Message Of Gov. Bagley

Baanton mul liepresenhitlves : In executing the trust reposed in me by my fellow eitizens, who have ealled mo to the respongible ponton of Ohief Magistrats of the State, 1 shall Btrive not to forget, that it i.s indeed a trant, and not a power. Parsuant to the requiremonts of tlie Constitution, my honoied predeceasor has given you a full and succinct statement of the condition of the State and al] its insütuüons, with snch reeommendations as his long experienee and tborough knowledge regarding them snggest. Iu nearly all of these I most oordially conour. I shall only, therefore, aubniit aa briefly as possible, guoh additional recommendationa and auggestions as I deen: wortiiy of your oonsideration. ' STATISTICS OP THE STATE. The wonderful growth of the Stato in evcryjdirection, through the develüpment of our great natural resources, is a surprise even to ourselves. Few of our eitizens fully realizo what we are asa State. We have scarcely arsy autheutic statistics relating to our ohief produetions. Were we to be asked how many ïnillions of fset of lumber, tong of iron, barrels of salt, or bushels of grain our State has producod within the past year, Ipr.sunre no oae of us could give an intelligent answer. I recommend the establishment in the office of tho Secretary of Stato of a Bureau of Statistics, whoso duty it shall be to procure from tho railroaás, custom liouses, and other sourcos, the statistics of the reeeipts and exporta of ourleading produetions, sucli as grain, lumber, iron, copper, salt, staves, cattle, beef, iork, fruit, and wool. It would not be diiMoult to gather these facto, as all our exporta ire oither by rail or water, and the railroad md eustom liouso books are so kept that they show exactly how mueh of all these irtiolcs are transported, and where from, md where to. This information would be of groat value to ourselves, even if it never went bevond our own borders ; but lam of tho opinión that it would be of ajreat benefit to us in attracting cmurr.ition and capital to our State, not only from. other states, but from foreign countries. The wholo expense ought not to exceed three or four thousand dollars per annum, and it would be a wise expenditure of money. CORPOEATTOXS. Tho State by its logislation sbould, in the business of banking and hisnranoe, and in its control of railroads, be thu guardián of its citizens. These important interest are the creatures of legislation, and should ahvays be kept wiihin State control. IXSI711AXCE. Insurance, both lifo and fire, is almost entirely conducted by foreign coinpanies. The present law controlling them is very striugent, It practically says to the people ; "If an insurance company offers to msure your life or your property, yon may be certain that the state, by itslaws, has faithfully endeavored to see that the company is responsible." jSTo good company objects to the stringeucy of its provisions The law empowers the Commissioner of Insurance to visit any company doing business in the State, at tho expense of such company, and to make a personal examinatiou of its aifuirs. Ifc is not often necessary to do this; but the commissioner is so overwholmed with tho other duties of his office, that he cannot do it, even in the few cases where it is desirable. I recommend that the insuranco act bo so amended as to give the commissioner the needed assistance, by the appointment of a dop'-ty, with asufficient salary. Our insuranco department, in ita present features, I believo is not equaled in any of the States of tho Union. The labors of the commissioner aio arduous and coniplicated. Only one clork is authorized by law. The whole expense of tho office is but trifling, while the income derived from it is very large, andinoreasing yearly. The reeeipts from speciiic taxes leviid on insurance oompanies for the ycar ending September 3Oth, Iö72, were 973 ö'2. There are in forco two distinct banking acts. The general banking law r,pplie3 to ordinary banks of deposit and discount. It was passed in 1857, and an amendment (o it, authorizing savings banks, was addcd .'n 1871. Another aut, authorizing savings associations, was passed in 1869. There are now in operation twentythree banks under these acts, fourteen o which are general and niño aro for savings. Eight of the saving3 banks reported deposits of $3,2:39,770 18 September 30, 1872. Tho establishment of savings banks in so many of our cities and towns is ono of the many evidences of tho growing prosperity