 33
A balance is left of $1,191,307 47
This amaunt.it will le perceived, is consider
ably below the Auditor’s estimate for that year.
The balance in the general fund
at the beginning of *he fiscal
year 1882 (Nov. 1, 1881),was.. $278,228 22
The total receipts to the tund dur
ing the fiscal year were 1,200,401.04
Total amount, of general fund
during the fiscal year 1882. .$1,538,629.86
Deduct disbnrsments during this
year $1,436,990 65
A balance Is left at the end of the
fiscal year 1882 of $101,729.21
The estimates of expenditure for
the support of the Stute govern
ment for 1382, mad'- by the Au
ditor of State in 1880, were $1,174,470.00
The disbursements vrere in fact.. 1,430.900 05
Being lu excess of the estimates.. 319,430.65
This excess is explained by the following dis
bursements:
There was transferred from the
general fund to the State-house
fund $200,000.00
The expenditures on account of
the benevolent aud penal insti
tutions exceeded the estimates. 41,677.05
Printing the Revised Statutes nut
estimated for 21,710.77
Other expenses connected with
the revision not estimated for.. 2,127.95
Appropriations by the General As
sembly to State University, Fur
due University and the State
Normal School, io excess of esti
mates 11,500.00
Expense of board of visitors to
the Normal School not estimated
for 113-85
Btateßoard of Agriculture, regu
lar annual appropriation und
appropriation to pay interest oil
its tuinds 10,700 00
Supremo Court Commissioners*’
salaries 19,951 48
Department of Geology and Natu
ral History 4,510.30
Commissioner of Fisheries’ salary
and expenses 808.33
Mine Inspector's salary 1,500.00
Appropriation for removing a liar
in Calumet river, caused by tlio
construction of a State ditch 5,802.90
Expenditure under act of the Gen
eral Assembly for the survey of
Kankakee river region 3,930.34
Erroneous payments by county
treasurers 956.45
Total $325,295.42
Deducting from the disbursements
forth© year 1882, which were
as above stated $1,430,900.05
The total amounts of the items
last mentioned for which no es
timates were made 325,295.42
Leaves $1,111,605.23
This amount, it will De perceived, falls consid
erably below tiie estimate for 1882.
THE ASSESSMENTS ANI) THE EXPENDITURES.
The estimate required by law to be made by
the Auditor of Btate to the General Assembly at
each biennial meeting, of the expenditures to lie
paid from the Treasury for the ensuing two
fiscal years, cannot, of course, anticipate all the
expenditures which may prove to be necessary.
There are always, in the case even of items in
cluded in his estimate, appropriations which ex
ceed the sums estimated, and there are always
appropriations for other proper and necessary
objects which naturally could not lie foreseen
when the Auditor’s estimate was made. A chief
purpose of the Auditor’s estimate is to enable
the Legislature to perceive within what limits
other disbursements must he confined, in order
to avoid the necessity of a higher rate of taxa
tion. When appropriations, however, ln*ve been
made by the Legislature in excess of sums esti
mated, or for objects nor. included within the es
timates, it is proper that they shall lie brought
to public attention, in order to undergo a fair
public scrutiny.
It will lie perceived that the receipts to the
general fund from all sources during the fiscal
years 1881 and 1882 have fallen short of like re
ceipts during the fiscal year 1880. 'Hie reeeints
to the general fund in 1830 were $1,477,009.92,
and in 1882 were only $1,20 .',401.01, a falling
off of $217,208 28 during the latter year. The
cause of this decrease Is as follows:
Tile appraisement of all taxable, real estate in
this state whs. prior to the passage of the statute
of 1881, required by law to lie made once in five
years. The last appraisement was made in
1880. The next preceding one was in 1875,
when the prices of real estate were yet inflated.
The appraisement ot 1880 fell below that or
1875 $155,424,597. The assessed value of per
sonal property iu 1880 was also less than in
1879 by $54,223,545. Non© of the taxes levied
uuder this lower assessment were payable to tli*
State Treasurer until in May, 1881 At that
time half of the Mare taxes tor 1880 were re
quired by law to be paid luto the treasury. The
other half was nor required r<> be paid into the
treasury until in January, 1882. The taxes col
lected for the fiscal year 1881 were one-Ualf col
lected under the high valuation of real estate
made in 1875, and one-half under the lower val
uation of 1880. The taxes for the. fiscal year
18S2 were ad collected under the lower valua
tion of 1380. The taxes received into the gen
eral fund the State treasury fell short of the
taxes received iu 1880 for the reasons above
stated, $42,175.33, and in 1882 fell short of me.
taxes received in 1880 $158,003.97. During the
last fiscal year the State government has had ro
be. conducted on lees revenue man for several
years preceding.
Although, however, no newjappraisementof the
real estate will be made for the purpose of taxa
tion until the year 1880, the great increase of
personal property has neguu to be apparent on
the tax lists, a: and by 1884 will probably have,
swollen the total value of taxabies to as high an
amount as they have been in any recent period
of the Stare’s history.
An addition to the revenues of the State will be
apparent hereafter by the higher appraisement
or the state Board of Equalisation, during the.
years 1881 and 1892.t>f the right of way and other
property of railroad companies. The enlarged
earnings ot these companies were deemed ro
Justify an average increase to the extent of 10
per cent, iu the valuation of property returned
to them for taxation. In addition to this in
crease there has been an increased assessment,
through the vigilance of the Aii'litur State, by
securing an assessment of buildings and im
provements, such as machine shops and other
expensive structures, situate on what ttie courts
have interpreted to bo the- “right or way”
of these companies, which, since 1872, had,
for the most part, escaped taxation. The reve
nue, however, from the taxation of such build
ings and improvements, would be*©rill further
augmented, without an infliction of injustice, by
a requirement that they shall be appraised by
local officers iu ttie townships iu which they are
situate. The Stare Board of Equalization can
never ascertain their value with Satisfactory ac
curacy.
