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Brevier Legislative Reports, Volume XIX XX, 1881, 475 pp.
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Annual Reports, 1880.

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

As required by the Constitution, I respectfully transmit a report to you of each case of reprieve, commutation or pardon granted, and also the names of all persons in whose favor remissions of fines and forfeitures have been made, and the several amounts remitted during the years 1879 and 1880 by my predecessor in office and myself.

The Governor, in the absence of statutory regulation, is clothed with the sole exercise of the pardoning power. When judiciously exercised, it may aid materially in carrying out the constitutional intent that the offender's punishment shall be with a view to his reformation. If care is taken in the examination of applications for pardons, and the decision be made on the merits of: the case, violence will seldom be done thereby to the administration of justice. A Board of Pardons divides the responsibility, and is apt to increase the number of pardon attorneys and beget a system of pardon brokerage. I am convinced that the responsibility as it now exists is properly placed.

As required by the provisos of the acts of 1877 and 1879, making appropriations for the expenses of the, State Government, I respectfully report for the year 1879 "all expenditures from the civil military and office contingent funds" of the Governor, and from November 1, 1879, all expenses for the officers of State whose bills of account for expenses actually incurred have been approved by the Governor.

Until the beginning of the present term, January 8, 1877, the salary of the Governor had for many years amounted to $8,000 per annum, and until then, for a long term of years provision had been made by appropriations for the assistance of the Governor in discharging the duties of the office, of the sum of $5,000 per annum at the least, sundry miscellaneous expenses being met under authority of a general statute without limit beyond a sound discretion. Entering upon a term of four years' service at a salary of $6,000, being a reduction of one- fourth, the Governor had the guaranty of the Constitution that his "compensation" should not be "diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected." Legislative construction of the Constitutional provision had in many acts recognized and adopted the broad legal meaning of the word "compensation" as embracing more than the Governor's personal salary. By act of March 10, 1877, the aggregate amount provided for the expenses of his office was reduced $90 per annum, but the amount allowable to each assistant and for incidental expenses was made to appear upon the the face of the act, and for that reason was satisfactory. By the act of March 25, 1879, this provision was further reduced more than one-half, s that, while at the beginning of the term, when his contracts for service were made, that part of he Governor's "compensation" designed for his office expenses was $5,000 it was made $1,800 from November 1, 1879. Of this, $300 was set apart for incidentals, less than $200 of which was used, as will appear from the report now communicated. It will further appear from the required report that the contingent funds at the Governor's disposal were used with such careful economy that the unexpended balances will almost equal the Governor's salary as now fixed for a full term.

THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

two years ago made a very full and complete report, much of which is yet worthy of your consideration. A recommendation that the militia be reorganized was followed by the introduction and discussion of an elaborate bill, but no new legislation resulted. Your attention is especially called to the fact that of the $30,500 appropriated by Section 23 of the act of March 11, 1867, the sum of $16,990,71 was held by the State at the date of the act of March 10, 1877, making appropriations and is vet unpaid because of the supposed repeal of the former section by Section 6 of the latter act. This money was received from the General Government for the pay of members of the Indiana Legion and Minute Men, and is held in trust for them. The amount due each man was fixed and determined many years ago. A new appropriation of the unpaid balance should be made for payment as before, on certificates of the Adjutant General.

THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL

reports the companies holding arms of the State, including four Gatling guns, the persons having custody of cannons, and a list of the arms and ammunition in the Armory. He has derived $1,086.25 from sales of condemned and unserviceable arms, and $749 26 from sales of cartridges and ammunition, making in all, $1,835.51 paid into the Treasury. It will be remembered that our supplies of ordnance and ordnance stores come from the Ordnance Department of the General Government, under authority of the act for arming the militia. The State should at least make adequate provision for the care and custody of her munitions of war, that nothing be wasted or lost in issuing, using and returning them.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE

shows the executive business issuing through page: 19[View Page 19] his office during the year to include 518 commissions to State, Judicial and County officers, 1,493 to Justices of the Peace, 840 to Notaries Public and twenty-four to Commissioners of Deeds, with requisitions for sixty and warrants for forty-four fugitives from justice, and adds much other matter, constituting a valuable official register and compendium of rules of executive practice. The summary of our public printing shows a gross expenditure of of $590,629.75 during eleven years-from 1865 to 1875-an average of $53,420.88, while during the existence of the Bureau of Public Printing and Stationery from July 1, 1875, to December 31, 1880,a period of five and one-half years-the expenditure was but $98,958.49 for printing, binding and stationery, being an average of $17,992.44, and an average annual saving of $35,428.44.

THE TREASURY SYSTEM.

In obedience to a request the Governor, by letter of September 6, 1875, to the Treasurer of State, being an administrative reform, putting the business of the Treasury into exact accord with the law of March l, 1859, accounting strictly for all appropriations and rescuing the trust funds from diminution and waste by the confusion of moneys, which had resulted in large losses to some of them. The elaborate reports of the Auditor and Treasurer for that year will show how much was accomplished in a few weeks by carefully tracking the requirements of a statute which had been neglected and despised for sixteen years. Five years more have served to so fix the system as a part of the executive machinery that it can hardly be removed. By the appropriation act of March 10, 1877, this work was recognized, and from that time forth, if not before, it could be said with truth that "no money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in pursuance of appropriations made by law." By Section 3 of that act payments made during the first five months of the year, by virtue of any existing law, were "taken and accounted as an appropriation and payment for such part of the current fiscal year" as was covered thereby; all other appropriations were made to cease and determine on the taking effect of the act, and all persons intrusted with appropriations were required to make their accounts and reports conform to the fiscal years. Provision was then made with minuteness of detail, for the several branches of the public service, for the seven months from April 1 to October 31, 1877, and the years ending October 31,1878, and October 31, 1879. Having adjusted the accounts, under authority of Section 3 and closed them, and having, by appropriation accounts, credited each officer and institution with the amount that could be lawfully used, auditing was thenceforth a matter of simple subtraction from credit balances with a jealous eye upon that minus quantity, an overdraft, which is equally obnoxious to the Constitution and to safe private banking. Again, your predecessors, approving a rigid enforcement of the system, by an act approved March 25, 1879, made appropriations for the fiscal years ending October 31, 1880 and October 31, 1881. So much as relates to the former period has been almost entirely executed. The unexpended balances carried forward November 1,1879, amounted to $117,663.05. To this was added $1,230,278.67, authorized by Section 2 of the act of 1879, making $1,347,941.72. Under this authority payments amounting to $1,202,762.07 were made, leaving a credit balance of $145,179.65 (less $98.12 of overdrafts) to be carried forward, as required by Section 4, and added to "the same several amounts for the same several purposes" for the current year, with $12,900 more for printing and publishing the laws to be enacted by you. It is a curious anomaly in our State politics that those to whom the people of the State are most indebted for the unsparing analysis and simplification of its most important department business, after having laid bare and demonstrated its minutest details for inspection and legislative action, were among the first to receive the keen blade of the pruning knife, under guise of a false economy, and, as a non sequitur,be retired from the public service.