of our people ;.and if they aro well conducted umi honestly inanaged there is nothing that will add more to the general well-beiug and weil-doing of tho conmiunity. Temperance, industry, economy, and thrift are the natural outgrowth of legitímate sa ving iustitutiong. It is therefore the duty of the Stato to foster and encourftge them, and also to throw about them every possible safeguard of securi'ty and stability. One badly nianaged saving bank would bring distross upou many persons, and distrust upon the wKolo system. A iarge proportion of the deposits aro froni he industrial classes, and their pursuits, if nothing else, prevent them frora knowing much of the solvency, or even the general reputation for solvency, of banks. It is the duty of the State to take care of this for them, by its laws, justasit does by the insurance companies. The act of 18G9 allows savings banks with a capital paid in of only $5,000 ; which is, iu my opinión, mueh too small an amount. Tho act of 1871 fixes 20,000 as the amount of capital in cities of small population, and $00,000 in the larger cities. The act is in almost all its features, a good one, and contains many desirable safeguards. It might, however, be made much more safe, without any annoyance to offieers or stockholders, or any diminution of proüts. I would respecti'ully recommend the repeal of the law of 18G9, and a revisión of tho general banking law, with additional legislation, providing for thé estab" lishment, in tho offioe of the State Tieasurer, of a Bureau of Banking; tho examination of banks by the bead of the bureau ; and reqniring reporta to be made and published, similai' to ilie provisions of tho National Banking Law. The expense ot' tho bureau should be borne by tho banks proportionately to their capital. It is very questionablo whether ordinary banks of deposit and discount should have the powers and privileges of saving.-; banks; and whether Baviugfi banks should be permitted to do a general banking business, With our fast increasing population, growing wealth, and rapid industrial ïovelopment banks will multiply in a corresponding ratio, and 1 believe it to bo one of tho most important legislativo duties to enact a strong and stringent banking law. So bolioving, I commend the subject to your careful consideration. RAILKOADS. Tlailroads, within this State, ly increased in numbor during tho past tow yeaiè, Tho aggregato numbor of miles now in operutionis ibout 3,200. Many of theru. aro being extended, new ones are projected, and othtis ure iu process of construclion. It needs no prophetio eye to soe that the day ia not i'ar distaut when these roada wiH traverso tho State in all directioiia. Tho corporaiions which own and' manage thomarí crea,turea of tho Stato ïhe powcis whicli thoy exerciso in tho construction and management of these roada aro derived trom legislativo graut. ïho continued con-trol of tho Btate wel thom is reserved by the Constitution, tmd is completo as to i:'il, except epeei&lly chartered companies ; and as to these, thn Legisla! uro luis full power to prescribe all moro pólice regulations. The dutics, obligalions, und righta of railroad com111 tho conduct of I iM as carriers of persons and property, should be made the subject of most careful legislation. üur present railroad htw is in may respecta imperfect, lt iffimpraoticublo here to enumérate in detail the txisting defects ; but many oi' them v.ill bo reaaily suggested, upon i eauuiul exaniiuation of the subject, I cannot, however, omit to cali your attentiou to tho necessity of soine better and more stringent rogulationa in respeet to highway crossings. The instances of perflons killed at these points aro quite frequent, and the destru'ition of private property is voTy great. Kegulan.'uld bo made and enforced which. will render these occurretices uext to imposible. Tho cost to railroad cotnpanies for tho neeessavy precautiuns to insure the safety of the lives and property of the peoplo is in no way to be compared witb. liio value of ii i-'nigle human life. I commend this subject to your careful attention. I would respectfully suggest proper legislation, ostablishing the office of railroad commipsioner, whoso duty it shall bo (untler proper regulatious) to see that tho provisions of tho law relating to railroads and railroad companies are enforced and obeycd. It is not now the duty of any ene in particular, to see that the requirements of the law for the protection of life and property are