Proposed New Insane Asylum

'.Che Tji'.iising correspondent of tlio b'rcc Prsm, writing under dato of the 21st inst., tjays : " The necessity for tlio establishment of a new iisylum for the insane is, in the opiüion of quito a mimber of meuibers, very apparent. The Commissioners of penal, reform fvtory and olutritable inatitulions, in their report, expresa tho same opinión, adding thereto a suggestion that a new asylum should bo looatod dsewhero thun where the present ono is situated. In furtherauco of these views, Representativo Knapp, of Oakland, will shortly intrSluco a bilí appropriating sum of money for tho ereetion of an asylum in tho eastern part of the State." The correspondent says, also that the " Cottage " plan ia in favor, so that " the intuateg may bo graded and separated acci'rding to their several degroes of inaanity." We rogret to say, however, that the bilí will piobably próvido for a sale of the institution or its location to the highest bidder. And it ia to this policy we " rise to remark." We trust that the Legislature, if it shall mako an appropriation for a new insane asylura, - and we are inclined to favor and advocate such an tion, - will tako the reaponsibility of locating and establishing it at Lansing. A fcw thousand dollars may be offored far tho locatiftn by somo town or city already tax-ridden, the citizens of which will givo on tho principie of getting, and will look out for tho first opportunity to mako out of the State tho full amonnt of the purchase price of the institution - with the " Dutchman's one per cent." added. A gufficient reason for one proposition njay bo foundin the extra expense to the State of managing these charitable institutions widely scattered. We believo that tho policy of distribntion has been too longpursued. It may have been expedient or even necessary before the capital wa3 established, but after that time all chanta ble schools or asylums and reformatory institutions should have been located at the capital, where they would be nnder the inimediate care of the Governor, State officersand Legislature. This policy would save - in a period of yeara - in tra-? eling expense of legislativo committees, etc., - more than the interest on any and all donations realized And besides those having business to do at one or mora State institutions would not have to make the circuit of the State in order to transact it. Ohio in an early day adopted the policy we suggest, and gathered ita prison and a8ylurns afc Columbus, building up its capital, accommodating the citizena of every section of the State, and cheapening official supervisión. Now, as now asyluius are necessary it is scattering them. Michigan begun with scattering and iiqw its duplicate institutions shoulc be gathered at the capital. - We suggested the same policy befort the recent location of tho State Public School at Cold water; but without buc cess. Our opinión may be no more po tent üsw, nevertheless we discharge wha we regard a duty in repeating it. The Logislature is in sore tïouble over the 6alaries of the Circuit Judges, and the problem ia how to increase them despite the decisión of the people at the last election. Three schemes are projiosed and digCUiBdd, ea?h having friends Tind supporters. lst. The payment from the State treas. ury, on appropriation by Legislature, of their traveliiig expenses. An official letter of Hon. J. M. Howard, when Attorney-General, is rolied upon by those who favor this plan as proof of ita constitutionality. That opinión was regarded as "very thin" at the timo it was gfiven, and its quality has not in the least improved by age. The makers of the Constitution knew that a Circuit Judge could notby any possibility discharge the duties of his office without spending mneh of his time from home, anti the salary named was designed to cOTet expenses as well as pay. It was thought a very liberal salary in that day and in faot $1,500 was a better salary in 1850 than 3,000 fa to-day. No man vrho will compare the coat of living' then and now can doubt this assertion for an instant. This is a reason why the salary should be increased, but not in the illegitimate way under consideiationv 2d. The enactment of a law giving each Circuit Judge a clerk with a salary, the clerk to have little or no duty to charge except to draw the salary and pay it over to the judge. This must be the design, fr if he earns the salary and keeps it no relief or increased reinuneration will be provided tbr the judge. In f act the Lansing HqmUican suggesta or intimates that a precedent has alreudy been established : that is that a clerk was provided for the Attornoy-General, it being understood that the salary rather than the clerk was for the benefit of that officer. Huch legislatiou as this must sooner or later breed contempt for all legiülu.tion and all constitutional rsstraints and the principie of creating sinecure positions once established a legión of donothings may bo quarteved upon the treasury. 3J. ïhe creation, under a constitutional provisión already existing, of " Courts of Conciliation," the Circuit Judges to be appointed judges of the new courts, discharge the duties provided by the creating enactinent,. and draw the salary attaohed' to the new office. This plan may he constitutional : is it expedient i If a "Court of Conciliation" is the gooc thing.it is reputed, in short if it is to bo anytniag more than o. lcgul íiguient, no oiiü man can do the duties or both the Circuit and " Conciliation " Courts in a circuit of several countiss. Tho judgo o: tho now court really needs to preside over a small territory, have a local hahitation, and be easily and always accessi blo to parties disagreeing. This a Cir cuit Judge oan not have or be. We can not seo any relief iu this method of at tempting to " wliip the devil round the stump," and have at least a well-ground ed suspicion that a. trial would but reaul in í'ailure. "We know of no method of rolief but a Coustitutional amendment. Let tho Log islature agree upon one and subiuit it to the peoplo at tke n-ext general election Let it limit tho circuits to fifteon anc mako tho salary $3,000. And then let i be understood ia advance oí the election bat i -■( ry jvdge in offi.ce icill resign ■! it is ■ !. and Umi no lawyer in the titute icill ccepl one of the vacant judgeshipa. As oug as a dozen lawyera in cvcry circuit re ro;idy to pvab fur thu cast off robes of regfgned judgo- no matter if they bo jrit'Uess youiig barristers, superannuated members ot' the profesaion, or second-rate ettifop;:crs - tbc peoplo will voto for henp judges. ïruo and legitímate pro'essional prido will out the knot, and uothing elsu. These aro our sentinient3.