Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1885 — Page 3

PORTER’S FAREWELL.

Message of Got. Albert G. Porter to the Legislature of Indiana -Oentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives : . . The circumstances under which yon meet are mot so auspicious as they were when the Legislature last assembled. Low prices hare prevailed for farmers' products. Our manufacturing industries have been depressed. Our mines -of ooal have not found a ready market for all the ooal they could produce. Labor, In many -occupations, has not been rewarded with steady -employment nor with adequate returns. When the resources of the people are diminished, it is the duty of the legislator to make the public burdens as light as possible. Tbe following is a STATEMENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT. Foreign debt— Five per cent. State stock certificates $14,469.99 Two and one-half per cent. State stock certificates. 2,355.13 Five per cent, temporary loan bonds held bv Brooklyn Savings Bank, Mew York, due December, 1889, payable at the pleasure of the State after April 1,1844 200,000.00 Five per cent temporary loan bonds held by Winslow, Lanier & Co., New York City, due April 1, 1889, payable at the pleasure of the State after April 1,1884.. 885,000.00 Six 5 per cent, internal improvement bonds, held by the United States, due July 1,1886 ,6,000.00 Total foreign $607,825.12 Domestic debt— School fund bond No. 1, issued Jan. 1, 1867 $709,024.85 School fund bond No. 2, issued Jan. 20, 1867 2,658,057.30 School fund bond No. 3, issued May 1, 1868. 184,234.00 School fund bond No. 4, Issued Jan. O», 1871 177,700.00 School fund bond No. 5, issued May 3,1873 175,767.07 Five per cent bonds held by Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., due April 1, 1901 340,000.00

Total domestic $4,2 44^83.22 Total State debt 4,876,608.34 The item ot “twenty-four internal-improve-ment bonds past due, $24,000," which appeared In tbe statement of the public debt In my last biennial message, no longer exists, those bonds having been paid on the 2.5 th of May, 1838. The temporary loan bonds mentioned in the foregoing statement, amounting in the aggregate to the sum of $585,000, though not due until 1889, are now, by the terms of the bonds, payable at any time sooner at the pleasure of the State. As they bear 6 per cent, interest, and the money requisite to discharge them can be obtained considerably below that rate, I recomme"d that authority be given to tho Governor and Auditor of State to borrow the requisite sum at the losvest practicable rate of interest and to discharge these bonds. A large saving of Interest can thus be effected. THE GENERAL FUND. t The general fund, at the present rate of taxation, will not be sufficient, unless it shall be augmented from some new source, to meet tho •ordinary current expenses rendered necessary for the completion of the three additional hospitals for the insane, and for the usual loans to the State House fund. It is evident that unless economies can be introduced which will relieve the deficit, the rate of taxation will have to be somewhat increased or a sufficient stun borrowed to meet the exigency. In the •event that a loanshal be made, provision should be simultaneously made for the creation of a sinking fund for the discharge of the debt at an early day. But before imposing any additional tax or providing for any loan, every effort should be made to avoid the necessity thereof by reducing ail needless expenses. THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL. The failure of the General Appropriation bill, at the last session of the Legislature, was not followed by the inconveniences which were by most persons anticipated; and the propriety of my determination not to call an extra session, which would have put upon the State an expense, at least, of from seventy to eighty thousand dollars, has been fully vindicated. It was .foun i that laws were in force under which the ■State Government and all its machinery could be conducted, notwithstanding the failure of that bill. The General Appropriation bill, if it had become a law, would. Indeed, have limited the expense for each object for which it made provision, to the amount specifically appropriated therefor, whereas the laws above referred to did not, in most instances, contain any exact limitation upon expenditure. But the General Appropriation bill having passed both Houses and having been subsequently reconsidered for other reasons than that its provisions were not satisfactory, it was •deemed to contain an expression of the sense of the Legislature. To guard, therefore, against expenditures greater than the Legislature ■would have sanctioned, a conference was held between the Treasurer and the Auditor of State and myself, at which my determination not to ■call an extra session was made known to them, and a decision was a iopted that the expenditures for the several objects specified in the general appropriation bill should not in any instance be exceeded. The effect of this decision lias been that, through an effort to keep down ■expenditures for the objects specified in that bill to the lowest practicable amount, the expenditures have been less than they would have been had the hill passed. An examination of the expenses of the executive department, especially, will show that no greater economy could possibly have been practiced. The failure of the General Appropriation bill, however, occasioned great inconvenience to two ■or three of the public institutions, from the fact that no law could ire found under which sufficient provision could be made for them. This inconvenience will, doubtless, be redressed by ■yon by proper legislation, • STATE PRINTING, Your particular attention is invited to the remarks contained in the report of the Auditor of State, on the subject of the State’s printing. The printing has, during the last few years, increased very much in quantity, vet there has Seen no corresponding increase in the appropriation to pay for it. The law is also defective in not defining with precision what matter shad be printed. Since the law of March 13, 1875, was enacted, specifying the reports which shall be printed, a considerable number of new offices nave been created, the incumbents of which are xeqnired by law to make annual reports. It has been the practice to print these reports under a -very vague and doubtful authority contained in the act creating the Bureau of Public Printing. The legislature should clearly express its ■will with respect to what reports shall be printed. It is believed that some of these reports should be publi-hed but once in two years, in season to be printed and laid on the de-ks of members at the meetings of the Legislature in regular session. Other reports, allowed to be printed annually, might properly be limited in length ana restricted in topics, at least in the years the regular session. In this way a very ■const d rable and prudent saving of expense might be effected. The Legislature should require a paper of bet--I*r quality to be used ,n printing most of the reports than the law now requires. The paper used is by no means equal to paper generally used in other States of like wealth and advancement. Notwithstanding the Legislature at its last session failed to make an appropriation for tho public printing, the present contractor, Mr. W. B. Burford, has printed the reports of public •offl ers, the acts of the Legislature, and the House and Senate journals, with the expectation that you would at the present session make a proper appropriation to pay him for such printing at the ra es specified in the State's contract with him. The work has been done promptly and to the satisfaction of the officer required by law to inspect it. I recommend that the appropriation be made os soon as practicable.