observed by railroid companies; and for this reason their employés and ngents becorae eareless and negleotful of their duties. I beliove that Buuh an officer, acting under authority of the State and in its behalf, would be of inestimable service, lot only to the public at large, but to the railroad companies themselves. Riilroadsare so frreat a necessity to ;ho development andgrowth of the State, they occupy sueh an important position in tho coimnerce and business of the State, that they deservo liberal and generous ireatmtnt in legislation. But whila granting thii wo should see to it that they so conduct their business as to cause no unnecessary injury to any one. Tho Stato ïas a duty to perform in thi regard which. should uot be neglectet!. STATE PKLN'TIXG. 1 I beg to cali your attention to the large expense of the State printing under the existing system. This expense has boon for tho past four ye-irs nearly $75,000 per annum. This includes paper, printing, blanks and blank books, and binding. There is no printing orderod excepting that authorized by law, and it is done well and cheaply by the Statu printer. The fuult is in the system itself. Tho quantity of this expensive work i; , in uiy opinión, mucli too lnrgo in most cases. The law provides that in the years in which the Logislature meets, four thousand copies of the reports of all the State officers, boards of trustees, etc, of all tho Stato institutions shall be printed, and ocoasionally the Legislatura orders even more than this. Rix thousand copies each of thñ "Vital Stalistics," "Agricaltural Report," and "Pomological Report," and fifteen hundred copies of the Report of tho Insurance Bureau, are printed annually. These volumes aro i 'rom 400 to 500 page?, each. Every two years nino thousand copies of tho laws passed by the Legislature are printed. The laws of 1871 were published in three volumes. Uf these tha general laws made a volume of 528 pages ; the local and personal acts made a volume of 329 pages ; while the ppecial laws, consitiug of city and other municipal charters and amendments thftreto, made a volume of 1,438 pages. The laws of 1869 madu three volumes of about 750 pages each. ïhe House and Senate Journal made flve volumes of about 900 pages each ; and five huudred copies, making twenty-iivo hundred volumep, are printed every two. yoars. Almost all of these are the official record and history of the State and its different institutions ; and thfiy .should bc printed for the use ot' r.i officers, and for tho preservation in the archives and publie librariesof the Staft. But the quantity providedfor by law is in many instances twice, and iu some instances ten timos more than ia necessary. For instance : It is not necessary to print rine thousand copies of the special lawa, incorporating municipalities, etc. These are only local in their operation, and of no great general interest. Ouü or two thousand copits would be amply sufficient. Of the local and personal acts no more than than tvö thousund copies are needed. Six thousand copies of the ':Agricultural Report for 1S71" were printed, costing something over a dollar per volumo. There hits boen a demand for all the copies printed, owing, I presume, to the fact that they are givun invay. These books are all printed in large type and leaded, adding largely to their cost. Thero is not tho slightest necessity for this, and it shouJd be diseontinued. The stati t 'S of the United States aro printed without leaciing, and are certainly as distinct and legible as ii book need be. It does not appear to have been uiade tho duty of any one in particular to superintend the priruing, or to endeaver to savo the the Stut,! expense in connection therewith. I recominend that all tho laws relative to the public printiug oí' the State be carcfully revised, witb. additional legislation, specifying tho numberoi volumes of each clasa to be printed, the size of type and quality of paper to ba used, and such otlior regulations of the matter as areconsistent, with a due regard to the public needs and and enlightened economy. I believe that a superintendent of public printing, whoso duty it should be supervise all the printiug ordered for tho State, would save to tho treasury a large sum annually. The printiug of the Supremo Court repnrts should bo thrown opcïi to whoever may chooso to do it, under such regulations as tho State may direct. Itis questionable whether the State should cmbark in tho business of publ'shing law books. The