The reports of the Auditor and Treasurer of State constitute such a verified exhibit of the entire fiscal transactions of the State as will safely guide you in your examination and study of the several offices and institutions supported by public moneys. The Auditor of State reports,for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1880, a complete Statement of the revenues, taxables, funds, resources, incomes and property of the State known to his office, and of the public revenues and expenditures, with a detailed estimate of the expenditures to be defrayed from the Treasury for the ensuing two years. By the act of March 3,1877 "to levy an annual tax for the purpose of raising revenue," the annual levy ws fixed at twelve cents on the one hundred dollars of the value of all property, real and personal, as by law listed, assessed and valued for taxation, and fifty cents on each taxable poll. The proceeds of that levy, with delinquent taxed, docket fees and taxes otherwise collected, and amounts reimbursed by Counties, and received from Prison contractors, were sufficient to defray the expenses of the several departments and institutions in whose favor appropriations were made. The general fund had and received during the year $1,704,194,83, and disbursed $1,199-299.89. leaving, October 31,1880, $504,894.94. being a gain of $278,310.03, and $359,715.29 in excess of the unexpended balances chargeable thereon.

The total value of the taxable property was $728,944,231. The valuation of railroads, as equalized, was $38,442,941. The public debt was, at the close of the year, $4,998,178.34,not having been reduced during the past two years. Of the foreign indebtedness, certain internal improvement bonds, long past due, have been presented for payment, but are in litigation upon so much of the demand of the holder as relates to the interest, which should be paid. The interest charge upon our entire indebtedness was $293,008.81 in 1879, and $289.465.07 in 1880.

The Treasurer of State, in compliance with law, presents "a full exhibit and statement of all moneys received by him into and paid out of the Treasury, showing under separate and appropriate heads on what account or from what source received, and for what particular object or service the same has been paid out." You will be interested and insructed by the eleven tables, or statements, constituting an exhibit of remarkable clearness e to any tax-payer in the State. The last discloses the collections into the General Fund during five years past on account of the Benevolent and Reformatory Institutions in the sum of $266,613.75 This money was formerly paid over to the Institutions without the formality of a new appropriation, and its treatment under existing law carries it into the unappropriated funds of the State. If the appropriations during that period appear to be increased,this sum would apparently be saved to the State.

The Treasury statement for the month ending November 30, 1880, shows the cash in the Treasury at the close of business on that day to have been $1,010,995 14. The amount belonging to each particular fund is published as follows:

               
General fund  $431,066 24 
Common school fund  2,692 20 
School revenue for tuition  254,462 19 
New State House fund  295,532 50 
College fund, principal  9,055 72 
College fund, interest  654 43 
College fund,excess of bids  24 14 
Swamp land fund  1,025 52 
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Unclaimed estates fund  13,027 71 
Escheated estates fund  1,365 97 
Sinking fund, excess of bids  2,088 52 
Total  $1,010,995 14 

I desire very earnestly to call your attention to the fact that the official bond required of the Treasurer of State, the custodian of this large sum of money, is in the penalty of $150000 only. Nearly twenty-two years have passed since the penalty was fixed. I suppose in 1852 $100,000. as then fixed, was ample security, and in 1859 the amount then required was proper; but the fact that an officer often holds more than six times the penalty to be paid, and rarely less than twice the amount, shows that our prosperity as a State has largely exceeded our provision of safeguards for our revenues.

THE NEW STATE HOUSE.

Having made a detailed report of their proceedings from the date of their qualification to December 31,1878 and published the same in book form for the information of your predecessors and the people of the State, the State House Commissioners have prepared and submitted a second biennial report for your information, being for the two years ending December 31, 1880, and containing facts relative to their execution of e trust conferred upon them from the first. The entire cost of the building is by law and heavy penalties limited to $2,000,000. So far the sum of $644,37.92 has been placed to the credit of the new State House fund, and $378,337.84 paid on allowances of the Board, leaving $286,039.08. Of this sum $200,000 was paid out of surplus revenues the general fund under authority of the act of March 13, 1879. Revenues levied and collected under authority of that act and delinquent taxes of 1877 and 1878 assessed and collected under authority of the act of March 14,1877, are still coming into available for use during the present year. It will be your duty to provide further means for continuing the work.

Being required to provide temporary quarters for the General Assembly and for the officers occupying the State House when the law was enacted and to meet other expenses in no way relating to the contemplated new building, the Commissioners even with abundant advice and after solemn judgments of Courts against them have feared they might become amenable for a diversion of the moneys placed at disposal, or each being under bond that they would not be justified in applying all of that sum to payment for the building proper by so much as may have been used for other purposes, They greatly desire and should have such legislative interpretation of the act of 1877 as will enable them to classify their disbursements and strictly comply with its requirements, being protected from liability growing out of misconstruction of the same.

The estimated cost of the building was $1,509,- 621.65. Eight changes minutely explained will cause a net increase of $109,639.66, making $1,750.- 417.57. Of the amount so far expended, $53,160.70 consists of expenses which, in the opinion of the Commissioners, are not chargeable to the building, leaving $325,177 14 to be represented by the work so far done on the grounds. Edwin May, whose plan was selected, and who became supervising architect of the building, died February 27,1880. Under advice that the contract made with him was one requiring his personal services, the Board, March 6,1880, appointed Adolph Sherrer, who had represented Mr. May in much of the work of preparing the plan, and, after his employment, advising the Board and supervising the work, and receiving his bond March 10,1880, as required by law, the contract being at a reduced compensation, namely, 1 1/2 per cent. of estimates of work done under his supervision. No provision of law being made, or means specially appropriated for laying the corner-stone, the Board arranged and conducted such ceremonies noon. September 28, 1880, a northeast corner stone, carefully hewn and fittingly carved, was laid in presence of invited and interested spectators, The exercises of the occasion will reach you in neat volume prepared to accompany the article, deposited in the cavity of the stone and perpetuate its history.