THE .STATE TREASURY. The act of 1859. “to provide a treasury system for this State"—which act is still In forcedeclared that the room then occupied, or which might be thereafter assigned to and occupied by the Treasurer of State, together with the safes, vaults, and other proper and necessary means -for'the security ahd safo keeping of the public money, should constitute the Treasury of the State; and that the Treasurer of State should be required to use the Treasury so constituted as the sole place for the deposit and safe keeping ©t the Stat-’s moneys; and the Auditor and Treasurer were required, under the direction of "the Governor, to provide such additional locks, safes, and vaults as might render the publio funds absolutely socnre against tire and burglars, and an “appropriation" thereupon made “of such money as may be necessary to obtain the same." During the last summer many articles appeared In the publio pre-w. charging that the Treasurer 'did not keep public funds in the safe or vaults ©f the Treasury, and urging that if, as was alleged, the safe or vaults were insecure, the Governor should require the Auditor and Treasurer to provide such addition <1 locks, safes and vaults as were contemplated in the act above cited. If the api ropriation to which I have referred was a continuing one, available whenever the safe or vaults were insecure, the dutv ©f the Gove nor to require the Auditor and Treasurer to provide the additional locks, safes and vaults was dear. It had, however, for many i years been notorious that the safe and vaults |weno Insecure, yet no re intreraent of this sort pad been made by any of my predecessors. It

not appearing obvious, therefore, from the statute that the appropriation was a permanent one, 1 Inferred that it had not been regarded as being so by my predecessors, and might not bo so regarded by the courts. I decided, however, when tbe question was urged, to take the opinion of the Attorney General. After a careful examination he advised me that the appropriation was still available. I then appointed two highly competent experts, belonging to different political parties, to examine the safes and vaults, and to report whether they were secure. After a careful examination they reported that they were not secure, either against fire or burglars. I thereupon addressed a letter to the Anditor and Treasurer, informing them of the result of the examination, and requiring them to pi o vide such locks, safes, and vaults as wonld render tbe treasury secure in both these respects. They, however, decided not to comply with the requirement. As the statute witn respect to the availability of the appropriation is not entirely clear; as a requirement similar to the one 1 made had not been made by any of my predecess. rs, and as a proceeding against these officers by mandate could not tn all likelihood be prosecuted to a conclusion before the present meeting of the Legislature, I decided to abstain from legal proceedings, and to refer the matter to you for such action as you might deem appropriate. The safe and vaults are, without doubt, insecure. Their known insecurity has for many years furnished the excuse to Treasurers for depositing the State's money in banks, and for loaning them, it is believed, to individuals. No matter what po.itical party has been in power, the Dublio moneys have been thus disposed of. Repeatedly,, when the Legislature has been in session, the fact of such misappropriation has been publicly stated in debates in the two houses. That such a usage should be allowed is unjnst to the taxpayers and not creditable to the State. That, if it is long tolerated, a great loss of the State's money will some time occur cannot be doubted. Yet, that the publio moneys, so long as they are deposited by prndent Treasurers in banks, or loaned to private individuals, are not less seenre than they would be if kept in the safe and vault now provided for them, is undeniable. The Treasury law, as it now is, furnishes no protection to the Treasury, except in so far as it requires the Treasurer to give a bond with sureties for the safe keeping of the State’s moneys. Yet thongh at certain seasons of each year he has nearly two millions of money in his hands, the bond given by him is in the sum of $150,000 only. The legal provision for an examination, under direction of the Governor, of the books, etc., of the Treasury, is predicated upon the supposition that a suitable vault and safe have been provided for the custody of the State’s moneys. The means afforded for an examination, under the Governor’s direction, are absurdly insufficient The statute provides that it shall be his duty, whenever the law, or, in his opinion, the public interest requires it to appoint some competent and trustworthy accountant “of the highest ability and skill“ to make an examination of the assets and effects, boqks, claims, vouchers, eta, which are or should be in the treasury, but it enjoins that the accountant shall not be paid more than three dollars a day for his services. The services of no accountant of the highest skfll and ability, nor indeed of any skill, could be procured lor that sum. If you desire that the State’s moneys should be kept in its treasury, you should immediately provide for the purchase of a proper safe, and, if deemed needful, for the building of a vault in which the safe shall be placed; and you should greatly amend the requirements intended to secure their being kept in the treasury. The expense of procuring such a safe and constructing such a vault would be utterly trifling compared with the risk to which the taxpayers are exposed every year by the practice of lending the State’s moneys. If, however, you prefer—as I can not believe you do—that the State’s moneys shall be placed on general deposit in banks, or loaned to individuals, you should provide, under the most particular and rigorons requirements, that all interest or profit received for the use of them snail be turned into the State Treasury. On account of the calamiti s tfiat have recently befallen some leading banking institutions ia Indianapolis, and the disturbance of credit, I recommend that an examination shall be made by persons of competent skill of the condition ot the State Treasury. If two substantial business men, skilled in accounts, were appointed, and empowered to employ an experienced bookkeeper at a competent salary, an investigation could be speedily made, which would show whether the State’s moneys are certainly safe, and would tend to enlighten you respecting the legislation needed for future protection of the Treasury. Nt> harm could ensue from such an investigation. Much good might come from it. COMMON SCHOOLS. The permanent fund for the support of the common schools of the Spate amounts now to $9,339,327.58. The increase of the fund durifig the last year from fines, forfeitures and other sources, was $65, <59.67. The accessions to the fund during the last ten years from the same sources have averaged $62,898.09 a year. The revenue derived from t axation, for the support of schools, and for interest on the school lands, amounting last year to $5,438,961.69. The total outlay for the maintenance of schools—not including the cost of new school houses—was about $4,000,000. The number of public school houses in the State is 9,664. Th • number of children of school age, according to last year’s enumeration, is 722,851. The number who actually attended school was 501.142. The number of children ot school age who do not attend school, as indicated by these figures, shows the grave necessity for more energetic measures to secure a greater proportionate attendance. A compulsory attendance should not be exacted until all other means fail. Would not a law that would grant a reasonable bounty to teachers who would seenre the largest attendance within their districts, in proportion to scuool population, provide a means of judicious experiment? The condition of cur common schools—except in the respect above mentioned—is regarded by the Superintendent of Public Instruction as highly satistaotory. A uniform course of study and of final examination of pupils, is now pursued in all the schools of the State. The uniformity has been adopted under a recommendation made last year by a State meeting of County Superintendents, and not in pursuance of any requirement of law. A continual improvement Is being made in school architecture, including modes of heating and ventilation. The embeliisnment of school grounds, by the cultivation of trees and flowers, throngh the efforts of teachers and pupils, without expense to the State, is also becoming general.

