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*r*ir ^ fv .•" < -^vSr. ^1r»»"?jr *»r ^ ; ̂ 5"^r*.7 7^13^ •* - J * /" *•"»« - '** -# *< v •• -4-J - . "iw«..» fHfo j- ^ <kfcgii»&*a jwJtaite 11- r -wif.-*-. V & ,;-^.', ' -* .a^ : ^ '-'^ ;•". # > \",«-,« % « T • ^ T^- ;*" • >' •' -•" '•• " : ** " ?* '• ** V( v / " ' 'A" *J" • *-' ; IgftSgtatrn fpaindcalct' J. WSLfKE, - on AS® ^ittt if #VMf liULLUffl. His. mC# Message t<*lhfJSUtfe t d f f t s l a t u r e , J ' ' - - J -- iAtlTB Alto HOUSE OF REPBESENTAPVEB: .TWO Years have passed May >h» mnMBntativfs of the pecipl̂ uM assembled to leljbdrate and legislate upon the important interests of their constituents in this State. During this time the people have bean favored wSh tsTOal health, and tbe seeurge «fdisease, which hMJawBicted poriwm»0f oar land, has been providentially stayed and arrest- ted in its fatal career at our verj border. The harvests have been bountiful, especially for the mar just closed. The trade and industry of the State are reviving, and the spirit and courage of the people take new life from {he evidence* on every hand that there are prosperous days for this State awl nation in the immediate future^ The resumption of speioe payments by the United -States Government, after a suspension of sevento^ii years, is one of the grandest facts and achievements jp the financial tiistovy of na­ tions, It« »ci-«mpBabi»K.-3^ is evidence alike of the Wise counsels' w&ich have governed, our policy, and of the enormous resources and sur­ plus production which have made it possible. We have abundant reason to give thanks to the diver of all good for tha favor which has been tfltiown us as a people. I congratulate you upon jour assembling together at the opening of a new year under so favorable circnmstanoeo; The chief duly of the Governor., tinder' the fngtitution, is expreesed in the obligation which imposes upon hifin to " take care that the laws be faithfully executed." In a sense, he is doing this in the performance of every proper official act; but the obligation seems graver, and the people have a more vital interest in the manner of its discharge, when the public peace and the Jives and property of law-abiding citizens are in eopardy by reason of organized attacks, or ex­ posed to the ^menaces of a mob. A govern­ ment which fails to protect the life and property Of its citizens comes short of fulfilling the first Object of its creation and maintenance. After the era of prosperity which followed the war, there naturally came a period of depres­ sion. Hard times set in, and many laboring men connected with railroads,, manufacturing and mining establishments were thrown out of Work, and the wages of those employed were, from time to time, reduced. As the result of this condition of things they became restless and dissatisfied; disagreements occurred, and frequent strikes followed. Finally, in July, 1877, the quiet of the people was suddenly broken, and the business of almost the whole country was (Stopped by assemblages of men, who, in viola­ tion and defiance of law and of the civil authori­ ties, took possession of railroads, manufactur­ ing establishments and mines, and forced the owners, and those willing and eager to work, to stop work and submit to the dictation of the ioters. So unlooked for were these occur­ rences that few of the States had any preparation for them. At some places there was great loss of life and property; but in our own State, •With the exception of the sad occurrences of one day 111 the streets of Chicago, the whole record of suffering and loss is tola when the statement is made that for a week many of the railroads, mines and manufacturing establishments were under the' rule of lawless men, and the com­ merce of the State was almost at a standstill. The act passed by the last General Assembly, in 1877, providing for the organizing of themiutia, had been in force but a few days, and nothing bad been done under it to organize the military force of the State. There was no adequate preparation for the troubles which so suddenly came upon us. Every military company in the State, however, whether mustered into service or not, and whether armed and equipped or. not--none of them being fully equipped for' active duty--responded to the calf upon them, and held themselves in readiness go wherever ordered, and to perform Sy duty, as soldiers, which the exigencies of e time demanded. Ammunition was pro­ cured with all possible disnatch, and as soon as the National Guard could reach the different «)ints in the State where the rioters were in-rfering with labor, and in possession of rail- Toad trains and manufacturing and mining es­ tablishments, all unlawful assemblages were dispersed and business resumed. While the strike aud riotous lawlessness resulted in no destruction of property in this State, it cost the State a considerable sum of money, besides the loss sustained by citizens in the interfer­ ence with their business. The officers and men of the Illinois National Guard are entitled to the heartiest thanks of the people of the State for their prompt and 'efficient service. As already stated, every military organization in the State was called to duty, and was either in active service or at its Armory waiting orders for about fifteen days. The railway trains, and machine shops and factories in "Chicago, Peoria, Galesburg, Deca­ tur, and East St Louis were in the hands of the mob, as well as the mines at Braidwooa, La Salle and some other places: and all these Slaoes wore urgently demanding a military jrce to aid the civil authorities in their efforts to meserve the peace and enforce the law. A military force was placed on duty at all the places named above, with strict orders to act subordinate to, and in assistance of, the civil authorities. Their behavior throughout was unexceptionable - ! The members of the Illinois National Guar<1 include representatives of every honorable oc­ cupation. Some are men who have charge of large business interests; others are working for daily wages, and depending upon their vages for support. The time and attention which these men gave, in response to my call upon them, involved to many a serious sacri­ fice. They gave their service freely. The law of the State fixes the rate of payment for such service, but no appropriation had been made to meet this unlooked-for contingency, and no ad­ equate fund was at the disposal of the Gov­ ernor to defray the expenses of such an emer­ gency. The consequence is, the National Cruard have not been