The architect estimates expenditures for 1881 in the sum of $414,324.31; for 1882 in the sum of $330,348.60, and for preparations for 1883, $131,540; in all, $876.212.91.

The reports of the Superintendent and Secretary will afford detailed information relative to the materials so far used in the building, and the cost of the building, with a complete list of vouchers.

EDUCATION.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction school submits his twenty-eight report, being the tenth biennial report required by Section 123 of the school law, showing the condition of the school funds, school revenues and Public Schools of the State for two years ending August 31, 1880. It shows the that for the year ending September 1, 1880, the schools were in session on an average 136 days: the number of houses occupied for school purposes was 9,647 the number of teacher employed in the schools was 13,590, there were in the State, at the last enumeration, 703,558 children of school age, and that of these 511,283 were enrolled in the schools. It shows, also, that amount of money expended for tuition was $3,006,432.07, and that $1,435,418.81 was expended for special purposes, thus making the total expenditure for one year, $ 4,491,850.88. It also shows that our school fund now amounts to $9,065,254.73, and that we have a permanent school property valued at $11,817,954.53. These statements are sufficient to show that our school interests are among the most important in the State. Our schools have not only increased in number, but they have increased in efficiency. The fact that the people so willingly tax themselves for school purposes, is evidence that they are appreciated at home. Abroad they have certainly obtained in the past few years an excellent reputation, of which, the people of Indiana have a just right to feel proud. This great interest should be prudently fostered by the Legislature; the School Fund should be protected from waste and misuse. The report gives a clear most comprehensive outline of the Indiana School System, ad compares with the "Ideal System" adopted by the National Superintendents' Association. It give a history of the attempt to codify the school laws. The Superintendent then makes certain recommendations in regard to changes in the school laws and the administration of the schools, which the attention of the Legislature is especially invited. The report also contains a great variety of interesting statistical matter analyzed and explained so as to be easily understood. The report shows great pains-taking and learned labor on the past of the author.

The Trustees of

INDIANA UNIVERSITY

report for the past two years. They show the amount of moneys had and received during the year ending October 31, 1879, $36,487.40 and detailed expenditures $27,951.08 leaving an unexpended balance of $8,536.32. Including this sum, the amount had received during the last year was $25,466.56. The detailed expenditures were in the sum of $24,856.05, and $610.51 remained October 31, 1880. The estimated receipts for the current years, including the balance on hand are $30,610.51 and the expenditures as classified and approved are $29,000.

The report of the

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TRUSTEES OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL

for the past year shows that 578 persons attended during the year, the average enrollment per term being 283, 22 more than the previous year, and 280 having entered for the first time. Each County has been represented by one or more students, and 2,665 have attended since the school was established. The annual enrollment ten years ago was 135. The students come mostly from the industrial classes and teach afterwards in the common country schools, carrying back an school revenue for its supports as a means of making the common school system more effective and demand, as one-fourth of the teachers annually filled by competent ones. The school expended $13,927.96 for tuition and $3,551.75 for incidental fund. Urgent demand is made for an appropriation of the $500 to cover amount overdrawn, and $3,000 per annum for incidental expenses; that $5,000 be granted for steam-heating apparatus; that the lost on which the building stands be improved to correspond with adjacent property; and that a professional library and a cabinet and scientific apparatus be now provided. These wants of the chool should receive your careful attention.

PURDUE UNIVERSITY

is the outgrowth of a Government land grant for agricultural and mechanical education. A part of the donations of John Purdue has been used for current expenses. You will be looked to for liberal appropriations to supplement the interest on the endowment, and execute the trust imposed upon the State by the acceptance of the gifts and confusion of the funds offered for the experiment. The reports for the past year has been lately received. It shows that the Trustees are satisfied of the increasing prosperity of the University, and that it is now regarded on a permanent basis and well managed; they look confidently to the State to protect their educational ward by appropriations adequate to the necessities of the case, and invite attention to the report of the President of the faculty, whose services are highly appreciated by them, and whose zeal in advocating the interest of the institution is commended. The number of students is 203. The endowment fund is now reported at $340,000, yielding annually $17,000, and the united grants and donations are valued at $570,000. Permanent annual appropriations of $17,000 for institutional, and $2,000 for the expenses of the Board of Trustees, are asked.

THE STATE LIBRARIAN

in a biennial report accounts for the moneys expended by her predecessor during the fiver months ending March 31, 1879, and the payments made on her approval during one year and seven months of her present term for new books and biding for the library, for fuel, lights and water for the library rooms, for expressage and postage, and for salaries of herself and assistant, janitor and night watchman. The three-story building in which the library provisional "Capitol buildings," and afford the "temporary quarters" for Legislative Hall furnished for your use by the Board of Commissioners of Marion County. I am satisfied that her careful preparations for your meeting will be appreciated as a substantial welcome to the scene of your important labors for your constituents. I need only to suggest that you do not overlook the just claims of Marion County for expenses incident to your occupancy of its most eligible rooms in an expensive building generously offered and gratefully accepted by the State in 1877.

THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,

By its President and Secretary, has made a report of its financial transactions during the fiscal year. It shows receipts, including special appropriation from the State Treasury, $36,765.69; expenditures, $21,833.43, leaving a balance of 14,932.26 unexpended. The Board has canceled $1,050 of its guaranty bonds. Otherwise it condition is unchanged. Its property consists of the Fair Ground and its improvements, mortgaged to secure its bonded debt. The bonds, amounting to $60,000, were due on that first day of the present motnh. The . last installment of the State's appropriation, namely, $2,400 was adequate to the payment of the semiannual interest coupons. The Board earnestly appeals to you to purchase the mortgaged property.

The Board has used $364.64 to pay expenses of putting the cabinet and museum of the Geological Department in a proper condition for transferring to the curator of the Department now provided by law, and has in its Treasury $2,599 belonging to the fund provided for that purpose.

THE INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

has reported its disposition of revenues consisting in part of the annual appropriation of $300 drawn from the Treasnry the past year.

THE DIRECTORS OF THE STATE PRISON NORTH

report more fully for the month of October, 1879, and renw recommendations in their former report. There 542 convicts at the beginning of the year and 577 at the close, 301 having been received and three returned, and 269 having been released by pardon, expiration of sentence and otherwise. All are contracted for terms of from once to five years at remunerative prices, and 508 have been employed, 50 being in service of the State and nineteen excused and off duty. During the year forty-five received medical treatment, three died and one committed suicide. The sanitary conditions was good, and is shown in the smaller percentage of deaths, and in excused list, which is lighter than in former year. The receipts and earnings were $74,877.90, and the disbursements $73,943.15, leaving $934.75 remaining. Of the appropriation of $75,000 $1,120.21 remained October 31, 1880. The cost of each convict was $2.54 1/2 per week, or 36 1/2 cents per day. The fact that the terms of the Directors are all for two years, and all begin and expire at once, leaves the Prison without managers familiar, from experience, with its business until all have learned; and their experience goes with them when they retire. To make the term three years and provide for the retirement of one each year, would obviate the difficulty and secure at all times two members of experience.