STATE UNIVERSITY. Since the last meeting of the General Assembly, a serious calamity has befallen the Htate University, by the destruction by Are of the newer of the two college buildings, and the valuable geological and Ichthyological collections, museum and laboratory. The loss has been partially repaired by a payment made on an insurance policy, and by a very generous contribution by the citizens of Monroe County. But a large snm more would be required to replace the loss. The Trustees of the University have done themselves much credit, and grea ly Increased the opportunity of the University for usefulness, by electing from within the State for its head, Prof. David 8. Jordan, a young man of fine natural abilities, whos j attainments in the natural sciences have made his name favorably known to scientists of eminence in the United States and in Europe. The report of the Trustees is commended to your serious and earnest attention. PUBDUE UNIVERSITY. I invite your attention, also, with pleasure, to the very able and Interesting report of the Trustees and Faculty of Purdue Univ rsity. It presents, with a conciseness and perspicuity deserving special commendation, the condition, the work, and the needs of the several departments of that institution. Its new President has entered upon his work with great zeal and energy, and with a wise comprehension of the sphere of this University in the State’s system of education. I hope that it will be your pleasure promptly to provide for the payment of the debt necessarily incurred bv the Trustees on account of a want of means occasioned by the failure, two years since, of the general arpropriation bill. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. The State Normal School, under its efficient Super! utenden . and able corps of instructors, continues to increase in usefulness. The instruction is notable for it* thoroughness, and the number of students steadily Increases. STATE LIBRARY. , The subjeot of the State Library is one that should be of special interest to the Legislature. The books are provided with peculiar reference to the wants of the members and ottcers of that body, and of the State officers. The selection of new books should not be confided to a single person, but to a competent numb:r of persons, whose occupations indicate a possession of the knowledge which would enable them to make a judicious selection. A member of the Legislature needing Information during the session! to 4 enlighten him with respect to his duties, or a State officer needing like information, should have the assistance, when practicable, of a librarian who can instantly refer to whatever has been written upon the subject which he desires to read or investigate. Librarians, in all the great 1 brarles, are trained persons, chosen for ihe variety and freshness of their knowledge, and a faculty of finding, w th instantaneous fao.lity, whatever is contained in th? books in their charge. The State Library should, in my opinion, bo plaoed in charge of the State Board of Education, and that Board should select the Librarian, The Board was established in 1*75, and is composed of the Governor, the Surerintendent of Publio Instruction, the President of the State University, the President of Purdue University, the President of the State Normal School, and the Superintendents of Common Schools of the three l aßest dtyua in the State. Its fitness