paid a dollar for their services. I have on three other occasions, at the request of civil authorities, ordered the militia to report to the Sheriffs to assist them in preserving tne public peace in the counties of XaSalle, Pike and St. Clair. The subsistence and pay of the military force, and their transportation from one point to an­ other, has been estimated by the Adjutant Gen­ eral to amount to #86,880. ̂ 7, of which @67,752.21 is due to the National Guard, $10,!J79.53 to the railroad companies for transportation, and $8,- *<48.53 is the total expense of subsistence and Quartermaster's stores, of which last-named mount |4,820 lias been paid out of the oontin- fent fund of the Governor. The bills which ave been paid are, principally, those of small amounts, for camp equipage, subsistence and medicine. I therefore recommend that an ap­ propriation be made, without delay, sufficient to pay the militia for their services according to the pay-rolls approved by the Adjutant Gen- oral, and now in his possession; also, to pay the railroad companies the amounts that shall be found to be due them, and the unpaid bal­ ance of Quartermaster's and subsistance bills. The occurrences of July, 1877, gave a great impetus to the organization of the militia under the existing law. I take great pleasure in call­ ing your attention to the report of the Adjutant •General, which gives a history of the operations of the military force of the State for the last two years, together with-a detailed statement of the expenses thereby incurred. The fugges- „ ions and recommendations of the Adjutant General in relation to the equipment of the Na- ional Guard, so that they mav at all times be ready for active duty, the building of a new State arsenal and the sale of the present one, I most cordially indorse, and I also recommend that the salary of the Adjutant General be in­ creased. and that he be provided with increased force i* his office. In July, 1877, when the * strike/1 as it was -called, was in progress, the first duty of the civil authorities was to enforce thte law and maintain the peace by whatever means necessary; and, as a step to this, to secure the dispersal of all riotous .assemblages of men, whatever might be the -pretext of their coming together. The fact is, that there was, at no time in this State; any widespread or organized strike among the la- • sboring classes. There was a great deal of dis­ satisfaction at what the employed, in certain lines of industry, regarded as an opprgrajve re­ daction of wages. When trouble Wo» out in the Eastern States, a very few turbulent spirits among the laboring men, joiuedjiy the traa^H, and general ly. those, wnomake up. .whs* is known as tne " daqMipo* rh>ssw,"takiy{ *4- vantage »ttle (;ener4|>toai.tn*» tftuljffl MT i» fiwpwjs dr.'y.. <«. wwrtyis# llwfrwbwtry *4 #€ S4at«. mAy' a factory xfitmsd «U» dooss^aad iy!?l7yr? d. trains*. '><4 *. single man was in active syntp- Ipattiy with the mob. The vagrant, the willfully idle, was the tibial element in all these disturbances, and wo have to recognias the fact that we hare among ns a cBu* which is *ead?> a* *U tttaes* to - join in afcy movement looting uo a disturbance of the peace and an opportunity to plunder. The same events which taught us this Xaot also showed ns.Kow sure aod effective aW t̂ eagen- cies foir tnfe preeeffafion of peace %hlen tBe* State has at command, and the lawless classes have leartied that there is power onotigh to thwart any attempt- to override the law} aisre- g&rd civil authority, and interfere with the rights of peaceable citizens in the urn of their properly or the disttoAal of their labor Tne experience of the Hirittwo Je^re confirms my views expressed in my address to the Thir­ tieth General Assembly, and I may be allowed o repeat them here: The spirit of our institutions and the temper of our peopl® are hostile to a standing army, and I am opposed to any policy, State o* Na­ tional, looking to governing the people by the hsyonet Yet in themoetnigfily emfeed com­ munities a trained militia, recruited from the intelligent and industrious classes, is an almost indispensable auxiliary to the civil power in the interests of peace and good order. * RFVEHUJ5. i wish to respectfully nrge upon the Legisla ­ ture the importance of a careful consideration of the revenue system The Auditor has sug­ gested some amendments which are designed to insure the more prompt collection of taxes and a fuller and more equal assessment, and it is of great importance that these amendments be adopted, or some legislation had looking substantially to the same end. White much can fee done and should speedily be done to improve our present revenue system, we also have to consider the question wheth­ er it is desirable by constitutional amend­ ment to make some alteration of the system itself. Tlie large revenue received from the Illinois Central railroad, and which will so soon be available for payment of ordinary State ex­ penses, provokes the inquiry whether it may not be possible, by a system of licenses, and taxes on corporate capital stock and income, to raise all the general revenue fund in a manner which will diminish the expenses of collection, save the embarrassing ana difficult questions connected with the equalization of assessments, and be in substantial accordance with the theory of our present system, that every person or corporation shall pay tax m just proportion. It is a fact that the present svstem, in its practical workings, falls short of the constitutional re­ quirement under which it is framed. To settle this inquiry will involve a large amount of labor by competent persons in the collection of statistics, and the study and com­ parison of the revenue system of other Sta-es and countries. I recommend that the Legisla­ ture provide for this work being done by com­ mittee or commission, as they may deem expe­ dient EXPENSES OF STATE GOVERNMENT. The condition of the finances of the State, as shown by the imports of the Auditor and Treas* urer, is as follows, omitting the local-bond funds which the State. receives and disburses as a trustee for the municipalities, the Illinois river impiovement fund, and the small amounts in some minor funds which are also held in a trust tiap&tsiiy: > • , *• ;v«. .. There was to the State *\ " ,» treasury, Oct. ]. lSffi-- General revenue fund • 91,987,087.60 State school fund. 17U,166.44 Illinois Central railroad fund 42-l.24fi.75 gant or unnecessary purpose to such extent as wonld oa a serious Injury to the friHulMpamy is impossible under our present constitnt&n. Whatever mav be done, however, to equalise the burdens of taxgti<*i, they still 1, and (be greater du» of %h« of those who execute the p*jd r»- are b The receipts for the Iwo " years ending Sept. 80, 1878, have been-- State taxes--General reve- ^ , uue fund...