THE DIRECTORS OF THE STATE PRISON SOUTH

report the average number of convicts during the past year 600, being 593 at the beginning and 562 at the close, 247 having been received and 278 discharged, pardoned and otherwise lost. The availhad at the close of the year forty-eight convicts, an increase of seven, thirty-four having been received during the year. There were 147 girls in the Reformatory at the beginning of the year, and 148 at the close; forty-one having been committed during the year. The annual appropriation of $21,500 was drawn and expended, as will appear from detail and classified statements of allowances of the Board. The estimated cost of keeping a girl is $126 per annum. This is the basis of the accounts against Counties, by which one-half is reimbursed to the State. These collections page: 22[View Page 22] amounted to $5,273.77 for the six months to December 1, 1879, and $5,162.90 to June 1, 1880, in all $10,436.67, or nearly one-half the total expense of the Institution, both penal and reformatory. The Managers urge an increase of appropriations for maintenance, recommending that $7,500 more be allowed for current year, and $30,00 per annum thereafter, They have had difficulty to procure profitable employment for the inmates. Having built and equipped laundries at a cost of $5,944.50, they find laundry work useful as a reformatory means at first, subduing excitability and making submission easier, and require all not disabled to serve a apprenticeship in that department. Knitting and sewing and caning able men are on contracts, 445 at forty-five cents, and fifty at thirty cents. The receipts were 76,638.81; the disbursements, $74,753.59. With an expense of $71,875.87 and an average number of 600, the average cost was thirty-two cents seven mills per day; or, excluding repairs, leaving $68,137.06, but thirty-one cents per day for each convict. That each prisoner is substantially fed appears from a curious table of weights, disclosing the fact that the average of those received is 143 1/4 pounds and of those discharged 149 3/4, a gain of six and one-half pounds. The Chapel, Hospital, clothing shop and laundry has been put under contract and partially completed for the sum specifically appropriated, and the cell-house is in process of construction. When completed it will accommodate 400 convicts. An additional $4,000 will be needed to complete the former as designed, and the $50,000 appropriated for the latter is regarded as quite insufficient. The old wooden wall must soon give place to another wall, estimated to cost $25,000. There were seven eaths during the year, five from diseases of the ungs. The Moral Instructor urges the supply of ooks for the convicts, and develops the theory nd practice of good time as a means of encouragement. John V. Linck resigned the office of Director November 1, 1880. The vacancy was filled by the appointment of John Horn.

THE HOUSE OF REFUGE FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS

was opened in 1868, and has received in 11,3847 boys. There were 329 at the beginning of the pas year, and 347 at the close. Of the 149 admitted during the year, thirty-four could neither read nor write. Six Counties of the State have so far been without a representative. Of the 1,037 who have passed through, 80 per cent, are regarded as good men in community. There were eleven deaths up to April 1, and but two since. The receipts and earnings paid into the Treasury amounted to $3,544.55. The annual appropriation of $40,000 was expended, but a part of it appears in permanent form in the new dining hall built at small expense to the State by using the labor of the boys and dedicated with interesting exercises October 30. The cost of keeping an inmate is estimated at $100, and the Counties reimburse the State one-half that sum per annum for each boy committed. The Commissioners again draw attention to the language of the Constitution authorizing the creating of such an institution and quote from the records of the Constitutional Convention to show the intention of those who urged the provision. A majority is of the opinion that boys who have committed no crime are not fit subjects for compulsory education and reformation, and that so much of the statute as authorizes their commitment should be repealed. It appears that of the 256 admitted during the past two years, not half were "offenders." If the present policy continue, as recommended by the dissenting Commissioner, the Board is of opinion that additional accommodations must be previded. There are now eight families and six family buildings, two being double. They can accommodate 400 boys. The Commissioners recommend that additional land be bought and added to the farm. A new barn must also be built. The Institutions has been in charge of Professor Thomas a J. Charlton since April 1, 1880. His military education and his long and successful experience in the Public Schools of leading cities of the State have enabled him to give new life and enthusiasm to the boys committed to his charge. The progress made in scholastic and industrial education is highly creditable, and the manly bearing of the inmates gives evidence of the power of good example to stimulate and encourage wayward youth. The Commissioners congratulate themselves that the officers of the institution almost without exception, are from of own State, and that the net cost to the State Treasury was but $16,994.87 for the year.

THE FEMALE PRISON

chairs occupy others, All labor not mechanical including cultivation of the garden, is done by the inmates. Additional ground-at least ten acres in extent-is needed for pasture, and, in the opinion of the managers, a wall about the inclosure is needed for protection. The importance of providing a library additional to that donated by a friend of the Institution is commended to your consideration. The managers have been involved in litigation with the occupants of the United States Arsenal Grounds, by reason of the imperfect and offensive sewerage of the institution. Opportunity for your action has been afforded before final judgment. The appropriation made in 1879 has not been used, because of adverse action on the part of those assuming to control the right of way for a sewer to be built under authority of the State. An inventory of the personal property, November 1 1880, was in the sum of $6,952.95. The institution received $160.25 for boarding United States prisoners. This sum with that derived from Counties went into the State Treasury. The average number of inmates was 192,and the cost per year was $104.87 for each. By the reslgnation of Mrs. Emily A. Roache, October 16, 1880, a vacancy was occasioned in the Board of Managers, which was filled by the appointment of Mrs. Eliza J. Dodd for the residue of the term ending March 7, 1883.