for on intelligent performance of the duties proposed will, I believe, be reoognised by you and by the people of the State generally. THE INSANE. The Trustee* of the Indiana Hospital for the Insane report the cost per capita for maintenance of its insane during tbe last fiscal year as $177.02 a patient, as against $194 a patient during the years 1883 and 188«, and as against $lB5 a patent daring the years 1881 and 1881 Most of this reduction is ascribed to the rednoed prloe of provisions during the year 1884. At the last session of the Legislature I urged upon that body the importance of defining the elements that shall be regarded as making np the per capita expense of the Inmates of our benevolent and penal institutions. Sometimes all repairs of a merely temporary character have been treated as part of the per capita expenses: at other times they have not been so regarded; and no uniform rule of estimation has ever existed. In the asylnm for Feeble Minded Children the salaries of officers and teach rs, school books, medical stores, and fuel and light, which are obviously a part of such expenses, are omitted, as well as repairs of every kind. Until a fixed and intelligible rule shall have been prescribed by the Legislature, the relative expense per capita of maintaining the inmates of the several institutions can never be ascertained and tfiereports will in most cases be misleading. I advise, on account of the difficulty of distinguishing between temporary and permanent repairs, that repairs shall not be taken into the account. I invite your particular attention to the gratifying statement that the experiment of the disuse of mechanical restraints in the treatment of the insane, begun a little more than a year since, has proved satisfactory, and that it is deemed to have been demonstrated tbat a hospital for the Insane can be managed without confining the inmates in cribs or tying them to stationary objects or using other of the milder mechanical restraints which until lately have been usual in American hospitals. In foreign hospitals, it la well known, the use of such restraints has been •abandoned to a much greater extent than in the hospitals of the United States. Kind treatment, united with increased vigil&noe, has been found to be a more effective means for restoring the curable and governing the incurable than any of the severer methods. I also invite your attention to the experience of the Indiana Hospital during the last year in relation to the nse of alcoholic liquors as a remedial agent among the Insane. It is stated that spirituous hqnors have been found detrimental to insane patients, except in cases of low vitality, and that, even in such cases, other remedies have been found to be preferable. At a time when facts are being diligently collected, in an Impartial and scientific spirit, with referenoa to the effect of alcoholio stimulants in cases of mental disease, this contribution will be deemed of interest. The recommendation of the Trustees concerning the necessity of purchasing a small strip of ground adjacent to the northern line of the hospi.al, to prevent houses in a village near tbe hospital from being built Inconveniently near to the department for women, is commended to your earnest conslderat.on. The extensive new building constituting a part of the hospital, designed exclusively for women, was completed on the second day of June, 1884. At that time some claims for work done remained unsettled, and a slight question existed whether the act contemplated a dissolution of the Provisional Board appointed to construct the building until these claims were paid. But, believing that tbe expense of keeping the board in existence should cease as soon as the building had been completed, and that the Trustees of the Indiana Hospital might ptoperlv adjust these claims, the Board was, upon my request, declared to be dissolved, in conformity to what I believed to be the requirement of the act by which it was created. Insanity among women is known to be largely owing to diseases peculiar to their sex. The delicacy which recoils from the necessary conditions of treatment is often heightened by the fact that reason is not at the helm to control emotion. Upon obvious grounds, therefore, I urged upon the Legislature at its last session the appointment in the women's department of at least one woman physician. The Legislature neglected to consider the recommendation; but the good sense of the trustees has made up for the neglect. A lady of excellent attainments in the medical profession has been appointed a physician in that department, and the trustees and superintendent unite in acknowledging the value of her services. THE ADDITIONAL HOSPITALS FOE THE INSANE. By the act passed at the last session of the General Assembly, providing for the building of three additional hospitals for the Insane, the Governor was required to appoint foui commissioners (two from each of the principal political parties) who, together with the Governor, were charged wl th the dnty of se ecting the locations of two of the hospitals, and of selecting the sites for the three, and of constructing the buildings. One of the hospitals was required by the terms of the act to be located in Vanderburgh County. One hundred and sixty acres was the maximum quantity of land which the commissioners were authorized to purchase for tbe use of any one of the hospitals. The commissioners were, however, empowered to receive, on behalf of ths State, donations of land or other gifts. I appointed as commissioners, soon after the adjournment of the Legislature, Messrs. John C. Robinson and DeForrest Skinner, Democrats, and Messra William Grose and Joseph R. uray. Republicans, who accepted the appointments, and immediately entered npon the discharge of their duties. In conducting hospitals under the system now most approved, the insane are kept as much as practicable in the open air, and encouraged to perform manual labor. A hundred and sixty acres ot land did not, therefore, seem as much as was desirable for a hospital, and to secure a larger number for each of the hospitals not located by the act,the Commissioners gave notice that in selecting a location preference would be given, other things being equal, to the county in which the most fatisfaotory gift of land was offered. Visits were made by the commissioners to the several counties in which a desire had been expressed for the location of a hospital, and af.er c reful consideration, locations were made in the oounties of Cass and Wayne. Afterward eligible sites were selected on the lands chosen. In the county of Vanderburgh one hundred and sixty acres was purchased. In the county of'Wayne one hundred and sixty acres was purchased, and one hundred and forty-seven acres in addition was conveyed as a donation < o the State. In the couniy of Cass one hundred and sixty acres was purchased and one hundred and twenty-two acres of adjoining land was conveyed to the State as a donation. In conformity to the requirement of the act, the Commissioners, after they had selected the sites for the several institutions, proceeded to advertise promptly for bids for the construction of buildings. For building the hospital near Evansville the lowest bid was $286,585.'i0; for building the hospital near Richmond the lowest bid was $299,760.93; for building the hospital near Logansport the lowest bid was $36 802.29. These bids were acoepted but not until provision bad been made for considerable reduction of expense to the State by simplifying the style of architecture, and contracts were entered into accordingly. To reconcile a difference of views among the commissioners, the cottage plan of buildings was adopted at Richmond; a system of detached buildings connected by covered corridors was adopted for the hospital near Logansport; and the congregate plan of building was adopted for the hospital near Evansville. The foundations of the several buildings have been completed. A large amount of materials has also been collect ’d and extensive preparations have been made for the prosecution of the work on these buildings during the next season. I cannot too highly commend the Interest taken by tbe Commissioners in all that has been thus far done. But I deem it proper to add that the necessary cost of constructing hospitals of the capacity proposed, proved to be so much larg r than the Commistioners had anticipated/ that, for the purpose of diminishing the cost, I personally advocated a very considerable decrease of capacity. It seemed to me that if proper designs were adopted, the capacity of hospitals m ght be increased as exigencies might hereafter req ire. In this opinion ama ority of the Board did not agree with me, and the hospitals are being constructed ou the larger scale at first proposed. This communication would be too much prolonged by a refermce to further matters or interest connected with these asylums. I, therefore, refer you to the very clear and intelligent report of the commissioners, which has been printed, and will be promptly placed before yon. THE BUND AND THE DEAF AND DUMB. The reports of the Directors and Superintendent respectively of the Institutions for the Blind and the Deaf and Dumb, will be laid on yonr tables, and will be round instructive. Provision should Jtc made for the indigent Inmates of the schools during the vacation of pchools, so that the reproach may no longer continue of their being often compelled to seek a home in the poor-houses to save them from suffering. SOLDIERS' home and asylum fob feebleminded CHILDREN. These two institutions, incongruously ufldcr one roof, and the appropriations for which being made separately, render it nearly Impracticable to keep correctly the accounts, should engage yonr anxious attention. I recommend the appointment of a committee, at an early period in the session, to investigate their affairs, and also to report what additional legislation Is necessary to simplify and improve the man gement. There are important recommendations in the report of the Trusties and Superintendent which I commend to your consideration. THE STATE PRISONS. The average number of prisoners at tbe State Prison North, during the last fiscal year was 647. At the State Prison Sonth the average number was 670. The receipts of the Northern Prison, from the labor of prisoners, have ex-