#8,866,024.88 JP State school IF fund «,118.25».0» Military fund 88,201.84 Illinois Central railroad fund.....;. 647,22*5.0 -f! ,991.()S- 6,65»;mj86 J} Total.. 3f6,660,ft6*.14 The disbursements for the jlwo years ending Sept. 30,1678, have been'-- General revenue fund.... . $3,538,»87.fi» State school fund 2,081,992.78 Illinois, Central railroad fund $46,660.1)7 Military fund (81,046.76 1 6,538,098.18 The balance ^n the State treasury. Oct. 1. 1878, was (deducting all war­ rants outstanding)-- General revenue fund $1,704,754.78 # State school fund 275,432.77 Illinois Central railroad fund .\... 124.821.78 Military fund 7,214.58 Balance $2.11^,223.96 A further examination of the disbursements from the State treasury during ihe biennial term gives the following "result: The disburse­ ments of the State school fund hare been in the payment to the counties of the/school-tax- funa orders, and the salary and office expenses of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Illinois Central railroad fund disbursed has been used in the payment of the principal and interest of the State debt The military fund lias been disbursed to the commanding officers of the several regiments, battalions, etc., under the apportionment made by the Ad­ jutant General Ine chief items of disburse­ ments, those of the general revenue fnnd, which for the two years amount to #3,588,987.- 69, are as,follows: Executive--embracing expenses of all offices and departments of the "State Government not specified below 9 301,478.86 Judicial 476.915.7-4 Lejfislatiw 2.37,959.3C Educational 174,339.9b Charitable 1,49ti 809.24 Correction 4^.1,080.31 Building and maintenance of new State House 284.£55.91 Canal 62.403.18 Printing, binding and stationery. 81.271.29 Miscellaneous special appropriations, including taxes refunded.... To til ag utxe8 reiunaea ' J" 128,023.88 $3,688,937.69 STATE DEBT. The principal of the bonded debt of the State outstanding Oct. 1, 1876, Paid daring the two years ending Sept 80,1878 ..$1,478,600.27 676,287.68 State debt outstanding Oct. 1, 18T8... $802,812.60 Since the first of January the treasurer has paid in New York, in pursuance of lc jjai notice, bonds to the amount of. *49,570.53 Debt now outstanding $562,742.06 Of this amount there is now due and payable at the pleasure of the State.. 867,442.06 The remainder $195,300.00 will be payable, at the pleasure of the State, on and after Jan. 1,1880. If the Legislature would provide for the pay­ ment of school fund interest orders out of tne general revenue fund, as was done prior to 1873, the Illinois Central Railway Fund will more than suffice to pav all the principal of the bonded debt of the State bv the first of January, 1881. Thus the State can be out of debt when the next Legislature convenes, and thereafter, under the constitution, such fund is appropri­ ated and set apart for the payment of the ordinary expenses of the State Government. MUNICIPAL DEBT. The Auditor, in his report, furnishes you with a very valuable and instructive table of the mnnicipal*debt of the State, in which he shows that it aggregates $51,811,^91. The larger part of this debt has been incurred in making useful and necessary local improve­ ments, and is represented by valuable muni­ cipal property. About 30 per cent, of this total of municipal debt represents the railroad aid debt of the municipalities of the State. The constitution of the State now forbids all counties, cities or other municipalities from making subscriptions to capital stock or dona­ tions in aid of any railroad or any private cor­ poration, and further forbids the incurring of any indebtedness to an amount, including ex­ isting indebtedness, in the aggregate exceeding 5 per cent on the value of the taxable property therein. These are wise and fort­ unate provisions, and under them the mu­ nicipal debt of the State is now decreasing, and will, for some years, continue to decrease. The uee of municipal credit for any extra va- the cHi&atbs to _e> i Ki^l ahak be ospcadsa. TNTSTRFwr. This State lias always regulated tha rate of interest for money loaned and on other con­ tracts. The act of March 2,1819, made the rate 6 per cent per annum, but declared any rate lawful, for the payment of which an express contract had been made. The Revised Statutes of ISIS legalized any agreed rate up to 12 per cent par annum. The Revised Statutes of 1815 authorised the collection of <> per cent per an- mini and no more. In 18411 it was made lawful to stipulate, by written contract, for the pay­ ment of 10 per cent per smunn for use 0t money loaned, and in 18R7 this provision Was extendefrioal! contracts. . . \ In commercial centers and in older communi­ ties, where the home supply of capital is fully up to all the want# of trade, it may answer to allow the rate of interest to be fixed by the law of demand and supply, which makes prices for all staple commodities. In newer States, where accumulated capital is not sufficiont to meet all the demand for its use, and resort is had to outside sources of supply, and in all purely ag­ ricultural communities, experience lias shown that a maximum rate should lie fixed by statute. In Chicago, and in St. Louis (which is a money mart for some portions of Illinois;, the ordin­ ary commercial rate has, for some time, been 8 per cent, per annum, and there have been long periods when the bulk of tmnsae tione have been at still lower figures. There is a permanent lowering of the rate of interest, resulting from the increasing amount of accu­ mulated capital seeking employment in those cities. Tins is equally true all over the coun­ try, and may be illustrated by an examination of the financial reports of Ne": York and other Eastern cities--but best of all by the fact that the United States Government has been able to reduce the rate of interest on its loans from 6 per cent per annum to 4 per cent per annum. In view of these facts. I believe the time has oome when, in this State, we should reduce the maximum rate of interest to 8 per cent per annum, and I recommend that the Legislature amend chapter 74 of the Revised Statutes to that effect BECRETABY OF STATE. I place before you, herewith, the biennial re­ port of the Secretary of State, and