Under a loose interpretation given to our
statute concerning voluntary associations, the
Stare's revenues irom Insurance companies are
being diminished, and an injury is being inflicted
upon many communities by irresponsible and
fraudnlent insurance companies, from other
States and at home, which are engaged ill the
transaction of business under the shelter of that
enactment-. These companies have so far af
fected the business of sound ami responsible
companies doing a fair und legitimate business
and honestly paying their taxes as seriously m
diminish their earnings and to make some of
them contemplate a withdrawal of their agen
cies from the State. There is need for prompt
adoption of sneli measures as wil. put a slop to
fraudulent aud speculative schemes which,
sheltering themselves under the law of the State,
iufiiot great injury upon our citizens au J bring
reproach upon the State itself.
The Asylums and Prisons.
TiJE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
The. average daily number of inmates In tho
Hospital for the lusaue, during tbe lust fiscal
year, was 1,070. Tiie average cost per capita
for maintenance, exclusive of clotuing, is stated
to have beenslß4 97.
The number of pupils at the Institution for the
Education of the Deaf and Dumb, at the end of
the last fiscal year, was 344. The average daily
attendance is not given in the reports. Tlie cost
per capita is stated to have been $156 32.
Tiie number of pupils enrolled at tiie Institute
for the Education of the Blind, during the. Rsenl
year, was 12G. Tlie reports do not give the
average daily attendance. The cost per capita
is stated to have been $216.07.
The number of pupils at. tlie Sold’ers’ Orphans’
Home and the Asylum for the Feebleminded
Children, institutions under one roof ana one
government, is stated in the stiperintcudeni’s
report to have been as follows: Soldiers’
orphans present at the end of the fiscal year,
137. Twenty other orphans are accounted for
liv the superintend* ill's statement iliMt three
have “eloped,” ami that seventeen have
failed to return after the summer vacation.
Os feeble-minded children, eigbt.v-me pupils are
reported as having been present at the end of
tlie fiscal year, and fourteen as discharged or
a wav temporarily. The lutter fourteen are said,
iu th** trustees’ report, not to have returned
from the summer vacation. The cost of inutnte
nunc© is stated by the superintendent, to have
been $125 per capita. Tbe average dally attend
ance is not specified.
Tin* two lust named Institutions are not, with
respect to the reports required of th© trustees
and superintendent, governed by the statute re
lating to the other benevolent institutions. The
statute does not define with the same particu
larity what the reports shall contain. Nor do*-s
the stature relating to any of them define the
mode of determining the cost per capita of main
taining their inmates. An examination of the
reports of the several institutions will, I think,
show that a uniform rule of ascertainment docs
not prevail, and that the mode of ascertainment
in one or two of them, quite unintentionally, no
doubt, is untrustworthy. I recommend that a
common requirement be adopted with res pec t to
what shall lie shown in the reports of the trus
tees and super in re nckmts of tlie several institu
tions, aud that the m .nnerin which the cost per
capita of maintaining the inmates shall be as
certained shall be specifically defined by law.
Your attention is specially invited to the rec
ommendations contained in tlie report of tlie
trustees of the Hospital for the lusane, and
which are strongly reinforced in the aril© and In
structive report of the superintendent ot that
institution. 'lhe capacity of tne buildings
erected by the State for the insane, spacious
and imposing as they are, is sufficient for little
more than half of the State’s ins me. Those who
are unable, for lack of room in tbe State’s hos
pital, to tie admitted as patients, snffer great,
and often cruel neglect. They are confined in
uncomfortable and sometimes shocking quar
tets 1n poor-houses, where they receive insuffi
cient attention, or they are a burden noon poor
kindred, who art* unable to make adequate pro
vision for them, and to whom they are n source
of distressing anxiety, and often of danger. Our
provision for the insane is so Inadequate that it
falls quite below the provison made for the same
class of suflerers made by neighboring States.
Tiie mode suggested by the superintendent for
enlarging hospital accommodations is com
mended to your earnest, consideration.
Tlie provision contained in our statutes for
ascertaining tlie number of insane, deaf and
dumb, blind and idiotic persons, is imperfectly
executed. Township assessors an* charged with
the duty of ascertaining, at tlie same time, of
nsses-ing personal property, the number of sneli
persons in their respective township*: hut this
requirement is so frequently neglected that
these lists furnish very imperfect information.
A specific penalty should be prescribed for a
neglect to perform this important duty.
Tlie clause In the revised code which provides
that a siinnuotis against an insane person who
has no guardian, shall, where such person lscou
fined in u hospital, be served upon tlie suiieriii
tendanr, is regarded generally by the legal pro
fession us rmt being applicable to writs of sum
tnona issued in divorce eases, and against admin
istrators and guardians iu ttie course of tlie set
tlement of estates. The consequence is that hi-
TIIE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SATURDAY, JANUARY <5, 1883.
mates of the Insane Hospital are. ofren greatly
excited, and their recovery retarded, by a per
sonal service upon them of writs. This clause
of the statute should.it would seem, be made to
include all writs of summons iu civil proceed
ings.
I recommend that in the department for women
in this hospital it shall be required by law that at
least one of the physicians shall be a woman.