ceeded by $".20171 the outlay for current expenses. The reoeipta from the labor of prisoners at the Southern Prison have not equaled the outlay for these expenses. The deficiency tn the receipts of the latter prison ia ascribed to the inferior quality of the buildings need for manufacturing purposes, tbe want of land for raising garden products, and other disadvantages which do not apply to the more favored Northern Prison. In the State Prison South the use of the lash for the correction of prisoners has oeased. The enlightened and humane sentiment which requires that it shall cease in all our prisons should be expressed in laws commanding its discontinuance. The reports of both prisons nrge that a better provision shall be made for insane convicts. A suitable building should be erected at one of the prisons at which all these should be collected and should receive the oare and treatment required by their condition. To remove insane prisoners to the present hospitals for the insane wonld be injudicious on two accounts —that the friends of the reputable insane would not r.e willing to send their insane kindred to an institution used for the confinement of criminals, and that the proving prisoners to be insane, in order to remove them to places where the opportunities for escape would be enhanoed, would soon grow into a business.

The report of the Southern Prison shows that 61 per cent, ot the convicts are thirty years ot age and under, and that 45 per cent, of the crimes of violence for which prisoners are there confined were committed by persons not past the age of twenty-five. These grave facts should stimulate to even greater and more constant endeavors the efforts of the humane to reclaim erring children and you’ h, and to invade, with all good lnfinences, the nurseries in whioh children are brought up in vice. THE PARDONING POWER. In the exercise of the pardoning power I have taken great care to avoid turning loose upon society dangerous malefactors. 1 have endeavored, also, to abstain from snch frequency in exercising the power as would make the punishment of crime appear to be uncertain. With whatever care the power may be exercised, it is almost certain to be used, in many oases, with an nnjust, ahough unintended, partiality. Tho Executive can seldom lie familiar with all the merits of the case. He must rely, therefore, npon appearances; and pardons are too apt, in spite of all the vigilance that can be exercised, to be unconscious concessions to the energy which has secured influential names to petitions, rather than to the actual merits of the applicant. To introduce a more just and impartial praettoe toward prisoners, I recommended to the Legislature, at Its last session, the allowance of a much larger credit, for good conduct, npon the terms or sentences than had before been granted. The Legislature adopted my recommendation, and the good effect of this legislation upon the discipline of the prisons has been so evident as to elicit from the Wardens expressions of great satisfaction. The Trustees of the Northern Prison say of this law, that “it has proved to be a valuable force in the administration of the prison,' and that “the good effecta of the law, through its encouragement to good behavior on the part of convicts, exceed the expectations ot the most sanguine friends of the measure.” The Warden of the Southern Prison recommends that tho law shall be amended so as to allow ‘‘lost time” to be restored to a prisoner whsre injustice seems to have been done to him and in cases of extraordinary good behavior afterward. Th s recommendation is submitted to yonr careful consideration. CONVICT LABOR. The tendency of the cheap prloe of convict labor, as employed in our two prisons, to diminish, unjustly, tho price of articles manufactured alike by free and convict labor, has, naturally, produced compialnta from free laborers injuriously affected. The two leading political parties in this State, in their last platforms, condemned the present prison contract system, and tlie last Legislature having failed to agree npon any change of the present system, the Senate appointed a committee to present a suitable bill at the present session. Having felt Interested in tbe subject, I entered into correspondence with several persons who, as I supposed, had given it consideration, and shall transmit to the Senate committee, to whom was committed tho preparation of a bill, the form of a bill prepared and sent to me by a gentleman in another Stats who has given to the whole question of prison administration prolonged reflection and study. REFORM SCHOOL FOR BOYS. The average numlier of boys in the Reform School during the past year was 395. The Bueerlntendent states in his report that “The ealth of the boys has never been better, the work of reformation has never been more thoroughly doue, and the industrial features of the school have never been more satisfactory.' As it will no doubt be your pleasure to visit the school early in your session, I deem it unnecessary to say more than that I believe it is well conducted, is working many sound reformations, and deserves your favor. REFORMATORY INSTITUTION FOB WOMEN AND GIRLS. This institution, exclusively under the management of women, continues to he conducted in a most satisfactory manner. The average number of inmates in both departments daring the last year was 186. The number of thorough reformations that have beefl effected by this institution is most encouraging. A just regard for economy, and a conscientious determlnatlou to keep expenditures within the appropriations made fo,r the Institution, is a marked characteristic of the management. DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY. The value of the work done by the State Geologist is recognized abroad scarcely less than at home. His lcarnod reports justly engage the attention of scholars. There having been no permanent appropriations available to pay the expenses of hw office, be has been obliged, in consequence of the failure in 1883 of th! appropriation bill, to advance the means n-cessary to carry it on. He should be promptly reimbursed. DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS. The report of the Chief of the Bureau of Statistics is being printed and will soon be laid be-fore-you. The Commissioner, after the adjournment of tho last Legislature, was obliged to borrow money to carry on his office, in consequence of the failure of the appropriation bill. This, happily, he did with little difficulty. I recommend that an amount sufficient to discharge the sum borrowed be repaid to him. Tbe difficulty, in several of the counties, of collecting the statistics required to be furnished by county officers, is shown by Mm; the officers of these counties being unwilling to collect and furnish statistics unless paid for their sorvioes. His suggestion of the means of overcoming the difficulty should engage your early consideration. STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. The report of the State Board ot Agriculture will soon be laid before you. It will bo found to coatain essays and discussions interesting to fanners. I beg, however, a second time to express my verv strong conviction that a change should be made in several particulars in tho composition of the Board. I urge especially that the professors of agriculture and chemistry in Purdue University (onr agrlcul'ural college), shall be made members ex-officio of the Board, and required always to be present at its annual January session. The freshness of their stndies of subjects relating to agriculture wonld enliven and impart additional Interest to the proceedings of tbe Board, and the discussions and intimate association with their agricultural associates would tend to give a constantly practical character to their studies. As the success of the farmer depends quite as much upon a skillful adoption and use and care of tbe various kinds of agricultural machinery, as it does upon the study of soils and crops, and as the chief interest in the fairs centers in such machinerys a certain proportion of the members should be specially skilled in the mechanic arts. To prevent, also, a tendency of a Board which elects its own members to too great a monotony of thought and methods, I believe that it would be wise to provide that the Governor shall appoint as many at least as one-fourth of its members. The good which a Board could accomplish if composed in snch a manner as to be constantly re-enforced by an accession of fresh and vigorous thought, can scarcely be overestimated. I beg to invite to the subject your early and anxious consideration. STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. The services of the State Board of Health are believed to hare been of much benefit in introducing better sanitary conditions throughout tho State, in bringing to light very grave faults in the sanitary management of our jails and poor houses, and in devising and oausing to be successfully executed methods tor the permanent collection of vital statistics. Their report and the accompanying report of their able and efficient Secretary will no doubt be read by you with interest. MINES AND MINERS. The last Legislature adopted the several amendments to the mining law which I had the honor to recommend. The report ot the Mine Inspector for the year 1884 has not yet been received. His report of the year previous, wMoh will be laid before yon, contains a recommendation of further amendments, Tbe Inspector finds it impracticable to give an accurate statement of the annual coal production of the State, on acoonnt of the unwillingness of a number of mining companies to furnish prompt and reliable returns of the tonnage ot their mines. The law should, In his opinion, make It compulsory on the owners of mines, nhder a penalty, to furnish the Inspector tho necessary statistics. Section ten of the mining law enacts that no owner of a mine shall place in charge of any engine used for conveying om; loves into or out of a mine any but experienced, competent, and sober engineers. Complaints are sometimes mads by miners that their lives are jeopardod