THE CONFINEMENT OF CHILDREN

in the House of Refuge simply because destitute of a home is, in my opinion, not only in violation of the spirit and meaning of the Constitution, as shown by the Commissioners, but wrong in principle as well. These boys have been guilty of no crime, not even of vicious conduct; but because so unfortunate as to be destitute of a suitable home, they are incarcerated in an institution where those guilty of crime or vicious conduct are confined. It is true that they are kept as much as possible separate and apart from the vicious and incorrigible, and, while I believe management to be good and the discipline and moral instruction excellent, yet they are liable to be contaminated by the vicious; at least they can not escape the stigma in after life of having been inmates of the House of Refuge, universally understood to be an institution for the confinement and reformation of youths guilty of crime, or so vicious and incorrigible as to be beyond parental control. The same may be said of the Female Prison and Reformatory In the Reformatory Department of the latter institution are children many of them entirely too young to be guilty of intentional wrong, or to come within the category of those needing the severe discipline and surveillance of a Reformatory Institution, the very name of which implies that those confined within its walls have been guilty either of crime, or of such bad conduct as to justify their incarceration in a Reformatory Institution. In fact, the Institution is known only as a Female Prison and Reformatory. I am clear that it is not a proper place to raise and page: 23[View Page 23] educate the pure and innocent child. That they are kept in the Reformatory Department of the Institution is no justification. It is enough that are under the same roof and management. The girl that leaves there at eighteen, or even of ten, will not be ignorant of the fact that she has been an inmate of an institution in another Department of which were confined the vilest of criminals. I do not believe any person, however capable, can superintend and manage hardened criminals, and at the same properly govern the pure and innocent, the manner, discipline and bearing essential for the government of the former is so widely different from the affectionate, maternal care, and kind treatment require by the latter. Neither ought the law to permit parents to cause their children to be incarcerated in such an Institution for the pose of relieving themselves of the care and expense of rearing them.

If the constitutional authority exists, and the State is willing and prepared to care for its orphan children, it ought to provide a suitable home. I know it will be urged that such a charity properly belongs to the Counties, but County Orphan Asylums, except in those Counties wherein are situated larger cities, are but little. if any, better than Poor Houses. If established, such an Orphan Asylum could receive and care for the orphans in the House of Refuge, the Reformatory Institution and Soldiers' Orphans' Home, and such others as might be committed thereto under proper restrictions.

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

The Hospital for the Insane began the year with 629 inmates and ended with 1,010, having admitted 914, discharged 533 and treated during the year 1,543. Of these, 262 were cured, 69 improved, 34 unimproved, 146 died, 8 were discharged as not insane and 6 as idiotic, and 8 eloped. Upon the opening of the Department for Women and the transfer of women thereto, large numbers of insane cam from the Counties, many in companies, and occupied the additional accommodations. That Department was soon filled and has since received only acute cases. The Department for Men yet has room. The 629 chronic cases thus gathered into the Hospital were in large part physical as well as mental wrecks, and contributed 122 of the 146 deaths, and the remaining 24 deaths occurred among the relatively recent cases. The Superintendent details wich great care the disease prevailing during the year and the treatment adopted, and th accounts for the lower per cent of recoveries by the fact that an extraordinary of the comparatively incurable case had been admitted. Considerable improvements were made on the grounds. A new railroad was constructed without expense to the Hospital, and delivers supplies to the coal yards, wood-ricks and stores of both departments at greatly less expense. An additional water supply was provided.

The Superintendent has added to his knowledge of the laws of other States of this country and Europe, a thorough analysis of our own statute relating to insanity inquests, now a relic of a former generation, and proposes a revision that should receive your careful study. With his earnest argument and conclusions we may readily agree. Uniform practice and a prescribed forms of statements, depositions, findings, certificates, warrants and receipts should almost certainly avoid any future cause of complaint.

The administration forces has been increased because of the large increase in patients; but by making the needed clothing in the Institution save only boots, shoes, hats and stockings, one-half the expense on that account has been saved, and the regular employment of skilled persons has kept in order and renewed the bedding, furniture and scarred walls. The Constitution requires that the Legislature provide for the treatment of the insane of the State. Provision has been made for about one-half. The other has equal claim, and is rejected for lack of room. A general warehouse between and for the two departments is required. and is estimated to cost $3,000. The expense of maintaining the large community of persons during the year was $183,223.37, leaving $17,717.14 of the appropriations unexpended. The average cost of maintaining each patient was $184.64. If additional accommodations be at once provided in the Department for Women, a further appropriation of $20,000 will be needed for the current year. For each of the ensuing two years an appropriation of $245,000 for maintenance, and $12,000 for clothing and $15,000 for repairs and improvements are asked and recommended.

The report is supplemented by detailed exhibits of great length.

The Provisional Board, created by the act of March 20, 1875, and charged with the construction of the Department for Women, yet exists. The building has cost $680,000. The appropriation of $80,000 made in 1879 was insufficient to complete the structure. Eight wards are unfinished. An appropriation of $40,000 is asked by the Board and recommended.

THE INSTITUTION FOR EDUCATING THE DEAF
AND DUMB

holds property of the state recently valued at $490,341.71, of which $457,510 is real and $32,831.71 is personal. The support of pupils was met by a greatly reduced expenditure, and $6,332.01 was lest in the treasure at the close of the year. An appropriation of $55,000 per annum as heretofore is asked and recommended. By the resignation of Franklin C. Johnson, a vacancy was occasioned in the Board of Trustees, which was filled by the appointmeut of James A. Cravens, April 14, 1880.

THE INSTITUTE FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE
BLIND

enrolled 127 pupils sixty-six male, sixty-one female representing fifty six Counties. The inventory shows real estate valued at $353,738, and personal property valued at $20,906.44; in all, $374,644.44. Of the $27,000 appropriated for support, $25,912.08 was expended for current support and ordinary repairs, leaving $1,087.92 unexpended. The Trustees request an appropriation o $27,000 per annum as now for the years 1882 and 1883, to meet current expenses, and but $2,000 for repairs.

A comparison of expenditures chargeable to the state on accounts these three institutions justifies the enactment of the existing laws, and is favorable to the Trustees and subordinate officer now in the service of the State. In 1869 no account appears to have been kept of the sums added to the revenues of the hospital from sales of lead, old iron, hogs, tallow, hides, flowers, tobacco, ect., commonly known as the "steward's fund."" The receipts of this fund in 1870 are reported, namely, in 1877, they amounted to $11,200.67. Either amount may be fairly assumed as an average annual additions to the appropriations. A carefully prepared exhibit shows average daily number of patients and annual maintenance expense per capita, exclusive of disbursements from repairs, donations and sales funds for a term of ten years, as follow:

                   
In 1869 with 340 patients  $257.49 
In 1870 with 478 patients  256.79 
In 1871 with 495 patients  261.44 
In 1872 with 485 patients  255.64 
In 1873 with 482 patients  321.88 
In 1874 with 483 patients  324.14 
In 1875 with 566 patients  255.70 
In 1876 with 608 patients  238.99 
In 1877 with 612 patients  242.56 
In 1878 with 617 patients  199.23 