Tticre are now in this State not a few women
who bear diplomas from respectable medical col
leges, and who are. quail fie 1 by professional at
tainments and experience to fill places as phy
sicians in public institutions with credit ami use
fulness. It would be pecn iarly tit that their
services should be sought in cases of insanity
among members of their own sex.
Three claims of considerable magnitude are
pending against the State for work and materials
under contracts entered into with the provisional
board of the Insane Hospital, it being the board
charged by l.tw with the duty of constructing
the bidding for the department for women. Two
of the claims have been refused. On* lias been
allowed by a compromise with the contractor,
subject to a condition that the Legislature shall
make an appropriation for its payment, there be
ing now no appropriation available for that use.
The facts relating to the case, briefly stated, Mre
these: The provisional board advertised for bids
for the brick work or the building, the work to
tie executed and paid for according to the plans
and specifications ot the State's architect. The
Specifications provided for u measurement of :
the work iu the wall as the work progressed, '
according to the rule of mason measurement of
work in the wall, then in use in Indianapolis.
The hid of the claimant, John Martin, was ac-j
cepted. Before, however, a formal contract had :
been entered into with him. tlie State’s Super- ;
intendent of C<>ntiuction, himself a member j
of the board, desiring that what were the rules
of mason measurement of brick in the wall at
Indianapolis should be precisely defined in the:
contract, requested the claimant to allow a
clause to be inserted, providing that the meas
urement contemplated should he according to,
the printed rules of the master builders and con
tractors for brickwork in this city. The clause;
having been inserted, the contract was reported
to the hoard aud signed on behalf of the State
by Governor Hetmricks, the president,
and by every other member. Before
the allowance to the claimant was
made, for winch he will ask an appropriation,
the work was carefully measured by the Slate’s
architect and by two experts specially appointed
by the bourd for that 4urpose, and their several
measurements having agreed, the allowance was ,
made in conformity thereto.
It is perhaps due to Mr. Martin ro state that in i
a report made to the Governor by the superin
tendent or construction, when the work was
nearly completed, he referred to his work as !
having been prosecuted diligently, and in the
most satisfactory manner, and added that he felt
it due to Mr. Martin to make a public record of
tne fact that he had “from the beginning mani
fested a constant, active and earnest interest in
liis work, with an evident purpose that it should
be an honest job, creditable to the State as well
as to himself.”
Tlie capacity of the Institute for the Education
of the Blind is now insufficient for the accom
modation of more than half of the blind youth,
who, by law, are entitled to the benefits of the
institution. The edifice was completed for the
admission of blind pupils more than, thirty year?
ago, and has never been enlarged. Applicants i
are constantly refused admission to the instiru- j
tion on account of a want of room. Provision
should bo made by law for an enlargement of
the building.
Tne Soldiers’Orphans’ noma and Asylum for
Feeble minded Children should be regarded, on
account of the character of both classes of ■
pupils, with particular favor. It has had to !
struggle under the. difficulty of narrow appro
priations, and, during a part of its historv, with
other difficulties hardly less serious. The in
structors have, however, been diligent and de
voted to duty, ami the progress of the pupils has
been highly satisfactory. File soldiers’ orphans
have been particularly proficient in their studies,
ami tiie success attained in unfolding and
strengthening the faculties of the feeble-minded
children has been most eucouragitig. A sufficient
appropriation should be immediately made to
provide additional securities against fir**. The
means of escape iu case of a sudden liro are
wholly inadequate. Outside stairways at tlie
outer end of tne main halls should ho erected as
soon as possible; and, as the building is already j
furnished with gas-pipes, gas-generator should
be erected so as to supply the building wit h a
safe fight for illumination, so that the use o( oil
lamps maybe discontinued.
PENAL AND REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS.
Your attention is particularly invited to the re
port ©f the House of Refuge for Juvenile Offen
ders. The average number of inmates during
the year was 350. Tlie expense of providing the
equipments and instructors requisite for teach
ing the boys iu this institution the most nsefnl
ami manual occupations has been found too great,
in the opinion ot past Legislatures, to warrant
them in making the accessary appropriations. A
boy, as the case now is, though instructed in the
simpler branches of education, leaves the insti
tution, in most oases, little better lined to earu a
livelihood, so fur as manual skill in concerned,
than when he entered it. He is too apr, on that
account,to fall back into a life of crime. A system
ot industrial education has recently found much
favor, which, uot profiling to teach manual
trades, gives toys u dexterity in handicraft
which may be equally useful iu many different
trades. It instructs them in the useofwuat.it
has been said, are the “half dozen universal
tools, viz: Toe hammer, sa *, plane, chisel, file
aud square.” It is said that “in ail const ructions
a certain number of typical forms are found,
which, being more or less modified,
adapt themselves to special coxes.
These forms will also shape themselves
into groups, each to be worked out iu a certain
way and with sptcaul tools; and the student
taught ro work out these form*, each in the best,
way and with the tools best suited for the work,
will be far advanced in the skill which will
make him available aud useful iu construction.
A -boy instructed in tills way iu a knowledge of
forms and acquiring aptness ami dexterity in
the use of tools, would leave the institution with
a feeling of capability and of self-confidence,
could more readily obtain employment, and
could speedily qualify himself for almost any of
tlie various lucrative trades. One teacher, it
has been found, can instruct thirty-two students
at. a time in t uts system, and boys going through
the exercises in separate Haases at different
times, the education can lx? imparted with very
little cost either in implements or materials. I
invite vour attention to tlie schools tuur, a; Bos
ton, St Louis, and elsewhere, have recently en
tered upon this new system of industrial e me,a
tion for iudig-nt hoys, aim to the propriety of
such legislation as will give it a fair trial iu our
House of Refuge.