books of tbo Auditor-(ieneral show that tho receipts i'rom the salo of tho Supreme Court reports, from Yol. l to Vol. XXI., iaolusive have not equaled the cost of printing by tho sum of $29,205. From this Bum, howover, thero should bo ('e lucted one-iifth of tlio amount for tho volumes taken by the State. The accounts of the Stato with the different State Reporters should bo settled ; nd I suggest that authority be given to tho Board of State Auditors toaajust and settle them, rUBLIC LANDS. Atthoploso of the fiscal year endirig September 30th, 1872, thero wero bolonging to the State 3,051,954 acres of land. The prioes put upon these lands wero eftablished years ago, long before tho present growth and development of oiir railvstem was supposed possible. The construction of railronds in to and through. these lands must have increased their vil no largely, and I know of no r.'ason why the Stato should not reap a po: tinn, at loast, of tho bcnefits arisingthorefrora, and put a higher prico upon suoh lands as from their location or other reasons have increased in value. Whon the question ot' granting lands to aid in the oonstruotion of ruilroads was agitated, onoof the strongeat argumenta usei in favor, of tho scheme was that tho building of such roads would largely inórense the value of State lands: and thishas uni'toubtodly beeu the effect. Yet the Stuto ia roooiving u ft'ieqiiate benefit i'rom it, Ought nol the i lamia belonging to the Btato to be ; oughly uxamiiied nnd dppraised, and the i prioe gruduated nccording to their vulue from location, timber, soil, etc. ' EDUCATIOX. Onr Stato cducational institutians figain present their biennial budgot of needs tor considoratioii. The Univcrsity, unliko most of its sister institutions of othcr States, h:is no endowment fromprivato sourecs. It is dependent on the good sense, the onliglitened judgment, und the general desiro for eduoation, of the paople of the State ; and to thum it looka with tbo confident beliof that its past history, its capacity for futuro good, its open doors for all who seek admission, will induce them to deal librally with it in the future as it ims dono in tho past. There can be no su oh thing as a mero pnt'sivc existenoe to such an institution. It must progrusR or it must die. It must koop Btep with the advance.nont of the ngo, tho roquiremeuts of tho quickened intjliect of its timo, and tho growing domand for varied cduuatiou. lts faeulty shoul'i bo puid better salarios, its apparatus should bo-iniprovcd, and its library 1 irgely increpad. In short, it should be furnished with appliancos to enable it to givo its twolvo huudrod students tho best of ovorything that kindrod institutions offer, and that a liberal praotical education requires. This tho University canno do with its present moans; and to aot;omplish it, the appropriations will need to bo liberally inercased. Tho Agricultural College, in ita sphore, and with a uiuch smaller number of 6tudents, is a coworker with tho University, and has a proportionato demand upon your considérate attontion. lts trustees and faculty tiro laboring with earnestnoss and zoal to increase its usefuluess and enlarge ita power for good. By its system of labor and study combined it offers to all, without expenso, a liberal practical collcgiate education. Tho atteudance is not so large tig its merits as an eduoational inatitution doserve. Thero is an education that our schools, Univursity, or Agricultural College do not yet offer, whieh we need and should have : and that is i practical teclmical eduoation, that will fit men and women to grapple with lift as they find it - oarnost, laborious and real. We should have somewhere, rither in the Univorsity or Agricultural College, a school of Technology. Both of these institutions are accompUshiug more iu thia direciion than rnany of tho colleges of the country ; but they oannot, with their present faoilities and appliances, fill this want exi: ting in our oducation al system. No Stato in tho Union needs, moro than ours, educated farmers, nieohanics, manufacturers, architects, engineers, cheüiists, etc. Our forests and lieids, our mines and railroada, our manui'acturing and agricultural interosts, all require the services cf educated skill in their development and management, ana offer to all as remunerativo omployment, honorablo career, and uititnate euccess, as what aro called the "learned professiong." Yet, with this vast field of labor inviting our young men to entor in