to its full and faithful recitals you are referred for infor­ mation upon many important topics, which are worthy of vonr careful consideration. I respect­ fully call your attentipn^to the record of pro­ ceedings liad uudW^fct of May 21, 1877, to se­ cure to the State Additional Capitol* grounds. The Commissioners appointed under that law awarded an aggregate of compensation and damages for the grounds selected of $34,1(H), and the Attorney General has instituted suit for the same, with costs, against the obligors of the bond given by certain citizens to the people of the State of "Illinois, guaranteeing the convey­ ance to tho State of the land in question. I agree with the Secretary of State in his re­ quest for an additional appropriation for the incidental expenses of this General Assembly, and for the care of the State House ana grounds, and for an additional appropriation to pay the contractors for State binding. " The State Historical Library and Natural Historv Museum," established by act of the Thirteenth General Assembly, has made a very satisfactory beginning, and calls for further aid at your hands, which it eminently de­ serves." " ATTOBintT GENERAL. The duties of tho Attorney General e office have become very numerous and important within tho last few years. The bionniaFreport of the Attorney General shows the number and character of the suits in which the State has had an interest--a very large number of the cases involving large sums of money for past-due taxes from corporations. It is a source of satisfaction to know that nearly all of these casds have teen disposed of in favor of the validity of the tax assessments, and the taxes have accordingly been paid. I respect­ fully ask your attention to the suggestions of the Attorney General in rotation to the defects in the law governing the prosecution of tax-in­ junction cases. The case of the people ex rel. the Attorney General vs. the Illinois Agricultural College at Irvington was appealed to the Supreme Court in pursuance of the joint resolution of the Thirtieth General Assembly, and the decisienof the court below reversed and sent back, and a decree has been rendered, in the court below, in conformity to the opinion of the Supreme Court, aud tne buildings (ind real estate, repre­ senting proceeds of seminary lands, which had previously been conveyed to the college in trust, have been reconveyed to the State, sub­ ject to certain liens. It will be necessary for the Legislature to make an appropriation suffi­ cient to pay off these liens, or such of them as may be finally established, in order to protect the interests of the State. ¥our attention is specially called to this matter, as the judgments and other liens should be discharged, and some provision made for the disposition of the land in accord with the original purpose for which the same was granted. /' The Attorney General has, during the last two years, prepared and delivered to the officers and persons calling for thenr^a large number of opinions, which are valuable guides in the ad­ ministration of public affairs. I recommend that you provide for the publication and distri­ bution, in book form, oi the opinions of the Attorney General, and that you request him to select for publication, from the iiles of his office, those of public character and lasting in­ terest, EDUCATION. The report of the Superintendent of Publio Instruction is well worthy of your consideration. It contains much valuable information on the subject of education, and suggests many changes of the present law, to which I invite your attention. The condition and affairs of the two Normal Universities are ablv presented in the reports of their trustees and officers, from which you can learn what legislation is necessary for their benefit These institutions are doing a very useful work as a necessary adjunct of our common-school system. The wisest economy dictates a liberal provision for the maintenance of our common schools aud these universities. They belong to a department of the Govern­ ment which is now fully recognized, in all civil­ ized states, as an important factor in insuring prosperity and preserving public order. By the acceptance of the endowment fund, contributed by the United States, Illinois has, as I think, very wisely undertaken, in the Indus­ trial University at Champaign, to found a State University in the fullest and broadest sense. In obedience to the practical spirit of the age, the design has been to provide a school where the youth of our State can acquire the scientific rudiments needed in their several callings and pursuit* in life, with opportunities for the high­ est literary and artistic culture. This institu­ tion has entered on its second decade, and give the brightest promises of a long career of honos and usefulness. The reports of ite officers anr trustees show its condition, and I recommend the appropriations for which they ask. AGRICULTURE. Illinois is pre-eminently an agricultural State, and causes likely to aid in the more rapid de­ velopment of our agricultural resources should receive careful attention. Our soil and climate are peculiarly adapted to the profitable produc­ tion of a great variety of crops. Much the larger portion of our people are engaged in agricultural pursuits, and a proper recognition of this wealth-producing class, I trust, will not be overlooked in your deliberations. Legisla­ tion for tne protection of sheep, and for the prevention, as far as possible, of diseases am&ig farm animals, is especially demanded / The Department of Agriculture, under the control of the State Board of Agriculture, has rendered the State valuable service and deserves more than a passing notice. The reports of the condition of the growing crops, published by that department in monthly circulars, are highly valued by all interested in our produc­ tions. Complete statistics of the agricultural resources or the State are most useful, and whatever legislation mar be deemed necessary to secure th^m, and insure their accuraoy, should be adopted. The State Agricultural Museum, as an adver­ tisement of our varied resaur^®, and as a fheans of exhibit of our prSduiuv* to our own citizens and visitors front abroad, promises, when complete, to be a valuable collection, ana is worthy of support I recommend the usual appropriations in aid of the Department of Agriculture of the State Horticultural Society, and for tb£ expenses of the State Entomologist \ Cloeely allied to the interests of ajh-icnltiue ts 86 Improvement of the