The expense for the last named year was apparentlv $122,176.66, but claims amounting to $10,- page: 24[View Page 24] 300.95 for October, 1878, having been presented and prepared with view to allowance and payment as a part of the series of the fiscal year ending October 31, 1878, were deferred and allowed in November, 1878, as the first claims chargeable on the new appropriation, the unexpended balance of $12,772.88 being left in the treasury as an apparent surplus. While the payment of $122,176.66 was apparently for one year's expenses, it was in fact for but eleven moths, and should be $132,477.61 for twelve months. The per capita cost would thus appear $215.60, showing a fluctuation of more than $100 per annum during the term of ten years. Arranged to show the actual expense for each of the past two years, the annual number of patients and annual maintenance expense would appear as follows:

   
In 1879 with 626 patients  $188 20 
In 1880 with 896 patients  193 84 

Otherwise states, expenditure for the two years 1877 and 1878, a shown by the Trustees' records, amounted to $296,551.23, and for 1879 and 1880 to $298,025.95. During the former period the average monthly expenditure was $12,356.30, and during the later $12,417.75, while in the years constituting the former period the average daily numbers of patients were 612 and 617, and in the latter 626 and 896. In 1877, 1878 and 1879, the Hospital consisted of a single department, while during 1880 another separate department, larger than the original, was fully occupied and maintained. Under existing law, the amounts colled from Counties for clothing furnished patients are not, as formerly, available for expenses, but become a part of the unappropriated moneys of the general fund. The amounts required to be collected for the law four years were as follows: 1877, $12,715.30; 1878, $13,282.97; 1879, $3,561.15; 1880, $7,047.11.

The expenditures for the deaf and dumb were for 1877, $65,884.62, and for 1878, $62,997.99, being an average of $64,441.30. For 1880 they were $50,005.88, being an annual saving of $14,435.42. The per capita expenses per annum in 1877 and 1878 was $198.89; in 1880 it was $154.33, an annual reduction of $44.56. The collections for clothing were, for 1877, $3,698.57; for 1878, $3,282.23, and for 1880, $1,052 97. The comparatively small amount during the last year was because parents and guardians were required to furnish clothing when able.

The expenditures for the blind for 1877 were $29,108.15, and for 1878 were $30,304.96, an average of $29,708.55. For 1880 they were $25,683.57, an annual reduction of $4,022.98. The per capita expense per annum in 1877 was $264.62, in 1878 was $259.01, while in 1880 it was but $211.05, an annual reduction of more than $50. The collections for clothing were for 1877, $1,191.73; for 1878, $1,078.73, and for 1880 but $209.21.

Given equal efficiency in management and equal results to the beneficiaries of the appropriations to those charities, that administration of affairs showing the most rigid economy and exact compliance with the requirements of law, should receive the commendation of the people whose money is used and of their representatives who are to consider and vote on estimate for further supplies.

THE TRUSTEES OF THE ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE-
MINDED CHILDREN

who are also ex. officio Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, in their second annual report show that the addition to the building which was being erected at the date of the former report was completed in the best and most satisfactory manner at a price so low as to involve the contractor in a very considerable loss, and that they sum of $577.78 is due to citizens of the vicinity for labor and materials. They request that as the building has cost the State a very much less sum than it cost the contractor, and the State has the benefit of the labor and materials of these citizens, the amount be specifically appropriated and paid to them as an act of simple justice. The building will accommodate 110 inmates, forty more than now in the Institution. Of the expenditures authorized by law at the rate of $10 for each inmate, namely,$7,647.42, the sum of $7,644.98 has been expended. In view of the rapidly increasing number of inmates, an additional appropriation of $21,000 for building purposes is asked, as increased room and facilities for classifying the inmates are needed, many of them being of so low a grade of intellect as not to be susceptible of that improvement necessary to enable them to go out into the world and earn their own livelihood. The law at present seems not to contemplate a Custodial or Hospital Institution. If additional room be not afforded,the law should be so amended as to definitely prescribe some rule of admission. I also recommend the establishment of an Industrial Department that the higher order of minds may be taught some light occupation making them capable of self - maintenance. I also recommend that the law be so amended as to definitely fix the compensation of the Trustees, if both Institutions are continued together; but I am of the opinion that the good of both demands that they be entirely separated. The Trustees are of opinion that $10 per month for each inmate will ot be adequate for their support until the number shall reach 250 or 300, and some of them become useful as nurses and attendants.

Reporting for the Orphans' Home, the Trustees show that many of the boys and girls have for prudential reasons been provided homes with safer surroundings, and the orphans remaining are mostly small children ranging from infants up to the age of twelve years and they renew their recommendations made in the former report, and add one relative to the admission of orphans of soldiers of any State who may die while residing in Indiana. Estimate the number of orphans and employes of the House at 150 in 1882, the appropriation of $18,000 would be necessary, and for 125 in 1883 the sum of $15,000.

A STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES.

The rapid increase of population, and the consequent increase of crime and objects of charity, make prisons and prison discipline, the dispensation of charities and institutions established therefor, and the great expanse incurred thereby, matters of deep interest to the people. It is obvious to all who have had legislative experience that legislative Committees can not successfully investigate the condition and workings of the benevolent, reformatory and penal institutions of the State during the session of the General Assembly. The time is entirely too short, and the members of other important Committees appointed for that purpose must necessarily neglect not only their duties as members on the floor, but also as members of other important Committees, if they give any considerable time to the labor of investigating the institutions of the State which must necessarily take them from the Capital. I therefore recommend the establishment of a State Board of Charities, the members thereof to make such rules and regulations for their own government as they may deem advisable. The duties of such Board should be to fully investigate the condition, working and whole system of the benevolent, reformatory and penal institutions of the State, and recommend such changes and additional provisions as they may deem suitable for a more economical and efficient administration of the same. They should prepare and submit to the Governor a full report of their investigation of such institutions, together with such recommendations as they may see proper to make, and it should be laid by the Governor before the General Assembly. I recommend that the pay of the members of such Board be fixed page: 25[View Page 25] and the expense thereof carefully guarded, and that members be selected from the different political parties.

INTER-STATE AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS.

An act of Congress, approved April 23, 1880, provides for an Inter-National Exhibition of arts, manufactures and products of the soil and mine, as a celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the treaty of pace and the recognition of American independence. The celebration is to be popularly known as the World's Fair of 1883, and held in New York City. Under authority of Section 4 of the act, the Governor nominated Addison L. Roache and James H. Smart for Commissioners, and John L. Campbell and Ryland T. Brown for Alternate Commissioners for this State, and they were appointed and commissioned by the President as such.