and tako possossion, a very largo majority of them goek theso "learned profossions" instead, chieily because oar system of education, from the homo to tho University, has poiuted in that diroction ; also, becauso we havo had no inatitution in which they couid pursuo a purely technical and Boien tifio courso of study. Might not the Agricultural College, with its munificent endowment from tho general government, be made to fiil this v.icancy, and bo enabled to turnish this inueh ueedod education, combining the Btudy of agricultura with thatot' mechanica, engineering and manufacturing chemistry and mining, architecture and designing, and eventually give to the Btate a band of practiual, seientific workers, iitted and ready to take hold of the world's work, with courage and skill ? STATE B0AK15 OF I1EALTH. Tho establishment of a Stato Board o; Health is urged upon your consideration by tho State Medical Society, and by many thoughtful persons who havo given tho subject careful study. That it is tho duty of the Stato to aid in protocting and preserving tho lives of its citizens requires no argument. We build anc maintain anylums for this end ; we rpgulato with minuto detail the running o; r.iilroads, that life muy bo made safe anc sojure thereon ; ,vo forbid tho salo ol adulteratod food, medicines, oils, etc. ; al! showiug that the Stato recognizes ita duty in this matter. Au active worbing Stato Board of Health.not ovarloaded witf thoories, composed of practical, sensible men, would doubtlesa be of great service in preventing disoa8e, preserving life, anc difiusing among tho people a more generul knowlfdgo of the laws of health. This subject is attraoting the notico o: govornments and individúala throughoul the civilized world, and ia worthy of your thoughtful attontion. TUE WAHDS OF THE STATE. I hold to the firm belief that &11 insane ond idiotie persons, and all deaf, dumbor blind children are the wardR of tho State and that it ahould exeroise for them and over them the same loving care, so far as possiblo, that a wise paront would over bis children. It mattoiö not whether they be rich or poor, educated or ignorant The State alono, in aeylums and schools adapted to their various needs, tshould do for them what huuianity diotates and duty demands. In tho erection of tho asylumi at Kalamazoo and Flint we havo sbown that wo aro not uumindful of our duty in this re■ gard. It has cost a large ainount o: money to establish thoBo institution.i, and they requiro a largo sum. .íinnually for thoir support. Wo may critioise this or that oxpendituro in their construction, or in the maoner of condneting them, bul after all, they stand forth as onduring monuments of tho Christian charityanc loving care of our peoplo for the unfortunato among thom. They are managet by trustees of our envn choosing, and are conducted with duo regard fco economy aud care. They will continuo for al time to come to need our gonorosity, as tbey havo had it in the past. Wo should exerciso a liberal economy in providing for their wants, and ask of their managnre, faithfulness in all exponditures. The Insano Asylum at Kalamazoo is recognized as one of tho best in tho world -not alone in its construction, but also ín its management. If tho appropriations asked for by tho Board of Trustoos are grantGd by you, tho extensión alroady begun will bo coinpletod and furnishod, and tho on tiro structure finished. It will then accommodato about 550 pationts, and this is as largo a numbor as should over bo placodin ono institution. And yot our work in this dirootion is only half dono. Thoro aro fully as many rooro of our own insano unprovided for by as - many of them in private asylums in othr States ; some of thom in privato asylums ia this Stato ; and from threo to four hundrod in our jails and poor-houses I havo not been ablo to cscertain tho number in tho poor houses for the year 1872, but in 1871 it waa 332. Wo should et once tako steps to secure a suitablo location and próvido for tho oroction oi anothor ingane asylum. No private insano asylum 6hould bo pnrmitted v;ithin our borders. Our citizons should not be compelled (as thoy now aro) to send any insano mombers of thoir familios to a distant Stato for troatmont ; and above all, no insano person, curable or incurablo hould bo withiu tho walls of any jail or poor houso in tho Stato. Many of our jails and poor houses aro a disgraco to our civilization; but in the best of them, no reasonable expenditure of money, nor tho