eonpaoas nigh ways. We need better roads for .ttiqiaf'aMporUtion of fsrm products 'to market. Bmnroaus atoertain sosswin of the year form one of the great disad­ vantages of our rich soil, and I think there can be*Mi»plan devised by legislation to enconr ai^ their perroajwwt jmni*»vwnerifv>- Annbttliuutlbjan in the constitution, providing that tho General Amembly may pass hws normit- ting th*l OwnAra Af uiwiuwj WU 1CTCOB JlOl lOUilU»lt OttTliUry oiiu mining purposes, etc. The proposed amend­ ment was voted upon at the last general elec­ tion, arid was ratified by a very large majority of all the votes cast. Tne subject of drainage is one of groat importance. Millions of bushels of grain may be addgd to the crops ofour State by the proper drainage of our level hinds. The amendment to tho constitution will now permit such legislation as may lie necessary to carry out any reasonable system of drainage in the interest of an increased production of the soil and the improved health of the people. KAILROAI> AND WAREHOUSE COMMXfUUOXKRS. The report of the Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners for 1877 and 1878, which will be laid before you, contains much valuable in­ formation relating to the condition and opera­ tion of railroads and the shipment and inspec­ tion of grain. The report for 1878 shows a substantial increase in tnetoniiage and earnings of railroads in 1878 over the amount in 1877. This fact, I think, may be regarded as an evi­ dence of returning prosperity to the country. The growing disposition of the railroad cor­ porations to recognize the authority of the com­ mission, in all matters subject to its control, is noted with satisfaction, The Commissioners have done all in their power to en­ force the law in relation to railroads and their operation. They are mot by many embarrassments and difficulties, which they have pointed out and discussed in their report to which I ask youfc' attention. Nearly half tne States have established Boards of Railroad Commissioners, and many other States are likely soon to do so. I think 'the people of the country are convinced of the importance of maintaining such a commission, and that cor­ porations c eated by the State must be subordi­ nate to its sovereignty. I recommend that the law creating thd office of Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners be amended so that the term of Office be four years instead of two. J The Grain Inspection Department under the control of the Railroad aud Warehouse Com­ missioners, is now administered with very gen­ eral satisfaction to all concerned. The* ship­ ments to Chicago, reported by. the Chief In­ spector, for 1878, show an enormous gain over 1877, and the fact that the business of inspec­ tion is so well managed is increasing the public confidence in the wisdom of State ihspectwn. STATE BOARD O HEALTH. The set to create aud establish a State Board of Health went into force July 1, 1877, and, very soon after that date, the board was organ­ ized and entered upbu its duties. The blanks and instructions for registration of lArths, mar­ riages and deaths were prepared, and the sys­ tem was inaugurated in 1878, with results that are very satisfactory for a begiijyaing, and whieh will be placed "before you as soon as they can be collected and tabulated. The Board of Health has performed with great success the important work imposed upon it by the Medical Practice act It contains rep­ resentatives of the leading medical schools, who have worked in entire harmony and have sought to secure for the people of the State the great advantages which the law was intended to give, by the elevation of the standard of qualifications for the practice of medicine. Many delicate questions nave arisen in the dis­ charge of this branch of their duties, and, while they have aimed to faithfully execute the law, they have also been careful not to make it a means of oppression or persecution. More than 5,(KM) persona practicing medicine in this State have complied with the law, and reoeived certificates, and it is estimated that 1,400 per­ sons who had l>een practicing medicine, and were unable to oomply with the law, have left the State. The Board of Health recommend that provision be made for the publication, in book form, of the register of practitioners have complied with the law. ' Owing to the pressure of the work jm; the Medical Practice act,/the l>oard done much in the way of sanitary jo but they have prepared a scheme fo sanitary and topographical survey OjKBTe State, which will be jOaeQjlt before you "f^Bffour con­ sideration. During the yellow-fever epidtemio in the autumn of 1*78, they did good rrviev in lied that the partial quarantine established at Cairo was very useful in liindering the intro­ duction and spread of the disease, and in allay­ ing excitement and. preventing panioVin the neighboring to wits. ' 4- \ STATE HOUSE. • ' ' The report of /the State House Comjfttesloti- ers gives a full /financial statement, including the date' an|l amount of every appropriation for the building, aud also recites in detail what remains to be done for ite completion. The Thirtieth General Assembly passed an act ap­ propriating $531,712.10 "for the completion and furnishing of the new State House, sub­ ject to ratification by the people at the succeed­ ing general election. The appropriation was submitted, and voted down by the people by a large^ majority. Little remains to be done" in which the usefulness or practical features of the building are involved, but I am convinced, aB I think you will be when you have given it personal examination, that tne interests of the State demand its early completion in all its parts. COMMISSIONERS TO PARIS EXPOSITION. Under the provisions of the act of Congress I nominated, and the President of the United States appointed, John M. Gregory and Osborn 11 Keith as honorary Commissioners to repre­ sent the State of Illinois at the International Industrial Exposition held in Paris in 1878. These gentlemen prepared and 1 caused to l>e printed a pamphlet, in tho French language, containing sketches of tho history, geography, geology, and other natural features of the State, its agriculture, commerce, manufact­ ures and educational system, with a descrip­ tion of its chief commercial city, and other in­ teresting facts. This was freely distributed at the Exposition, and 1 have abundant evidence that it was highly appreciated, not only as a description of this State, but as a representation of the general character of Americau