Under the guise of committing children to tills
institution as incorrigible, or as juvenile offend
ers. children are often sent to it by the courts
who are simply poor, or whose parents, desiring
to get rid of the cost or care of rearing them, arc
willing to make them a charge upon the State,
Children merely poor should not lie allowed to
be thrown into association with juvenile offend
ers, and the sternest vigilance should be prac
ticed to prevent u gligent parents from shifting
upon thesrai.e the responsibility of maintaining
and rearing their offspring. Besides, it is i.ot
possible to HAcortaiu to what extent the class of
bovs intended to he received into this institution
I are reformed if children not criminal or incor
rigible ire admitted. Sufficient provision should
promptly b** made by law against the abuse or
admitting boys not belonging to the classes of
criminal and incorrigible.
The recommendation of the superintendent
that hoys released from the institution upon
tickets-of-leave shall be placed by law uuder the
surveillance of the township trustees in the
counties to which they are sent, seems to be a
most judicious one. A knowledge by bys thus
released that their conduct was watched by per
sons of character, for an honest purpose of pre
serving their morals, would help to restrain
them from returning to crime. The additional
advantage would also be gamed that if they
should fall again into a profligate life, they could
promptly be returned to the institution for fur
ther discipline.
The management of the Reformatory for
Women and Girls deserves unqualific 1 com
mendation. A desire to keep expenditures with
in tiie limits of appropriations and to administer
the institution with proper economy has linen
constantly evident. The proportion of Inmates
who, after their return to their home?, lead cor
rect lives is greater than the most sauguiue
might reasonably have expected.
There is reason for regret that in selecting a
site for tlie Reformatory more regard was not
had to couveuieut faoUr.lc? for sewerage. Tile
only means of conveying the sewage from the
buildsiigs is by the current or a rivulet, that,
after passing through the grounds, runs through
a populous part of Indianapolis. Witu all ttio
care that can be exercised, and on exhaustion of
all means of purification, complaints are made
of offensive odors. Tlie stream, after passing
through the grounds of the Reformatory, runs
in part through, and in part near the edge of,
the United Stares Arsenal grounds, and persons
there employed have Induced the authorities at
Washington to cause a suit to bo instituted in
the United States Circuit Court at Itidlauamilis
to enjoin the trustees from allowing the sewage
to be conveyed through said stream.
Nothing lmt a belief that the present Legisla
ture will, by a proper law, provide for
building a sewer by which the waste from the
Reformatory will he carried off by other means
than said stream, has, ii is believed, prevented
an allowance of an injunction. Provision by
law for tlie construction of a proper sewer is iui
peratively necessary.
An act was passed by the last General Assem
bly providing for the construction of such a
i sewer at the joint, expense of tlie State and tlie
city of Indianapolis; but, h* the consent of t.be
j city io bear its proportion of the outlay was
requisite before the work could he undertaken,
the work fell through, trie city not having given
! trie needed consent. As tlie sewer will be of
material benefit to the City, it is Just that it
should bear a due proportion of t he expense.
! The necessity for a walled enclosure for the
purpose of allowing a spac ‘ for needful exercise
for women sentenced for crimes, whom it would
| be unsafe to permit to be at large upon open
grounds, is evident, and an appropriation ot the
, comparatively small amount asked for by the
; managers would seem to be most proper.
| Tiie State’s prisons at Jeffersonville and at
Michigan City arc more nearly self-supporting
i than they have been for several years.
The average number of prisoners at tlie former
, prison during the past year was 504. The aver
age number of prisoners at the prison at Miehi
| gan City was 621.
Tlie specific appropriation bill which failed at
| the last session of the General Assembly, on ac
count of its consideration having been Uefei red
I to too late a period of tlie session, contained an
appropriation of $5,000 for building special
wards at the prison at Michigan City for tne use
of insane prisoners, and lor a trausfer to that (
prison of ail the insane prisoners in tlie prison |
at Jeffersonville. I earnestly urge the appro
priation of a proper sum of money for the build
ing of cells at the former prison for insane pris
oners, which shall be remote from the cells of
other convicts. The insane convicts are at pres
ent, for want of any other provision, kept hi cells
so near those of other prisoners that tueir cries
at night disturb and frequently destroy the rest
of these hard-worked in n, whose condition at !
tlie end of each day’s labor requires that, they
should have undisturUd repose It is cruel and
discreditable to require orison.-rs deprived night i
after night, successively or needful sleep, to per
form the laborious dally tasks demanded of them
hv tlie practice of tlie prisons. Insane persons !
require, also, a very different attention from
that, given to the sane, and from that which noo- j
essarily they arc now accustomed to receive.
The abbrevia’ion of the terms of sentences nl- ,
lowed by statute to prisoners for good conduct is
believed not to lie sufficiently liberal. N; incen
tive to good behavior is found tube so strong j
wirh them as a knowledge that such behavior I
will shorten tlie term of im prison men t. I ear- '
neatly recommend legislation giving to prison* i
ers whose conduct has been continually ex©rii- |
Diary a larger credit for good conduct on their >
sentences. The, effect of such legislation would j
be followed, f have no doubt, by a great ini- j
provenient in discipline ami a lesseumc of ex- j
pense in the conduct of tlie prisons.
complaint is made bv the city authorities of j
Michigan City that the sewage or the prison at
that city, which is conveyed into a small stream ,
called Fish Lake creek, occasions a nuisance in
jurious to the health of the inhabitants. Tne I
growth of the. city has recently been rapid, and j
its limits now extend beyond the point at which j
this refuse is conveyed into the stream. The ne- |
cessity for the construction of a sewer by the
Slate seems to lie urgent.