by the employment of engineers of a different character. The law does not define wno shall be a jndge of the fitness of the engineer when such objections are charged to exist. It Is evident that the State Inspector should be made the jndge in every snch instance. A requirement that mine “bosses' shall visit tha miners at their several places of work at least every two days is urged by very forcible reasons. Other recommendations, not less impressive, are made, which I have not time here to repeat, I commend all suggestions of the Inspector, who is a practical miner of long experience, to yonr most careful consideration. STATE HOUSE. The progress made in the construction of the new State House since the last meeting of the Legislature, has been most satisfactory. There is good reason lor expecting that like satisfactory progress will lie made until the structure is completed. It is believed tbat the building will be ready for use by the Legislature at its next regular session. The work has so far advanced as to render it obvious that you Bhould at the present session make a proper appropriation to enable the Commissioners to purchase the furniture that will be required for the building, to grade the grounds, and to construct a suitable iron fence aronnd them. The report of the Commissioners is commended to your carefnl attention. 7 HE STATE MILITIA. A due regard for brevity will prevent mv referring, with as much particnlaritv as 1 should desire, to the subject or the State militia. Fur its efficiency and its increase in nunn.ers tinring my administration. I am greatly indebted to Adjutant General Carnahan, and to the members of my military staff. 1 refer you to the Adjutant General’s report, with an earnest hope that you will give great weight to its valuable suggestions. The militia now consists or tMrty-slx conn auies of infantry, eiiiht companies of artillery, one platoon of Gatling guns, and one company of cavalry. In case of a sudden outbreak ot war they would be valuable, not only in active service, but in training raw troops for duties in the field, it is not creditable to the State, and is in great contrast to the course of States which surround us, that the State doos not contribute properly toward the expenses of these organizations, whose help would be so useful in military emergencies. The constitution of thiH State provides that ‘the militia shall consist of all able-bodied white male perrons between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except suoh as mav tie exempted by the laws of the United States or of this State." Section 5358 of tho Revised Statutes of 1881 also provides that “the militia shall consist of able-bodied white male persons between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years." This retention of the odious discrimination implied in the term "white' in the oases above oited, is a reproach upon the character of the State, and the most energetic means should be adopted by you to remove it from thoso clauses of tne constitution and laws. SUFFERERS FROM THE FLOODS. The last Legislature, by an act approved February 15. 1883, appropriated forty thousand dollars to be expanded for tbe relief of the sufferers on the Ohio. Wabash and White rivers in this State from the then recent and then prevailing floods in those streams. The Governor, Lieu-tenant-Governor, Secretary of Sta e, and Anditor of State were constituted a Board to disburse tho fund. It was requires! that any part of the fund which might remain after affording the relief contemplated should be covered into the treasury. While the officers appointed were engaged in distributing the sum thus appropriated, tho Legislature, by an act approvod February 27, 1883, appropriated a further sum ot $«0,(X)0, "to be oxpended in rcllof from present and pressing needs” of persons residing along the same rivers, who were destitute or suffering by rea-on of the overflow of thoso streams; but it was provided by tills last-named ait that none of the money appropriated by it should be used or expended oxceot to furnish or purtbase food, clothing, medicine, bedding, and fuel wi h whioh to relieve present necessities, and any part of the sum remaining unexpended on the find day of April, 1888, was required to be revered back tn'o tho treasury. The same officers appointed to cxiiend the first api ropriutlon were directed ‘‘to dlsnen e and direct the application of " the second. The Board was em owered to distribute the sum appropriated through tins agoncy of any other iiersons. The Governor was appointed President of the Board, and was required, as far us the exigencies ot the case would allow, to make a record of tho expenditures, and to take vouchers from the persons to whom tho money was paid lor distribution or application. But it was provided that this lust requirement might be disregarded if found in any degree to embarrass the prompt and Immediate application of the fund to tho relief of the persons to be benefited. Of the sum appropriated $36,269.2u were disbursed tot relief, and $63,734.80 were covered back into the Treasury. Tbe limitation in the manner of relief In the last act was so siioolfio that the needs specified in it were regarded as having been fully provided for, very soon after tho act was passed, by expenditures under the first appropriation and by private relief. A small part, therefore, only, of the appropriation was expended. The first appropriation being broader In the relief allowed, a considerable part of it was applied toward the repair of houses of sufferers whose means were extremely limited, and to the supply in some extreme instances of farming implements. Great care was taken by the Board in selecting persons to whom means were Hent to Ist disbursed to sufferers, or to provide, supplies for them, and persons of sound reputation for Integrity were selected. But notwithstanding diligent efforts to secure lecclpts through these persons lrom the parties to whom relief was directly furnished, it was found practicable In only a few instances to obtain them. The haste, confusion, and difficulties under whioh tho application of relief was made rendered it lmpiactlcablc in many instances to take receipts. I can not, without ton much extending this message, give a more particular account of the disbursement of the sums expended, and shall, therefore, furnish a more detailed account ot it in a soyaiatu communication. In behalf of the Boird I ask now, whl;e the transaction Is recent, that some commit eo, In one or both of the houses, shall l>e directed to examine into the manner in which the duties of the Board were discharged.