States and institutions. The Commissioners have pre­ pared a report, which will be placed before you, in wiiich they have embodied the results of a careful study of the leading exhibits, selecting thost which give information most valuable to the citizens of Illinois. I recommend that an appropriation of $500 be made to Dr. J. M. Gregory, for his services in preparing and superintending the publica­ tion of the pamphlet in French, and to reim­ burse him for clerk hire and other expenses connected with the preparation of the report COMMISSIONER TO STOCKHOLM. I appointed Fred H. Wines, Secretary of the State Board of Chanties, a Commissioner to attend the International Prison Congress, held at Stockholm, in August, 1878. His report as Commissioner, whici is incorporated in the biennial report of the State Board of Charities, gives, in addition to a report of the congress, much valuable information concerning penal and charitable institutions which he visited. A. PENITENTIARIES. The full and explicit reports of the Commis­ sioners and Warden of the Illinois State peni­ tential*)', at Joliet, furnish all the facts and tables needed to enable you to have, a complete knowledge of the affairs of the p ison during the last two years, its expenses, its earnings, the amount of its indebtedness, the health of th-j convicts, and, generally, the discipline of the prison. The.iuuebtodness on the 30th of Sep­ tember, 187*, was $50,596.32, which amount should be "appropriated, and the debts paid without delay. The prison has been self-sup­ porting since tho early part of last summer, but when the present Board of Commissioners took control, and for a year afterward, it was overcrowded with convicts, and in the general depression of business it was impossible to secure work of any kind, at any price, for several hundred of them. I call your especial attention to the suggestion of the Commissioners ,and Warden in favor of a further appropriation, to be drawn upon by the prison, to avoid the necessity of using credit, and the consequent expense in interest and the higher price paid for subsistence and clothing. These suggestions come with equal force from both prisons, and whatever you may deem proper to do in response to them should apply to both. The act passed b the Thirteenth General As­ sembly, to locate, construct and carry on the Southern Illinois penitentiary, came in force July 1, 1877. The Commissioners; appointed under thw law entered at once upon their duties, V and after very full consideration they finally agreed vpeei a site for the prison at Chester. This selection of locality and site was approved by tHe Governor. Auditor of Public Accounts and Attorney General The iraci purchased for a site contains 123^ acres, with ample frontage on the Mississippi river. The Com­ missioners found great difficulty in selecting a plaC<3 hiViiik 4"? 1*JO m the law, vie: "oonveni"*!'* of access, elevation, drainage, never-failing water privilege, oonvonlenoe to both quantify and »"«!'«» of Hmhfir." with 100 aeres of land in one body, at a cost not to exceed #30,000. Many localities offered possessed some of these qualities. The difficulty was in finding one which combined them alL The locality at Ches­ ter comes nearer to a complete ocmphanoe with the law than any other point which the Com­ missioners examined. After the location the Commissioners pro­ cured satisfactory plans for a Warden's house, and cell-house with capacity to hold 400 con­ victs, advertised for bids, and contracts were made for the erection of these buildings. A temporary house was built, for the accommo­ dation of the officers, A brick building 300 feet long, 44 feet wide and 3 stories high, was built for a temporary prison, and will, later, be useful and necessary as a machine shop. On the 21st of March, 1878, 209 prisoners were sent from Joliet, thereby giving much needed relief to tlie Northern prison, "flio cell- house, with capacity for -5(i0 convicts, was completed on the 1st day of October last, and since that date courts in the Southern Penitentiary district ha,ve been sending convicts to the Chester prison. It is evident already that the division of the State by section 11 of the Southern Illi­ nois Penitentiary %et gives the Southern peni­ tentiary a larger district than it can for some time accommodate, and I therefore recommend that authority be given to the Governor to fix the limits of the Northern and Southern dis­ tricts, respectively, on the joint recommendation of the Boards of Commissioners. The appropriation of $200,000 for the So««taicrii tliipciiitsntiir? wits £or Uon of a site, purchase of land, and the erec­ tion of buildings. The act also provided that the Commissioners should, as speedily as prac­ ticable, be ready for the safe-keeping of a large number of convicts to be transferred from the Northern prison--the ojhject of the Legisla­ ture l»eing to relieve the" Northern prison, and to use convict lalior in the construction of the new one. There was no specific appropriation for the payment of officers aud men to guard the prisoners, or for the clothing and subsist­ ence of the oonvicts, or for cell furniture, and necessary tools to make their lalwr available. The Commissioners have believed that, under these circumstances, a reasonable construction of the statute, taken as a whole, permits them to use such portion of the appropriation as is necessary to equip and carry on the prison. The reports of the Commissioners and Ward­ en show the progress of the work, present full financial statements, and give an estimate of the amount necessary to complete the prison according to the design. I ask your attention to these reports, and recommend such appro­ priations as will secure completion during the years 187'.) and 1880, and also that you make "such other provision as will enable the Commis­ sioners to take. care of tho prisoners without incurring debt M On the first day of this Vouth Joliet prison held 1,548 convicts, of whom 1,523 were men and 35 women, and the Chester prison held 845 oonvicts--341 men and 4 women. PARDONS. The pardoning power of the Governor in­ volves a laborious line of duties, which are very closely allied to lus obligation to take care thai the laws be faithfully executed. Every pardon improperly grantrd is not only in such particular case an omission to faithfully execute the lawK, but it goes some way to weaken the deterrent influence which is one of the object* of thopuuiahmeiit of crime. To avoid the dan­ ger of being misled by <<\r purte