Education, Agriculture aud Minins:.
EDUCATION.
Tlie number of persons iu the State of school
age, viz., between the ages of six and twenty- '
oue years, is 709,424. The number admitted to !
the schools was, in 1882, 498,792. Tne average l
daily attendance of pupils lastyear was 305,513. j
Tiie number of school teachers is 13,259. The !
number of school-houses in tiie State is 9,556, of
which 48 are log, 83 are stone, 2,481 are brick,
and 0,944 are frame.
The amount of the public school fund Is
$9,138,408.31. The addition made to it annually,
taking ns a basis an average or the past five
years, exceeds $54,000. This snm does not in
clude the large sum (tboni $260,000 a year) re
ceived from pnrticul r licenses and other sources
and applied each year to tuition,
Tne a mount of tuition-money derived from in
terest, on the school funds in 1882 was $650,-
173.41. The whole amount received from State
and local tuition taxes was $2 059,616 44. The
proportion of he entire expense of tuition paid
from taxes. State and local, was 75 per cent.
It will tuus t*e seen that, ample as our sc I mol
fund is, three foniUis or the expenses of tuition
are derived from public taxes. Tne fact that
these taxes are naid without complaint is file
highest evidence of rite esteem in which the pub
lic school system is held.
The report of ttie .State Bunerintendent of Pub
lic Instruction is replete with interesting tacts
and suggestions. .
Tne State Normal School is shown, by the re
port of the truste s aud superintendent, to he. in
a highly fl-MirishiDg condition. The average
iiiimoer of students during the past year was
302. The need for a moderate appropriation for
the purchase of anparatus for instruction in the
sciences is urgent.
Tlie important suggestions contained In the
reports of the trustees of the State University
and of the trustees and president of the Purdue
University will properly engage your most con
siderate ut'eutiou.
st ate BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
The State Board of Agriculture has shown
commendable zeal during the past year m the
discharge of its official duties. It is required by
law to hold a meeting iu the month of January
of every year, together with the delegatee from
the several county societies, for the purpose of
deliberation and consultation respecting the
“wants, prospect, and condition of agriculture
throughout tne State ” At this meeting reports
from the county societies, required to be made
annually, with regard to tho condition of agricul
ture in the several counties, are delivered, pur
suant to law, io the president of the State B<>urd.
it, was doubtless the expectation of the framers
of this statute that these eo.iuiv reports would
furnish tlie enief basis for the deliberations and
consultations of the Board relating to the con
dition and prosnects of agriculture in the Stale.
If filed a proper time before the January meet
ing thev doubt less would, but not lieitig delivered
until afr.*-r the meeting has lie.an, they cannot
be examined during the meeting with auv care,
and therefore form no basis for consultation or
deliberation. The consequence is that thev are,
nsageiieral rule, hastily prepared, contain lit
tie varied or specific information, and fail to
present with fullness or vividness the condition
of agriculture iu the conn ties.
If tlie reports were, required to lie delivered to
the secretary of tiie State Board liy the Ist of
December of each year, ami it were made his
duly to present- ro the board at its January
meeting a copious abstractor tueir contents, and
to arrange and Index them so mat tiie several
subject* coaid be readily referred to, they would
soon form a basis for tlie deliberation* and dis
cussions of tue. board, and their quality would
be great.v improved, it, would be good policy
for tlie State to offer U reasonable premium uu
niiaily for the best county re.;orr. This would
excite emnlat ion, and i h© cud w%R44 make these
reports of much value to our tanners.
Some of tne professors of Purduo University,
the State’s agricultural college, devot© cbo
greater nart of ©very year to studies an i exper
iments iu aericuluir-.' If these particular pro
fessors were triad© members of the State board
they would impart much freshness and interest
to its discussions, and give to it increased energy
and spirit. I recommend that two members of
the facultv of Purdue University be made ex
otlido members of the board.
MINKS AND MINERS.
The number of coal mines in the State is 150.
The number of miners employed in them is
5,100. The production exoeed* 2,000,000 tons a
year.
The law in relation to coal mines, though care
fully framed, is believed to need some amend
ment in order to give proper security to the lives
of miners. The State Inspector is a practical
miner of long experience, and thoroughly ac
quainted with the needs of mines. Henman
rones for hoisting are, in his opinion, unsafe in
cases of fire. Besides, no ordinary inspection
can detect with certainty secret defects which
often render them unreliable. Br.eel-wir© ropes
should be required to be subsiitut**d in their
place. Every mine, iu the Inspector’s opinion,
should have at least two millers. Where a fur
nace isetuoloyed for purposes of ventilation,
and one of tho outlets is used for the escape of
smoke aud steam, tho outlet so used is useless us
a means of retreat iu ease of Rudden danger. A
mine iu this condition has practically but one
outlet. An additional one should, in such cases,
be required.
It i* ma !© the duty of tho Mine Inspector to
examine all scales used in any coal mine for
the purpose of weighing coal taken out of tho
mmw. Miner-* are usually paid by the tou for
thdr work. Justice to them and the preserva
tion of harmony between them and ih.-irem
i plovers require that correct scales shall lie used,
j The State, however, not. having provided the In
j spector with scaled weights, lie has no accurate
; means of determining saiisfaetorilv whether
scales .ira correct. Th© State should provide
him with a set or sealed weights
Various Executive Departments.
COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES.
The General Assembly, at its special session in
1881, enacted a law’ providing for an appoint
ment by the Governor of a Commissioner of
Fisheries. Commissioners had previously been
appointed, under provisions of law*, in thirty-one
States of the Union and two of the Territories.
I appointed to tlie office a gentleman who had
given much study to the habits of fishes and to
their propagation, and had been specially suc
sessful in the cultivation of the carp. I invite
your attention to the suggestions contained in
his report. The law of 1831 seems to have been
intcuued rather to s*-t. no foot an intelli
gent. investigation into the best means of re
storing our maiv fishing streams and of
preventing a renewal of tne reprehensible prac
tices by which thev have been impoverished,
than to provide an efficient plan for supplying
these stream-*, or to prevent a wanton or thought
less depopulation of them. The business of fish
ing, if our fishes were undisturbed in the spawn
ing season, would soon become, a profitable in
dustry, and would give employment to many
citizens. A most wholesome atul nutritions food
would soon be made abundant. The tempera
ture of our streams and lakes, and their purity,
adapt them to a great variety of fishes. The
black blass which multiply so rapidly when their
spawning grounds are iindi-turbed time artifi
cial propagation is never necessary, is native to
our streams. The carp cau be successfully anil
inexpensively cultivated. It has been described
by Professor Baird, tne United States Fish Com
missioner, as being emphatically a farmer’s fish,
on account of requiring little more care than ins
swine or poultry. If Indiana has lagged some
what behind a majority of her sister States in
providing for restocking her nearly numberless
streams and the beautiful lakes which abound
near her northern bonier, shah she not make up
for time neglected by a prompt adoption of tne
best method-*, by the passage of wise protective
laws, and by a resolute spirit on the part of her
iuhauilunts to secure their enforcement?
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS.
The Department or Statistics, separated by the
last General Assembly from the Department of
Geology, has been conducted with zeal aud eu
ergy, and has collected statistics on a variety of
subjects of general popular interest. Its monthly
crop reports have been received with much fvcr
by farmers and dealers in produce. It has dur
ing the past year, organized a corps of efficient
weather observers, who have reported monthly
to ihe head of the department their tlailv obser
vations. Those reports, having been transmitted
regularly to the office of the. Signal Service at
Washington, have been commended for their
fullness and accuracy, and they are contributing
to the stock of knowledge which will gradually
enable skillful observers to make longer and more
accurate forecasts of the weather. The corps
has been equipped with u small out fir, of instru
ments by the Uuited States Signal Service, but
has served without any compensation.
The report of the Commissioner is so replete
with information of general value, that it will,
no doubt, be examined by you with interest, and
aid you iu some parts of the work of legislation,
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY.
The report of the State Geologist has attracted
much attention among scientists on account of
Its bringing to light new organic remains found
among the rocks of the State, and on account of
surface discoveries of a novel and important
character. His tests of Indiana building stone,
showing the superior quality thereof with re
spect to the important features of endurance
and elasticity, have opened new markets for the
stone and much increased the sale thereof. Beds
of gravel have also been found by him, at places
where the existence of such deposits had not be
fore been suspected, which are furnishing uia
teral for improved roads. The State geological
cabinet has neon increased during the past year
by an addition, with trifling expense, of more
than forty tn.msatid interesting ami valuable
specimens. New coal deposits have also been
discovered and public attention directed to them.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
This board was established by an act of the
last General Assembly. Twenty-six had
previously established like boards. The work of
tbe board lias been prosecuted with zeal. Its
report, and tlie report tit its executive officer,
give a full statement of Mi© work done since it
entered upon the discharge of its duties.
ATTORNEY-GEN ERAL's REPORT.
The large collections made by the Attorney
general of moneys received by various officers,
which were payable to the State, but had been
withheld, and the result of important suits iu
which the State lias been interested, as well as
the condition of pending suits, are shown by his
'report. The litigation involving the title to the
valuable tract of land near ludianapolis. pur
chase 1 many years since us a site for th House
of Refuge, bur. not used as such, consisting of an
hundred acres, has been decided in favor of the
State, and the Stite has quiet possession of the
laud.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
By a reference to ttie report of the Secretary
of State, it will be seen that a deficiency has ex
isted for several years in the appropriations for
public printing. The work is done for a fair
price, but the cost of what necessarily must bo
done exceeds somewhat the sums appropriated.
In this connection I beg to call your attention
to tiie fact that the law should define with more
precision what printing shall lie paid for out of
the general appropriation.
THE STATE MILITTA.
Attention is called with pleasure to the ener
getic and successful effort# of the Aujutant
g-neral to increase the numbers and Improve
the discipline of our active militia. The en
campment held at. Indianapolis last summer, at
which some of the most proiuineut militia com
panies of the country engaged iu a competition
for prizes with our own companies, and with one
another, drew to it a vast number cf interested
spectators, gave a renewed Impulse to tho mar
tial spirit, and has been productive of excellent
results. I t ike this occasion to render acknowl
edgments to the gentlemen composing my staff
for their arduous and disinterested service# on
that oeoHsion. Sine© the encampment broke up,
many new companies have been formed, and a
disposition to elevate the standard of attain
ment in all military exercises lias been manifest.
Tho recommendations contained in Ihe Adjutant
general’s report are commended to your careful
consideration. I particularly urge upon you the
importance of nassiug a law, in conformity
■to his recommendation, to provide for copying
into record books, to be procured for th tl pur
pose, ihe muster-til and muster-out rolls of the
Indiana soldiers. These contain an account or
the service of each soldier. When this record
snail have licen made, a frequent handling of
original papers will be unnecessary, and the
papers will thus be preserved from injury. It
will lie a reproach to the State if a performance
of this duty shall It© longer neglected.