HEWER FOR THE HTATE 8 REFORMATORY INBTITUTION FOB WOMEN AND OIRLH. When the last Legislature assembled a suit was pending, instituted by the United States, to enjoin toe passing of sewage Lorn the Hefo.mitory Institution for Wc men and Girls through the t>ed of a small stream which flowed from the grounds of the reformatory along the southern border of the grounds of the United States Arsenal. As no other means existed for disposing of the sewage, and the granting of an injunction was known to be imminent unless prompt and efficient measures were adopted for putting an end to the alleged nuisance, the Legislature passed an act placing at the disposal of the Governor thirty thousand dollars, and directing him to cause to be constructed, with the least eossible delay, a good, substantial underground rick sewer, from a point at or near the reiormatory to, and to connect with, the sewer belonging to the city of Indianapolis on Washington street, at New Jersey street; and it was provided that if the city should extend Its sewer on Washington street to Noble or Pine street, the sewer for the reformatory shonld terminate at the eastern end of such extension, and shonld then be connected therewith, and that the Governor shonld pay to the city, to aid In the extension of its said sewer, an amount equal to the oost of the construction of the reformatory sewer, had the latter been constructed for an equal distance on Washington street. Pursuant to the provisions of the act, I appointed a competent civil engineer to superintend the work, and advertised for bids for its construction. An award was made to the lowest bidders, who proceeded with diligence to construct the sewer from the point of beginning, at the reformatory, along the route prescribed by law. to Noble street, to which street, during the progress of the work, the city's sewer on Washington street had been extend d. Had the season been an ordinary one, the sum appropriated wonld have been more than a ifheient to pay for the work; but the excessive rains which hud prevailed before the work was begun, and which prevailed during its progress, caused the water to biter through the sandy bottom of the ditch, so that pumps bad to be used from the beginning to the end of the wolk, to enable the sewer to )>e made at all, and the lowor surface of the sewer had to be laid on oak planks nearly Its whole length. The conscquenoo is that the expense of construct ng the sewer has exceeded the appropriation In the sum of >t,lHI. 09. The contractors havo been paid in full, but there is due to the city of Indianapolis the stun last mentioned. So soon as I discovered that the appropriation was likely to bo exceeded, should have stopped the work promptly until the Legislature conld be consulted, but for the extreme exigency of the case; the fact that the Legls ature had dt-octod that 1 should cause the sewer to be constructed with the least possible delay; and the likelihood that if the work were stopped the State wonld be Involved in a loss ranch above the excess of the oost of the work over the appropriation. The Legislature of 1H8) bad indeed appropriated sio,uoo tor the same purpose, but the work had not been done. I recommend that an appropriation be made in favor of the City of Indianapolis for tho amount of this deficiency. £ BOMIHTKAD EXEMPTION. The exemption of the homestead, of reasonable value, from the demands of creditors has not been found in praotlo t, in the S ates w.iere such exemptions exist, to interfere in mrionsly with trade. The maintenance or the home, with its endearing associations and its promotion of private virtue, favors the liabits which promote honor and thrift in oommercial transactions. The family established in its own homestead is one of the best supports of