statements, I have adopted a rule * requiring that notice of the intention to apply for a pardon shall I HI given bv three weeks' advertisement in the county in which the offense was committed, and that all applications shall lie first sub- knitted t<ithe Judge ylio presided at the trial, and to tlie^State's Attorney who prosecuted, for such statement or recommendation, if any. as they may see proper to make. Experience nas shown the uses of such advertisement whore the application does not fully or fairly state the facts, and I am satisfied that the operation of the rule has been to reduce the number of frivolous applications. BOARD OP CHARITIES. . The State charitable, educational and penal institutions of Illinois may be divided into two classes, those which are, and those which are not subject to the inspection of the Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities. The only institutions exempt from this supervision are'the universities and tho penitentiaries. Of the ten institutions connected with the Board, nine are in actual operation, viz: the tnree in­ sane hospitals, an institution for the deaf and dumb, and one for the blind, an asylum for feeble-minded children, the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, the State Reform School, and the Charita­ ble Eye and Ear Inlirmarv at Chicago. The Thirtieth General Assembly appropriated for the use of these nine institutions, for all pur­ poses, for two years from July 1, 1877, the sum of $1,338,275, a portion of which was for their enlargement to accommodate a greater number of unfortunates. Tho same institutions ask for appropriations by the present General Assem­ bly to the amount of a little over 11,400,000. The Commissioners of Public Charities, whose duty it is, under the statute, to revise these re­ quests, are of tho opinion that an appropriation of about $1,200,000, or $000,000 for each of the two years, will be sufficient to meet the actual necessities of the case, but do not regard it as prudent to go below this figure, in view of the large increase in the number of inmates, espe­ cially of insane patients in our hospitals. Tins board has l>een vigorous in the exercise of ite functions, fearless in the expression of ite opin­ ions, ana has held, from its organization, a pretty even middle course between parsimony and extravagance. I therefore commend the report of the boa'd (in which you will find de­ tailed estimates and the reasons for them) to your careful attention. I am substantially in accord with the views therein expressed. A gratifying evidence of the, prudent man­ agement which our State charitable institutions have had is found in the fact that they have kept within their appropriations, and that every one carries over a halancc of appropriation un­ expended. The reports of tne trustees and officers of the several institutions will repay your careful consideration, whieh you should bestow to enable you to make adequate pro­ vision for their necessities. At this point I take the opportunity of saying that to the Commissioners of Public Charities, to the trustees of the State institutions, and to all other unpaid officials in the State, a heavy debt of obligation is due, on the part of the Commonwealth, for a large amount of valuable eervice of the best description voluntarily ren­ dered, without reward or the expectation of any, other than the consciousness of duty faithfully performed and the gratitude of the public, to which they are certainly entitled. The last Legislature provided for the con­ struction of a fourth hospital for the insane, at some point to be determined by Commissioners of location, to be appointed by the Governor. The commission appointed by me selected a farm of 251 acres near the city of Kankakee. An appropriation of $200,000 wa< made for the purchase of land and the erection of buildings, the greater part of which has been expended Dy t>)6 trustees in the construction of those parts of the general plan essential to the running of the hospital, so that any portion which may be at any time completed and ready for occupancy bv patients may be put in use immediately. The working department has been planned for an institution of su# ficient capacity to care for at least 800 patient*, many of whom will, of course, be chronic cases of insanity, aud for these the hospital will be also an asylum. The trustees estimate the total cost of the hospital at Kankakee, for 800 inmates, on the plans suggested by the archi­ tect, at about $080,000, of whieh $300,000 has been already appropriated. I lecommeud the appropriation of such an amount aa may be deemed advisable for the prosecution of the work of enlarging the capacity of the hospital, on such plan as your wisdom may dictate, so that the insane in our State may be more noarly all cared for. Of the necessity for this hospital there is no doubt, and, that being ad­ mitted, the more energetically the work is pushed tofcpompleiion, the sooner the State will reap the benefit of tbe investment already made, and the more cheaply and satisfaeiorilT is the whole work likely to De accomplish ,̂ it j will be necessary, also, to appropriate an amount sufficient for the maintenance of what- ! ever number of patients the hoipittl will ao- f commodate, uutil the time <tf meeting ft ti*e Yon will find in tb« reports of the 1 for the insane some suggestions as to changes in the law for tip attmnitnusii of to tha hjiB'jilii, and also, salol sepamgqm,<* fltCarfnifrOfKHa ttta inal insane, whieh are important and bunau m , ceive consideration at your hands. Tne ques- tion of the hreM*ner>t of inssite oonvidfe is discussed in tiw o£ the Jutoi iwniw tertiary. CAWAT* , ' THa A# fKo i wwtj/muvu UJ UiO icuu; ...» perintendent and Chief Engineer, and e verytl ling needed for a full knowledge of their affairs. Phe expenses of administration art<T maintenance, with the necessary renewals of permanent structures, will continue to use tha entire income of the canal. * The Illinois and Michigan canal has oontribl^l 1 uted largely to the growth and development of „ the State, and it is still of vital importance thai it l» kept in such condition as will insure itftt * highest usefulness. Much remains to be don% „ . to carry out the original plans of the system oa * water communication between the laKes andth* Mississippi river. The Legislature «lwwH sent the subject in the strongest mtmuw to' representatives in Congress, so air to far upon them their duty to secure from the - oral Government further aid for this work. . Situated as we are, dependent upon distaiv' countries for a market for the bulky prodoo% of our soil, our people are especially interested! in all matters affecting transportation. The wilir ' ter routes by tho lakes and the Mississippi tfcwffV,, are of equal importance to them. We must do all we can to maintain and improve the conned* ing portion of the route which lies within outei if own territory. We are aleo equally interested, in file improvement of the lower* Mi!