There is a necessity, also, that you shall pro
vide, without delay, a fire-proof vault for tho
purpose of securing these papers agaiust tho
hazards or fire. Tueir destruction would do in
calculable injustice to persons having tho
strongest claims to grateful recognition by the
State.
REVISED STATUTES.
11l conformity to a requirement contained iu
the act of 1881, corieerulng the publication of
the new Revised Statutes, f appointed the gen
tlemen composing the Board or Revision com
missioners to nrepare these statutes for publica
tion, and to superintend the publication thereof.
The last delivery or the copies required by law to
be filed in tbe clerk’s ofli-es of the several coun
tii s was made in July, 1382.
The act of 1881 provided that the commission
ers should hold tlieir position until the first day
of November of that year, and that tiie commis
sioners and the Governor should, on the final
adjournment of the General Assembly, advertise
forbids for the priming und delivery of tne
statutes. A clause required the commissioners
to annotate the contents of the volume, so as to
show, by proper reference, the time when all
statutes included iu the volume went into force.
A literal compliance with th© terms of th© act
of 1831. with respect to th© time for completing
the work assigned to the commissioners, un.i to
th© time for advertising for bids, was found to
be impossible. The work assigned to tlie com
missioners could not, by tho utmost labor they
could bestow, be completed within the time
prescribed, and no intelligent bid, or bid at all
favorable to the State,ooulit have been expected,
had bids been solicited when then work was iu
the incomplete condition iu which it was at the
time of the adjournment of the Legislature.
Besides, the volume containing the session acts
of 1881 was so large, on account of tbe bills
brought before tbe Legislature by the board for
the revision of the 1 uvh, that the printing could
not bo completed until a period much later than
bad been usual in the printing ol session acts.
Hence, tlie annotation of tin* time when the acts
passed at a session of 1381 took effect, could not
ne made as early as the Legislature had con
templated. When the time fixed for the expira
tion of the offices ot the commissioners arrived,
they, therefore, from public motives, uml at
much personal liicou venieime, continued iu tho
performance of tlieir labor, without any pro
vision for further compensation, until the work
content nlated by law had been completed ami
the statutes were ready fordellveiy.
The act of 1881 prescribed with particularity
wi<h what kind of tyuoaud in what stvie tho
Revised Statures should be printed. The con
tract was let in conformity to the terms of tiie
act. Had the volume, however, boon prepared
in that manner, It, would have, been inconvenient
and unsightly. Fortunately, the ©ontractor was
willing to print tho volume in a much better
type, and to bind it in a much more attractive
style at tile prioo which h id been named in tbo
contract, ami it was accordingly prepared iu
this manner, with the consent of the eouimU
siotiers and to the general satisfaction of th©
legal profession. It is a volume which tne com
missioners hare truly said is “a credit to the
printers’ art.’’
Tlie cost of the printing, binding and delivery
was $22,233.70, being $2,700.24 less than the
appropriation for tne purpose.
The commissioners, in their contract, took th#
precaution to provide that, as soon as the num
ber of volumes prescribed by law had beeu
printed, the stereotype, plates employed in Print
ing it should, without additional charge, hi
turned over to the State.
No provisions having been made by law for
securing a copyright, the Commissioners took
out a copyright in their own mimes, winch they
promptly assigned to tiie State. In compliance
with a request from them, i recommend tlie pas
sage of an act formally accepting tiie assign
ment.
Tne stereotype plates can occasionally be used
to advantage by the state, and could also be
used by private parties, in printing separately
for circulation particular acts contained in the
volume. | recommend that provision lie made
by law for a temporary use of the plates by
private parties, for a proper consideration, at
tbe discretion oT the Board <>r Public Printing.
For tiie laborious work pcrfotuicd by the Com
.missioners, after the end of their term of office, I
have no donut it. will he the pleasure of the (Jen
eral Assembly to provide u proper coiupeusa
tiou.
General Topics and Recommendations.
TIIE NEW STATE-HOUSE.
The progress of the work upon the new State
house since the General Assembly last met has,
on the whole, been satisfactory. While in 1881
the work did not proceed quite as actively an
lias been anticipated, It has during the year just
closed been prosecuted as diligently as the most
sanguine could well have hoped. Uuder the care
ful atid vigilant supervision of the commission
ers, it is believed that it has been thoroughly
well excuted, and will bear the sternest testa
It is a subject of great regret that the execution
of the remainder of the work is liable to be
retarded by a dissatisfaction on the part of the
contractors, arising from losses said by them to
have been necessarily incurred while they liuve
been engaged in a diligent and faithful perform
ance of their contract. The cost of materials
aud the prices of tauor have risen, as they claim,
altogether above what they expected, or what
might reasonably have been expected, when
they entered upon their undertaking if they
should decline ro proceed further under exist
ing circumstances, h grave duty will be de
volved upon you in determining what course
will be wisest to secure an early and satisfact
ory execution of the unfinished part of the
work.
Provision was made in tlie contract that,
changes directed by the commissioners, with the
consent or tbe contractors, during the progress
of the. work, should not operate to discharge tbe
liability of the sureties upon the contractors’
bond, and in every instances where changes
have been made, they have been made with the
consent ot the contractors and in conformity to
nn opinion of the Attorney-general that the
change would not release the sureties.
THE KANKAKEE MARSII.