the State. In a large majority of the State* homesteads of reasonable value are exempted from execution. I believe they should be exempted in Indiana, and 1 recommend : the passage of a fair homestead bill. HAVINGS BANKS. I invite your attention most earnestly to the Importance of legislation for the establishment, on a sound foundation, of savings banks. The laws of some of the ‘ older Statee In which such Institutions have long existed, and in which tew instancies ot losses to depositors have occurred, might be ! consulted by you with great advantage, and I the reoent disastrous expcrienoe of institutions i 111 conducted will, no doubt, furnmh to you ln- ' struotlve lessons to enable you to correct evil* i against which the beat laws have failed heretoI tore to provide sufficient safeguards. These banks, where confidence exists in the wisdom and integrity of their man- | agement. cultivate in the communit.es in whioh they aie established a habit of iudiolous saving, which is the liest foundation for business prosperity, a restraint against immorality, and a turn support of public order. KANKAKEE MaKHH. The last General Assembly failed to enact any law to taoil tate and hasten the isclamation of the extensive region covered by the Kankakee marsh. The aurvev made nnder the d.rectlon ot the State by Prof. John L. Campbell and an able corps of assistants was completed so recently before th&i Legislature convened, that no blurae can attach to it for omitting to enact proper legislation. The large aiea of fertile lands now practioaliy valueless by being covered or saturated wiili water; its convenience, by proximity ana by extraordinary railroad laoilitlcs, to tho best markets; aud the sanitary benefits which would ensue from lta drainage, should be considerations of such momentous Importance as to Induce you to spare no effort to adopt means, through wise legislation, for its early reclamation. SWAMP LANDS. By an act of Congress, passed lu 1850, the United States granted to the several Statee, in which it then owned swamps and overflowed lands, the whole of suoh lauds as by reason of being swamped and overflowed, weiu untit for cultivation. Before a survey was n ade to determine specifically the lands Included in the grant, the U nited States, iu some if not all ot these States, sold to private purchasers a considerable body of these lands. Some ot the States, by oxtraordin rv dlliginee tiave ascertained what lands belonging to them huve thus been sold, and have recovered from tho United States the price paid for them. I have strong reason to believe that a very considerable quantity of swamp and overflowed lands in this State embraced in said grant, have been sold by the United States. The proceeds of ihese sales properly belong to this btate, and would be pula to it it tlio quantity wore ascertained and a ueimlte claim presented. The employment ot an agent to attend to this business is confided by law to the Attorney General, who, 1 hope, will soon be able to recover ior tho State the sum thuH Justly owing. Every sum thus recovered augments the school fund and diminishes tho burden upon taxpayers for tho support of schools. FEEH AMI SALARIED On the important subject of fees and salaries, I beg to repeat to you the words contained in my last biennial message: “For many years complaints have been made in tho more populous oounties Hint the foes anil salaries of . officers were too, large for tho sorvioes performed. It has also been asserted that tho imans to which there aro often strong temptations to resort, tor obtaining nominations lor offious so lucrative, aud for securing success at the iiolls, have u corrupting effect upon elections. Before the adoption of the uonatitutlonal Amendments of 1881, the Legislature was deprived ot tho power of curing this supposed evil. In that year an amemimint was passed which has removed the diffiouLy. This amendment was submitted to tho electors of the Stale, and prevailed by a majority of more than 90,‘iou votes. A session of the Legislature has Intervened (two have now intervened) since this amendment was adopted, bnt no act has been passed regulating tho oumpnnsation of officers in the m.inncf contemplated. Every offioer stiould be adequately paid for his services, but it is due to the pcoplo that no greater sum shall be taken from them, in tiio way of fees and salaries, than Is necessary to pay tho officer a fair compensation. Ofito rs frequently, however, relinquish regular occupations to obtain these places, under an expectation that the rate of fees prevailing when they were elected will be subs antlally maintained. It might be just, therefore, to postpone tho operation of the regulating act for a reasonable time after its passage. A bill properly regulating fees and salaries will require much thoughtful consideration, and should engage your attention at a very early pcr.od of the session.”

RETURN OF DIRECT TAXES. Indiana paid the whole of the direct tax imposed by the UnLed States npon the lands of her inhatiltants, to assist in defraying the expenses ot tho war for the suppression of the rebellion. The amount was $769,144.03. The inHurrcctlonary States yet owe $2,726,104.01 on account ot the direct lax levied for the same purpose on the lands of their inhabitants. Non-lnsurrectlonary States and Territories also owe in the aggregate, on direct taxes, $183,022.90. It can hardly tie tbe policy of tho U nited States, in the present overflowing condition of its treasury, to ooeroc payment of the direct taxes yet owing. J ustlce, however, to the States that have paid their quota ot these taxes, requires that If payment ot tbe direct taxes thus owing shall not be enforced, tho United States shall re; ay their quotas to tho States which have paid them. I rccouun nd therefore the passage of a joint rem lull on by the two houses of the General Assembly, requesting onr Representatives in Congress, and instructing our So atom to vote for a 1 w releasing tho inhabitants ot the States tn which these taxes have not been paid from all liatilllty, and returning to the States whioh have paid these taxes, tho tall amounts paid. THE AUDITOR OF STATE. lii the administration of the chief executive offloe, tho Auditor of State bus much more intimate officinl relations with the Governor than any of the other State officers, and I can not allow this occasion to pass without expressing my high estimate of the capability and integrity of Hon. James H. Blue, the incambent of that office, and my thanks to him for numberless courtesies. OONOLUBION. Dnriug the period that 1 have hold the Important trust which 1 am about to lay down, my endeavor has been to administer It for the common good of oil the people, and I have been continually cheered and strengthened not only by friends from whom, on account of political relations,*l might naturally have expected support, bnt from many who differ from me on questions of national policy. To alii avail myself of this occasion to offer my sincere and grateful acknowledgments. And to yon, gentlemen, assembled here in the responsible capacity In whioh you have met, I wish good health, cordial social relations, and the satisfaction whioh comes trom a careful and faithfnl discharge of public duty.

What a Cow!

An elderly and well-known gentleman of Boston, who, while he likes to sit at the con viral board, will not touch anything spirituous, devoting all his attention to the lacteal fluid, was invited out one night by a party of choioe spirits. A huge milk punch had, however, been prepared for him, and when he was asked what beverage he would prefer his reply was as usual: “Well, I guess I’ll take a little milk. ” The punch was brought and all eyes turned toward him to note the effect, liaising the glass he took a sip and then another; at the third, however, he drained the tumbler, smacked his lips and, looking lovingly at the empty glass, observed: “Great Cscsar! what a cow!" — Boston Post.

Russian Ribera.

The territory of Russian Siberia, one and a half times as large as the United States, has belonged to Russia three centuries, vet of the 4,000,000 inhabitants Aearly one-half are pagans. Paganism is fostered by the home government. The pagan priests are allowed to oollect and burn the copiea of the Bible with which the missionaries supply the converts, and no missionary may baptize without the authority of the pagan civil authorities, who are allowed to do almost anything to drive Christianity from the country.

A Consistent Champion.

A vegetarian who not only declared that he had never tasted animal food hi his life but appeared clothed in nonanimal apparel throughout, with cotton velveteen coat, dark linen drill waistcoat, corduroy trousers, and hlaok canvas shoes with gutta-peroha soles, must be regarded as a noble and consistent champion of liinbelief.— Chicago times.

ALBERT G. PORTER.