An organization of the Governors of the States, through the Governor of Virginia, has invited other States to join with them in making arrangements for a proper celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the surrender of Cornwallis. The Governor appointed William H. English to represent this State. Several meetings have already been held. Congress has appropriated money toward the expenses of the celebration, and for the erection of a monument; and extensive arrangements are being made.

A memorial of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in relation to the need of attention to our future forest supplies, was adopted at the meeting held in Boston, August 30, 1880, and transmitted to me to be laid before you. I commend it to your consideration.

A resolution of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, approving the address of the Mississippi Valley Commission, approved March 5, 1880, has been received from the Governor of Kentucky, and, as requested, is submitted to you at the earliest convenience.

I have received from the Executive Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, March 4, 1881,an invitation to the members of the Legislature with officers of the State Government, to be present and participate in the ceremonies and festivities incident to that occasion.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

I have been requested by the State Health Commission to draw your attention to the importance of constituting a State Board of Health , to be aided by local Boards, and empowered to investigate the causes of diseases in the different localities , and to enforce legislation on the subject. A communication made to your predecessors was accompanied by such detailed information as to make the repetition of it unnecessary. The Bureau of Statistics has been the medium of a publication of "Vital Statistics and Sanitary Reports" furnished by the Commission. It remains for you to supplement the labors of the Bureau with professional investigation and recommendations, and grant necessary police powers properly guarded. Twenty-three States already have such Boards. A basis for your consideration of the subject will be afforded by a bill for an act already prepared for introduction.

The Board of Health of Louisiana was reorganized by act of April 20, 1877, and consists of nine members. All the acts establishing and regulating quarantine, and relating to the public health, and the practice of medicine, and the rules of the Board, and health ordinances of the city of New Orleans, were recently collected and published in a form convenient for an understanding of that locality, to which we have been accustomed to look with alarm and dread. Consciour of its failure to satisfy the demands of other Boards of Health-National, State and Local-especially as to the appearance of yellow fever below New Orleans, the Board invited a free conference with Representatives of other States during the meeting of the American Public Health Association in New Orleans in December last. Dr. Moses T. Runnels, of Indianapolis, was in attendance upon the Association, and was designated and appointed to represent this State in the Quarantine Convention. His detailed report shows that after a full discussion two Committees were appointed, one representing the Atlantic and Gulf States, the other the Ohio and Mississippi Valley States, to prepare a schedule of rules and regulations concerning those matters of quarantine and sanitation which are common to each region, and report at the next annual meeting of the Convention, to be held at Savannah, Ga. The General Government is expected to defray the expenses of all quarantine administration of this character, and Congress is to be asked to appropriate moneys for the purpose.

REVISION OF THE LAWS.

Under an act of the last General Assembly a Board of Revision was authorized to compile and revise the existing laws of the State, and to suggest amendments thereto. James S. Frazer, of Warsaw; David Turpie, of Indianapolis, and John H. Stotsenburg, of New Albany, were, upon the 16th day of April,1879, appointed to positions upon said Board of Revision. The revisors have since their appointment been engaged in the dis charge of their duties as such. It is more a quarter of a century since there has been an authorized official revision of the laws of your State. In this long interval of time, the legislation of the State has been much and various and the accumulation of statutes upon different subjects as been large and frequent so that a compilation and revision thereof seems almost a necessity to inform the people what the law really is. Scattered as it is now through a series of session acts and a variety of editions of the same, the labor of ascertaining the statute law has become burdensome for the masses of the people and even difficult to those engaged in the profession. The text of the proposed revision, prepared by the Commission for that purpose, will be laid before you early in the session, accompanied by bills containing provision for the amendments proposed by them. I trust that this subject will receive at your hands the early and prompt attention which its importance demands.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

I respectfully call your attention to the statute of the State providing for electing Electors for President and Vice President of the United States. The act requires the Marshals of the several Congressional Districts to collect the returns of the Counties composing their respective Districts, and deliver the same on the 4th Monday of November, between the hours of 9 and 12 o'clock of that day, to the Secretary of State, who shall, in the presence of the Governor and all the Marshals in attendance, between the hours of 12 and 6 o'clock of said day, canvass the vote. The law makes no provision for an adjournment of the Board in case any of the Marshals have failed to perform their duty and deliver the returns on that day; and no provision for collecting and delivering the returns to the Secretary of State, or for the canvass of the returns if the Marshals or any of them have failed to collect and deliver them as provided by law. It is obvious that the law needs amending so as to meet every possible contingency, in order that neither the failure of Marshals to collect and deliver the returns, nor clerical mistakes of ministerial officers can defeat the will of the people as expressed through the ballot-box. I am unable to see the necessity of such machinery as Congressional District Marshals for collecting and delivering the vote of the State.

In canvassing the returns of the last Presidential vote of the State in accordance with said page: 26[View Page 26] act, it was ascertained that the blanks used by the County Clerks to certify the returns of their respective Counties had been printed before Thomas W. Bennett, candidate for Elector for the Sixth District, had withdrawn, and the name of Benjamin S. Parker had been substituted. Several of the County Clerks, in making up their certificates of the vote of their Counties, unintentionally omitted to erase the printed name of Thomas W. Bennett and insert that of Benjamin S. Parker, who had been voted for, as shown by the tally sheets of the Election Precincts, and for whom the vote, in accordance therewith, had been canvassed by the County Board, as required by law. Such clerical error I permitted to be corrected on the Clerk making the proper affidavit re-certifying the certificate. In doing this I think I did right. I love the institutions of my country and the principles of self- government too well to make the clerical error of a mere ministerial officer the pretext to set aside the lawfully expressed will of the people. The same kind of an error occurred in the tally-sheets of some of the Election Precincts, and were certified and so canvassed by the County Board of Canvassers. Such errors, in my judgment, are not susceptible of correction, and were allowed to stand I would suggest the enactment of a law making it a misdemeanor for an Inspector of Election to fail to call distinctly the name of each candidate on the ticket when counting the vote.

UNITED STATES SENATORS.