kindest of treatment, can accomplish any such results in oaro or euro as aan bo seoured in any asylum, devoted to this purposo and under tho control of the Stato. Thero was in 1871, 127 idiotio persons in tho poor hcuses of tho Stato. If you ehould decido to t-cko action rogarding a new asylum, provisión might be made for theso "babos of God" in tha samo structur. I sincerüly hope that it may not be long bofo re we wijl be onaLlcd to empty Bvery poor houso and jail in the Statu, of t its ai8iino niid idiotio inniates. Every c oonsideration of humanity und charity t urges on tliis Work. I bog to oommend i thib subject to your moet ctiroful c tion. t The institr.tion for the deaf, dumry and i blind at Flint is practically complet, so i t'ar as the building itself is concerned. It 1 now bus ICO inmutes, and aouUt 1 modatu many more. It is doing a grand woik in tbc cduoation of its ïumates - 1 not morely in the usual school book loro, i bat also in usei'ul trades by whieh tbey can r.upport thenisevlea. lts benoh'ts Rhould bü niuoh mera widely difFuBed. rhero are uo reliablo sttistic3 as to tho numbüf of tbo deaf', dmnb and blind in ;ho State ; but t'rom what iufoimation I iui ablo togather, thero must bo quito a argo number of chiïdren and yonng porsous who aro thus alBictod. AU suoh should be at oneo placed under tho caro and educaticnal intluenoo et this institution, and somo meims ahould bo dovised to acoomplish this result. Thore are a fow muto childrrn roported iu thu poor kousos of the State, and thesu certaiuly should be in thia institution if thoy are of sound niiud. It' tho theory of oompulsory cduoation is correct when applied to thoso who aro blossod with perfect faoultios, it must bo doubly so when applied to thoso who cannot be educatod eithor at homo or in tho common bchool, and who from tho very naturu of their infirniities must boeome burdens to their friends and to tho commuuity, unless educatod and truined to earn their own living. Thore should bo in tbe institution at Plint somo additions mode to tho library, and somo adornment of its bare walls, by engravings, mottoes, etc. Some rational in-door amusement should bo proYided for its inmates. It must be reinorabored tuut it is tho home for the inost impresaiblo period in lifo of tho 160 boya and girls who are boing cduoatod within ita walln. The Board of Trustees ask a small appropriation for this purpose and for ornamentiug the gronnds. Thero ha been in tho past a sad neglect in this direction, and now that they wish to begin the work, I respeotfully rocommend your f&yorablo aetion thoroon. ÏAXATION. Thoro ia perhaps no word in the language that so grates on tho American ear as the word "tax." Yet, so fftr as th Stato is conoer'ned, had we no ohildrea to edúcate, no dependent poor, no insane or doaf or blind to care for, we should not bo compellcd to levy any tax for the expenses of tho Stato govorninent. The roceipts from the sale of lands, from specific taxes oh railroada, insurance oompanies, etc., inoro than defray tho governmental oxpenses of tho State. When tba tax collector taps on onr door it is well to remember that what he demands from ns is for the cducatifm of onr youth and the caro of our unfortunate brethren. It is not a tas, but a donation for "sweetchnrity's sake." Who of ns would have tbis difforont if he oould ? Who of os to day is any poorer than ho would have been, had wo never built a sohoo!, collega, or asylum? And the work must go on. A3 wo grow in wealth, we increase in poverty ; as we grow in strength, we inorease in we'.kness. Kemembering thia, let us do our duty as it comes, and bear the burdon of our neods like men. Our laws rogarding taxation seem to be as completo and perfect as thoy can woll be made, and if any serious defects exist, the fault lies in the ruanner of executing them. They provide for an honest, fair statement froiu enen individua] ot his property, and an equal distribution of the taxes upon it. It is, however, ovident to all that many individuals, towns, cities and whole counties aro not assessed at near their reul valur. The remedy for this is with the poople. They must elect officers to exocute their laws who will perorm their duties fearlessly and honestly. The taxos received from the extraneous sources bofore mentioned amounted for the year ending September 3üth, 1872, to $308,171 92, and there waa still ot thal date, about $90,000 uncollected. This large amount was realized with but a tritling expense in its