At the last Mission ot tlie General Assembly an
act was passed empowering the Governor to aji
poiutacivil engineer to make a survey of the
wet and swamp lands of the Kankakee region in
this State, and to take levels, and make careful
estimates, with a view of ascertaining the cheap
est and most practicable outlets and routes,
by which to effect successfully drainage of that
vast body of fertile lands. An appropriation of
five thousand dollars was made to enable the'
engineer to prosecute the work, and the Gov
ernor was empowered,at. his discretion, to direct
surveys to be made of other wet lands for a like
purjMise.
On the sth day of May, 1881, I appointed as
the civil engineer for the purpose coutemp.uted
in the act. Professor John L. Campbell, of Wa
hash College, who had lieou successfully con
ducting tlie United States geodetic survey in
this State. He accepted the appointment, and,
liaviug organized a corps ot assistants, entered
promptly upon his important work. I cannot
too highly commend the manner in which be und
Ills aide corps of assistants have discharged
their duties. His clear and exhaustive report
should receive your most attentive considera
tion.
The vast region of the Kankakee is shown to
lie one of tiie most fertile regions of the State,
ami by the excavation of a uouily straight chan
nel to conduct the water of tbe river, a sufficient
I fall can lie obtained to effect a thorough drain
age. The. ease with which the channel can be
i constructed is most gratifying, and the cost of
effecting a drainage, however considerable it
i may appear, bears no sort of proportion to the
additional value which drainage will impart to
j the lands. These lands, on account o! their
; proximity to Chicago, arc covered by a network
of leading lines of railroads. The estimates of
the engineer, who is of a cautious and conserva
tive temper, may be r- girded as being certainly
above, rather than below, what would be the
actual cost of the work required to lit*, done.
It was honed that the rockv bottom of the bed
of the river, which begin- iu Illinois, two miles
west of our State line, would not at that point
oppose any obstacle to a thorough drainage, bur.
t lie engineer believes that the water, flowing
through its new chuunel, holding particles of
earth in suspension, would lie likely to deposit a
sediment at that point and make a bar which
might render lands adjacent to the river liable
j to overflow. He thinks that for a distance of
j half the length of the contemplated channel the
1 work of drainage can safely be prosecuted with
1 out delay, but that the rest of tbe work should
! await an acquisition of the right to remove for a
' specified distance tlie rocky obstruction referred
j to. A belief lias been expressed, however, by
some hydraulic engineers, that, until the new
channel anall practically cease to r
the stream muddy, any tendency
create a bur nt tin* point mentioned n
probably be prevented by one of the small ve
needed at any rate to be maintained in the
for some time after th** completion of rlie v
being filled with simple mechanical Hppltu
enabling it to stir the sediment ami keep
suspension until it can pass off in the <u
which flows freely over the rocky bottom o
liver at that point.
With respect to tlie manner in which till
porruut undertaking snail bo prosecuted, t
w ill no ilou'if be found a diversity of opt
The law of 1869, which was intended to pr
a practical selu-me for tbo aocoiupdsbtuet
! the work, was repeated by the General Asse
soon after its enactment. It whs found tha
effect of the law would lie to subject to sab- i
non-payment of assessments the lands of mo
tbe small proprietor*. Such proprietors ©a
pay any considerable assessments until i
crease of crops, occasioned by a reolamath
their lands, provides them with th** mean
paymeut. Home method must be devised, if
are to lie protected, by which tlie work mu
on and there may be a reasonable delay in tin
lection of the assessments. With respect tc •
portion of these lands included in ill© g
of swamp lands made to the Statu
liv tne United Slates, the Stats
engaged, when it sold them, that the proceeds
! of the sales should lie applied toward draining
[ them. it. must be confessed that this ©nsrutte-
I ment whs imperfectly kept. The more sanguine
j proprietors have hoped that, in consideration of
tills fact, the State would, at iis own expense.
, undertake to drain these lands, it doe? not,
however, seem to me likely that, the legislature
would tie willing to charge tho State with Mia
expense of so considerable an undertaking. But
| tlie fact that the State so imperfectly kept its
; engagement should certainly Incline it to a
course of liberal legislation. It is believed that
| it would lie competent for tho State itself to ad
vanoe money, retaining a lieu tin the lands for i
return thereof; but if ibis should bo deemed in
expedient, it might empower the counties robe
benefited by the drainage to guarantee (Kinds to
be issued In payment for the work, retaining a
! lien on lands benefited, in analogy to the provis
! ion respecting aid to gravel-road companies,
j The subject is one of so' great importance tliut,
it should engage your early aud most earnest
I attention.
FEES AND SALARIES.
j For many years complaints have been made
1 in the more populous counties that the fees and
I salaries of officers wore too largo for the serv
i ices performed. It lias also been asserted that
! the means to which there are often
i strong temptations to resort, for obtaining nom
inutions for olliecs so lucrative, and for securing
' success at the polls, have a corrupting effect
. upon elections. Before the adoption of the con
j stiiutioual amendments of 1881, the Legislature
j was deprived of tho power of curing this sup
| posed evil. Iu that year an amendment was
j passed which has removed the difficulty. This
! amendment was submitted to the electors of the
State, and prevailed by a majority of more than
90,000 votes. A session of the legislature Inis
intervened since this | amendment was
adopted, but no act lias been passed regulating
the compensation of officers in The manner cor.
templatod. Kvcry officer should be adequately
paid for Ills services, but it Is due to Un
people that no greater sum shall bo
taken from them, in the way of fees and
salaries, than is neccssarv to pay to the officer i
fair compensation. Officers frequently, ho>v*
3