I recommend the passage of a joint resolution requesting our Senators and Representatives in Congress to use their best efforts to secure the passage by Congress for submission to the Legislatures of the States for ratification an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing for the election of United States Senators by the direct vote of the electors of the States. Members of the General Assembly should be chosen with reference to their capability to legislate upon the domestic affairs of the State. Under the present system of electing Senators in Congress not only is a portion of the time of the Representative, or Senator, to the General Assembly often turns solely upon the question as to whom he will, if elected, vote for for Senator in Congress. One of the principal incentives to District gerrymandering is to secure a party majority in the Legislature, and thus secure the election of a United States Senator. I can see no good reason why the people are not as capable of electing a United States Senator as Congressman, Governor and other State officers. United States Senators represent the State at large and their election should reflect the popular will, which is not always the case under the present mode.

PURITY OF ELECTIONS.

The fact that large sums of money are expended at every election to corrupt the officers of the Election Boards and bribe the voter is having a very debasing effect upon the public mind. In my judgment the Republic can not live long in the atmosphere which now surrounds the ballot-box. Moneyed corporations, to secure favorable legislation for themselves, are taking an active part in elections by furnishing large sums of money to corrupt the voter and purchase special privileges from the Government. If money can control the decision at the ballot-box, it will not be long until it can control its existence. It is a notorious fact that the people are fast losing faith in the purity of our elections. The ballot is the foundation upon which Republics rest. When the people become convinced that the decision at the ballot-box no longer expresses their honest judgment, they will cease to vote and take an interest in the election. When that condition of affairs arrives, we will be at the beginning of the end of our free institutions. The casting of the ballot is the most sacred duty that the American citizen has to perform. He who is clothed with that sacred prerogative and values it no higher than a privilege to be bought and sold, ought to be dispossessed of it entirely. The man who expends large sums of money to secure an office is likely to try and reimburse himself while in the office. He who makes a false count of the ballots, or falsifies the record, or does any other act that unlawfully defeats the judgment of people at the ballot-box, is an enemy to the Government and commits treason against it in a much less manly way than the man who ope defies its powers and fires upon its flag. In the latter case there may be honesty of conviction, at least courage; but in the former there is no redeeming feature. I am not unmindful of the fact that a representative form of Government has nothing upon which to rest except the virtue of the people, and unless the people can rise to a purer plane of political action all laws looking to the purification of the ballot will be futile. I have yet confidence in the people, and believe that the number who barter away their suffrages is small; but that it is a growing evil none can deny. The laws upon the statute books are seemingly sufficient; yet I will venture to recommend the enactment of a law authorizing the institution of a civil suit against any one who shall offer, give or receive a bribe, the penalty to be disfranchisement for any determined period. In that case, the guilty party will not be deprived of his liberty at all, and a preponderance of the evidence will be sufficient. The law should be made broad enough to cover every kind of transaction, such as the giving or receiving of house rent, offers to employ, or threatening to discharge from employment, or to give better positions,or the use of any other improper influence with intent to control, or be controlled in casting the ballot. The corporation which through its officers uses the corporate money to influence elections, or control Legislators, and thus debauch moral sentiment, should forfeit its franchise.

LEGISLATION.

Without any disposition to dictate to a co-ordinate branch of the Government, I would most respectfully suggest that you adopt some rule to relieve you from the consideration and pendency of such a mass of bills as are introduced at every session. The reading, referring, consideration by Committees and action by the Houses thereon take up much valuable time and become a serious obstacle in the way of the consideration of important measures. There is, in my judgement, no necessity for the introduction and consideration of upward of a thousand bills at every session of the Legislature. Such a large number of measures can not have anything like proper consideration in a short session of sixty-one days. Neither the wants of the people nor the welfare of the State demands any such mass legislation, the pending of which causes hasty and inconsiderate legislation toward the close of the session, and almost always prevents a proper consideration of the appropriation bills. Some rules ought to be adopted by which unimportant bills could be readily disposed of. Perfect legislation and the wisdom thereof is what points out the intelligence of a legislative body, and not the number of its acts.

INTEMPERANCE.

Public attention is now directed in an unusual degree to the evil of intemperance, but, as those who have devoted a large portion of their lives to an investigation of the subject are not agreed as to the best means to stay its progress, or counteract its destructive agency. I feel myself incompetent to advise such legislation as would afford even a safe middle way to be pursued by all the friends of temperance, or common ground upon page: 27[View Page 27] which all could unite in a moral contest here prudent legislation only will avail anything, and where imprudence would endanger present success. I recommend that you give careful consideration to such measures as may come before you on a question so important to the people of the State as to demand your abundant and united wisdom and sound discretion in its settlement.

CONCLUSION.

These first days of this new year mark at once the close of a full Constitutional term of the Executive and the beginning of your active duties in the service of the people by whom you were lately chosen. On the part of the one, the duty to communicate information as to that which is past and touching the present condition of the State, and recommend such measures as he shall judge to be expedient, has now been discharged. On the part of the other it remains to diligently inquire into the business of the State, consider with care the needs of a large and growing community, and within a limited time formulate and enact such legislation for the ensuing two years as will represent the wisdom acquired by experience. The business of the people intrusted to our hands have been completed and has become a matter of record. If apology be required by any for the extent and minute details of this communication, a reason may be discovered in the magnitude and importance of our public affairs, and the propriety of accounting through you to our fellow citizens of the State, while placing ourselves in our proper position among the great States of our Union. We who are about to retire from the public service salute you as you enter and give you a cordial welcome to this scene of your future labors.

ISAAC P. GRAY. Governor's Office,January 6, 1881

After His Excellency the Governor had concluded the reading of his message and order was restored-

The President pro tem. of the Senate said: Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives-The returns of the last election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will now be opened and published by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The Speaker thereupon read the total number of votes cast by each County in the State for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively from the tally-sheet furnished by the Secretary of State, the grand totals being as follows:

For Governor-

Albert G. Porter received 231,405 votes: Franklin Landers received 224,452 votes; Richard Gregg received 14,881 votes.

For Lieutenant Governor-

Thomas Hanna received 229,642 votes; Isaac P. Gray received 224,872 votes; Thomas F. De Bruler received 16,202 votes.

The President pro tem formally declared Albert G Porter and Thomas Hanna elected respectively Governor and Lieutenant Governor for the term of four years, commencing the second Monday in January, 1881, they having received the highest number of votes cast for those offices.; and then adjourned the joint Convention, it having completed the business for which it was convened.

When order was restored, on motion, the consideration of the majority and minority reports from the Committee on Rules for the Government of the House was postponed and made the special order for Tuesday next, at 2 o'clock p.m.

Mr. Carter, from the Committee on Inauguration, reported a programme exactly similar to the one reported to the Senate, as printed above, and the House adjourned till 1:30 o'clock next Monday afternoon.

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