assessinent or collection. The labor in procuring reporta, statisties, etc., upen the basis of which these taxes are assessed, is performed in the office of the Auditor-General, and is a work requiring graat care. The duties o] the General are so multifarious end onorous that he cannot give to this subject the time and attention its iinportance demauds. ■I reccommend that ho be authorized to employ a suitable person, nt a salary not exceeding J$2,000 per annum, for this service. The recoipts from these souroes could be largely iucreased, with the aid of euch an officer. The law rsgarding the colleotion of spocifio taxes is doficieni in this : that it provides no penalty for non-payment. This defect should be remediod, and some stringont method oi collecting tho tax be provided. The law providing for the payment oi a speciöo tax to the State, in lieu of all other taxes, so far as it npplies to street railway companie?, it seems to me is unjust to the cities and townsin which such roads are located. They are practically private corporations ; their earnings come alniost exclusively from the inhttbitr.nts of the cities in whioh the roada are operated ; and they should bear their burden of municipal taxation. Under the existing system these corporations pay very u-nequaliy. One company ownmg seven and f. quarter miles of road, pays $215 annually; anothor o-vrning 5 1-2 milea, pays $650 annually and still another pays no tax whatevor. The whol amount collocted by the State from this source, for the year ending Septomber 30th, 1872, was only $1,4G6 43. I rospectl'ully suggest, that the law bo so arnonded that tho street railway companies shall hereafter pay no specific tax to the State, and that in lieu theroof, they be made subject to taxation as other corperations are by the rcunicipalitie3 in whioh theyoxist. Owing to tho peculiar construction put vipon the law regarding the salo of what are known as "part-paid" lands for delinquent taxes, the countiea in whioh theso lands are looated loso a lurge sum of inoney annually. Purchasers let the taxos accumulate for a series of yoars, and thi n by noglecting to pay their interest, fort'eit the lands to tho State. They are again placed upon the books of the Land Oiüco, and the original purchaser procuros some friend to enter them, paying one quarter down, and tho State thus loses all the accumulated taxes. I am informad by the Commissioner of the Land Oflico that instances of this kind aro oceurring conetantly. These lands havo not been sold for taxes, as the title remains in the Stato until they are fully paidfor; and it is questionablo whother the State can sell its own lauda for delinquent taxes. Tho wholo amount of uncolloctod taxes, : upon "part-puid" lands, is about $38,000, spread upon 191,000 acro3. Some method BÜould bo devised for preventing this loso to tho treasury. Tho Commissioner of tho Land Office might bo directed to refuso to receivo tho interest duo, unless tho purchaser shall show, by coinpoient testimony, that the taxes have been paid ; or, what perhapa would bo botter still, tho amount required to be paid down might bo increascd to one-half, instead (marter, as it now ia. I am of tho opinión that tho State would dispose of its land as rapidly undor a payment of one-half down as ono-quarter. If the latter plan ehould bo adopted, it would also tend to stop tho practico of, now so common, of entering theso lands, cutting off the timber, and then letting them revert to tho State. It would be well to próvido that purchasers of forfeited lan Is should be required to pay, in addition to tho fixod prico put upon tho land, all tases and assessments dufi thoreon. This subject domands your careful attention. Tho Legislature, ia providing for tho erection ot' the now Stato Cnpitol by taxation instead of by loan. Bet an examplo thu,t Itrubt will bo folluwed for all tiino 0 Cuino. In the management of inany of )uv munioipalities tbrougliout the iStuto ,ho pernicious policy of running in debt, ssuing bonda, oertiheatesot indebtedness, )tc, seem to havo becemo the rule of ac,ion. While, undcrour fortn of govern■nent it inay not be the duty of the Legslaturo to rei'uso to grant the power to aorrow money to iminieipality, whon tho peoplo ask the privilege po to do, still [ believo the Legislature should be extremcly cautious in grantinp; these requests, and should nlwnys be thoroughly siitisfied that it is prudyit and that a cleaj' majority of the tax-payers desire it. It is so easy