Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1877 — THE MESSAGE. [ARTICLE]

THE MESSAGE.

Ihs farewell macMgcof Gov. Hendrlcki, submitted to the Legislature on the fith, contains ths following Items of Interest: •tin aavamnM. The assessed value of the taxable lands and Improvements In the State In 1875 was sau,4ie l 973; of railroads, $88,486.61#; of other corporation* $«,0»5,B08; Of telegraph companies, $178,241; and of personal property. $233,887,147—making a total of ihe taxable property of the State. *897.780,768. This shows a decrease in value of $57,117,6*1. The assessment of persohal property and corporate property made In 1876 show* a decrease since 1875. The returns made In 1975 show '282,881 persons in the State who are subject to a personal, or poll, tax of fifty cents each. RKCKIPTS AMD aXrXMDmJBIS. There was in the Treasury, Oct. 81, 1974, $344,308.78. During the year ending Oct. 81; 1876, there wae received for State purposes aa revenue $1,388,029.78. During the year ending Oct 81,1376, there was received for State purposes $1,877,678.78. During the same yean there was received on account of the benevolent Institutions $534,061.55. The payments from the Treasury during the two years ending Oct. 81.1876. for revenue refunded, for ordinary expenditures, and for benevolent, educational and penal Institutions amounted to $2,403,718.25. During the same two years, pursuant to the act of Dec. 12,1872, sixty-five bonds with thoir coupons hare been surrendered and paid, amounting to $78,679. The total indebtedness of the Stale is 1.097.755.12. The enumeration of 1876 shows the total number of white children 668,969, and of colored children 10,261, making a total of 679,230. being an increase since last year of 11,494. The number of white children enrolled in the schools is 609,807, and of colored children 6,963, making in all 516,270. There are 9.434 school-houaes In the State, and their aggregate value Is $11,548,996.67. There are 13,317 white teachers and 94 colored now employed, making In all 13,411. Of the teachers. 7,852 are males, and 5,569 are females. The School Fund statement shows an increase during the past two years of $159,552 S 3. The (Jovcmor remarks that hia observation since coming into office convinces him that the danger to our policy and system of common-school education la not to be apprehended from any want of popular Interest therein, nor from any reluctance on the part of the people or their representatives to meet the necessary expenses thereof, but from a discontent which is sore to arise should there be carelessness and extravagance in the expenditure of the moneys provided for its support. The permanence'and prosperity of the common schools require economy and efficiency in their management.

BKNXVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. Upon tbls subject the Governor says: “The Boards of Trustees in charge of the benevolent institutions do not gbre that protection to the State which waa intended. They make stated visits, has ily examine the vouchers and accounts, and look through the ward* and room*, bnt generally receive their views and opinions from the Superintendents. There is nut that thorough Investigation and rigid control which shonld prevail. “ I had thought of recommending that the Institutions In the immediate neighborhood of this city should be placed in charge of the State officers, bnt it has been suggested that snch a control might Introduce party politics into their manage, ment. which I would regard as an intolerable vies. By some change a more direct control and responsibility for the economical and proper management of these institutions shonld be placed upon the Governor and State officer*. They are Btate Institutions. supported directly fr >m the State Treasury, and shonld be under State control. Perhaps It will be sufficient lo place them under one Board, to be appointed by the Governor, with the approval of the Senate, forbidding any partisan organisation of the Bowd. “ It has been and is the practice for the Snperintendents and assistants to maintain their families in the institutions I suppose it may be necessary in the Hospital for the Insane, but not in the other institirions. The expenses of private estab lshments should not be mingled with the public expenditures. Like other public officers, the Sap rintendent* and assistants should provide tneir homes and expenses entirely separate from and outside the public expenditures. That wouldresnlt in a large reduction, as I believe, in the expenditure*, and would also a low a large Increase or the number of children to he educated, by converting the apartments used for family purposes into rooms for the inmates. It cannot be necessary that it shall cost $3 ,000 more to take care of and educate 299 children in the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb for forty weeks, without any charge for clothing, than to clothe, educate, and take care of 294 children In the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Homs for fifty-two week*. It is due the Commissioners and Trustees to say that their expenditures have not been in excess of the appropriations.'’ THE STATK-PKISON NORTH. On the 15th day of December, 1875, there were 511 convicts in the Northern Prison, and on the 15th day of December, 1876, there were 6jß. being an iucrc-ise during the year of 92. During the two years ending Dec. 15.1876. the revenues of the prison amounted to $145,712.59, no part of which was from the State Treasury. During the same period the expenditure* for current and ordinary expense* amounted to $1*1,059.16. The revenue* of the prison have exceeded the ordinary expenses in the sum of $15,653.48. STATE-PRISON SOUTH. The average number of prisoners In this Institution during the year 1876 was 455, and daring the year 1876,. 81. A NXW STATB-HOUSH. The Legislature of 18 8 directed that steps be taken for the construction of a new State-House. Many plans and specifications were accordingly presented to the Legislature of 1875, bnt no action was taken thereon. The question la now for your consideration whe’her provision shall at once be made for the prosecution of the work. In accordance with a former recommendation, an appropriation of $6.00* was made, to be expended under the direction of the Governor and with the assistance of the State Geologist, for the purpose of paying the expenses of collecting, forwarding and arranging the specimens of the manufacturing, chemical and mechanical Industries ol the State, and also of the coals, ores, clays, woods, stones, agricultural, horticultural and floral, and other products of this State, to the Centennial Exhibition, at Philadelphia. Prof. Cox gave gr at attention to and bestowed mnch care upon the discharge of the dntr thus devolved upon him. The impropriation was not sufficient to secure the varied interests of onr State a full and proper representation at the Exposition, and our di play waa not aa diversified or extensive M was desirable, but, in most rerts.lt was creditable. The display made by Superintendent of Public Instruction of the progress and achievements of our schools was In the highest degree successful, and the occasion of gratification to all the people of the State. The expense of that dlsptey was borne by the schools. In respect to the exhibit of a high attainment In common-school education, no State surpassed Indiana. xlxctions. - That portion of the message relating to elections is as follows: “In my lnaugnnl message 1 said: ‘The laws regulating oar elections require your special attention, they do not restrain the corrupt, nor protect the votes of the people. Our election* must not become a reproach. Their result must expres* the will of the people. Our system must be made so efficient aa to guarantee purity in the conduct and management of the elections, and also to inspire and establish public confidence. When the people know that a political result has been brought about all discontent disappears; they cheerinlly acquiesce and >1 Id entire cbe.ilencu to the snihority therein established. I cannot now attempt to suggest all the pr >vis ons that may be essential to an efficient system, hut without the following no system will probably pr .ve efficient: '"1. A far and real representation upon the Board < f Elect on Officers oi all political parties 'having candidates <o be voted for. , '• '£ Voting placet • numerous, snd the pre- ■ incts so small, in r spec; to the voting population. that all who offer to vote may be known by the people of the neighborhood as well as by the ■timers. ••'B. A reasonable period of res’dence in tte election precinct as a qus’iflcation to vote, so that per-on* may not protend a residence not real, lu H and of the law. “ ' Yon will find an amendment of the second article of the Constitution necessary to enable the Legi-latnre to prescribe such period or residence, .be Constitution wisely provides for its own amendment, by a convenient end economical proceeding. which renders It unneees-ary to throw upon the people the expense of S convection, and nvoids the possibility of changes not desired by ■ them. “•4. The exclarion of mo ey a* an influence and power I o.ai election* If In the con'e-t for power moner shall become stronger than the people, we will have the worst Government possible, it will be s repro tch to n* a'l. when wealth > an buy vrliat the toit esi talent and the pure-t virtue cannot attain.’ ': ••Mori of the States have now adopted the Tuesday next attar the first Monday in November a* ths

the imendraent of Ibo OOMtltotloi, 00 t%js4 pus taut *lx(7 Af9 1a Uw slsctionpmixist m $ *gain«t and denounce the nnurpetlcHl M ft crime t$ • nMAMtdAttA lM rMfMTtdl * DU uciflfiunl Ulu UUt> thsjiuaUflcaS^n^ndelection twatStfmto enter between armeTmea, and refused^atjttia pled* Cbo’wTvnM. .dmlßjlon, wMl.t oLhw. n 2 SaahraFcderal by the mllSary, to overawe the State Judi lary and defeat its jadgment upon question* resting wholly upco local M State law. The constitutional and independent •uthortty of State courts sad l egislature* Is endangered. If not now snpjxwted by a patriotic end igrsa&fflftaEaswsy.y s£7JS!!s'K.'‘«a,"ttfeSSS rsus 1 '-ssssi 'skjk wholly Indetmndeut of remedies and proceedings provided by law. fn no Instance fife the authority and power of the United States been Invoked against them. Bnt In every fautanca have the people preserved the public peace and maintained the authority of the State and the supremacy of herlaws. A people so careful of their own Institutions, and eo capable of preserving them and Of maintaining the constitutional rights and prerogatives of their own State Government, cannot oe indifferent when other State# are threatened with overthrow, or the destruction of rights and privileges, without which no free State can exist.