to issuo a bond placing upon losterity the obligationa that bciong to us, that our peoplo will avuil themeelves of it too thonghUo?aly. M'o cünnot anticípate the timo when ttiere will be no taxos to p!y. Posterity Tvill hvo burdena inoident to its time to bear, the sarui as we havo. The bonded debt of tho cities and towns of the State ïaust bo very largo, and I judge is increasing yeirly 1 wish we oould turn over o new leaf iu this dirpetion, ond odopt, as f ar as practicable the old-i'ashioned " pay as yon go ' doctrine. Flell CULTURE. The subject of fish culture is atiracting uiuch attontion throughout tho country, many oí tho Híates haring, by legislativo uid assisted in promoting ifc. It is a queation worthy of your consideration whether, with our vast water frontage on the great lukes, and our nunierous inland lakes, it would not be wise for the State in somo manner to encouïage it. The catch of fish in the great lukes and straits of tho State is decreasing yearly. MILITARY DErARTMENT Ifit can bo dono without unduo eattravaganOB, under a carefully prepared and carufully executed system, it might be wiso for the State to lond its aid to ths support and encemragement of our State troops. There ar at present thirteen compnie3, uniformed and maintained mainly at their own expense. I am of tho opiniou that the State should in some way bear a poition of the expenses inonrred by the companies already organizod, and by such othors as inay hereofter organizo, as assist thern in ruaintaining ara efficiënt military organization. They are oompoaed of our best oitiiens and will bring no diagrace upon the uniform they wear. The association of young men lcgether, under the au3pioes of the State, for a State purpose, cansot fail to be a constant rcraiudor to them of their duty as citizens. The number of oonipauies to be fortned, and all expendituros allowed, should be carefully and specifioally provided lor, to the end that it may not becorno too expensivo and cumbersomo. 8ALARIE8. Tho oonstitutional amendment for increasing tho salaries of the Circuit Judgeg wbich was submitted at the late election, was defcated by a small majority. The nogligonco of the people in properly rewarding their publio servants ia ranch to be rogrotted. We ehall iearn, whon it is too laíe, "that the surO tendency of such neglect will be to leave tho Stata with servants not worthy of reward. The publio Bervice will swiftly and aarely deteriora ta, if W8 oontinue our present penurious policy. The frequent changes in our oourts, by the reeignation of the Judges, oanae great damaga and exppnse to the oounties, and give iuatability to judicial decisions ; increase litigation, and decrease the common regard for the autb.ority of the law. I am porsuaded that the defeftt of tbe amondment for increasing salarias at the recent elecfcion aroso more trom the noglact and thoughtiessnesa of the people, thaa from any other reason. With our rapidly increasing resources, the genersil prosperity, and our ampie ability to suitably reward our public officers, it cannot be possible that our people have not tho dispoaition and desiro so to do. I earnesVly recommend that the queation be again submitted at tbe next general election, and I do so in the full faith tbat an inherent senso of justice and right, of self-interest and eïf-protection, win socure ita npproval by tho people. Senators and liepreaontativos. The excellent condition of our State finalices, tha reputation of the Stíte for fidelity to its engagementa, the slight burden of our State tasation, all reflect grat credit upon the financial management of tho offioers of tho State, and provo the wisdom of past les[; slation The secret of thia auccess bas simpiy been economy in appropriations and expeuditures ; snd I trust it will be our rule of action ia the responsible position we hisve been called upon to fill. Thore if, however, a false as well as a true economy. If W9 know the true, let us choose it &ud shun the false. There ia no economy in inoapacity anywhere. It is a trufl economy to keep the educationnl, charitable, and other State institutions upon the high plano of excellence they now occupy. They havo brought to us a populatiou of active enterprising, intelligent people ; they have given us oharactor and reputation abroad, and a consciouaness of duty done that we may well be proud of. I assure you of my hearty co-operation in all measures that will tend to the advancemont and prosperity of the State we servo.