^>i--<«p;'t' river. Our growing trade with Central -t South American States should be fostered ia , t every legitimate way, and the shortest and moat " direct trade routes should be developed for tfatnil transportation of our products, ana of thnsft which we receive in return. _ ^ APPELLATE COURT. . Tht; fudges of the Appellate Court foi . First district have made a report, which will he * placed before you. There was no appropri^iK/ 'f tion made by the last Legislature for the ex» pencesof their court. They have rented rooiM and bought necessary supplies, aud thtifc i!£> currod indebtedness, "for the payment of whicfltp > I recommend that an immediate appropriation be made. I call y..ur attention to the remarks of the judges about a library for their use, for r which provision should be made. p ; COMMISSION OF CIAIMK The Auditor has, in pursuance of law, ttK# eluded in his biennial report a detailed smw^V f' ment of al! awards made by the Commission of Claims, at their session in August, 1878, and I1 5 recommend an appropriation for the patmefli . of tho claims allowed^ which amount in f*®" * aggregate, to $080.98. LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS MONUMENTS. The last General Assembly passed an ut making an appropriation of $i7,000 for thH-'; completion of the Lincoln monument Tb#'" * amount appropriated was drawn from tip treasury, and, as will appear from the report a®, the Monument Association, a portion of tip.: fund was paid out for work done, aud the bat? w ance is bearing interest and well secured, to lip*- paid as the artist progresses with the additions#' • croups of statuary on whieh he ia sow engages,-"! It is expected that by the time of the meetinj|" • , of the next General Assembly the Lincoln mon­ ument will be completed without further colt-.,/ to tbe Htatcv . . Tl" same General Assembly passed another , . - act appropriating $50,000 for the completion of - the Douglas monument at Chicago, and named; <" nine Commissioners to take charge of the work"' The Commissioners named in the act we<^ among the most eminent men in the State,iwhg^ were friends of the deceased statesman. Tb have made R minute report of the work rmtl il cost, which shows that when tho figures which the artists are now engaged are finish the monument will be substantially complete! exoept the bas-reliefs which are a part the original design. The Commissioners esti­ mate that $0,000 m addition to the sum now on hand will lw i-equired to finish the monument in all its parts, and provide ineaus for takiiig care of it for the next two years. I respectfully1 recommend that this sum )x< appropriated. ': The services rendered by Lincoln and Dough las to Illinois and the nation, the honor aim fame conferred upon their adopted State bjr these patriots and statesmen, and the love which the people of our State cherish thmr names anil memories, render it unnecessary for me to do more than suggest the propriety of makiigg. such appropriations as will complete these mon­ uments. and provide means for fx king care at. them for the years to come. - f ESTIMATES. •„ . . The constitution makes -it^the duty of ttjlf • ^ Governor, in his message to tne Legislature, to '* " present estimates of the amount required to be raised by taxation for all purposes." h obedience to* the constitutional requirement, I submit tho following estimates*, for the tv(n •># vears ensuing, the details of which, though najt liere given, have received iny oareiui consider-' • v ataon • i ^ f*., ESTIMATES OF THE AMOUMT OF XOHKT TO AT RAISED BY TAXATION FOB THK NEXT W» ' ^ TEARS FOB GENERAL STATE PURPOSES*. III Expenses of the several departments not enumerate. ; > ed below-- -'Wv Legislative .,„w.... Executive Judicial............. 3 • 1,000 897.00(1 ....... 527.000 Expenses of State charitable institutions, aod to construct Eastern Asylum for the Insaue Expenses of UnivertutieR.. To construct Southern prislh, and to pajr expenses of both prisonH For conveying convicts, and aixesttng fu­ gitives IllinoiH National Guard.....;.. ' Deficiencies-- ; v: •.. i Military 81,000 MiiKwttaiMXNia 49,UK) $1,148,0» mjn 122.000 •«,««, m .-t\ For State school purposes-- One million dollars |«»r annum $S,OOQ.OOt'! f Tbe duty of providing "for all the approprir ? ations necessary for the ordinary and oontingenl expenses of the Government until the expiri- ! • toon of the first fiscal quarter after the adjourn- ment of the next regular session," as well at of determining what appropriations aM necessary, devolves upon the legislative de­ partment of the Government The estimate by the Governor merely serves as a basis upon which to begin the work of legislation. I may, however, without impropriety, call your atten­ tion to that clause of the constitution which declares that the amount of appropriation* shall not " exceed the amount of revenue au­ thorized by law to he raised," and suggest tbe importance of the task of adjusting the relation between income and expenditure, and of limit­ ing the sum total to a reasonable and proper figure. The expenses of a great State Government like that of Illinois are necessarily great, even with the utmost economy in appropriations and expenditures. They are not large, however, in. ? proportion either to our population or to out resources. The tax for State purposes is hard* •• ly felt by the people; our expenses are light in, , t comparison with tlie cost of other Government* of S ates of equal population with our owns " but, as the State grows, the cost of Government .•« grows also, and in many respects the comple* relations of denser populations increase expense in a more rapid ratio. In all that pertain^ to the construction of buildings, and, in a leM degree, in all the expenses of running the StaM institutions, the purchasing power of money ta *V .AS;."/' m&i jt v { 1 1 - . ' • i only . . to care for and support our State institutioun, with their number aud capacity alike largely ^ ^ augmented, without any very considerable ' ' crease in the aggregate of taxation. -< <« * Relying upon the patriotic zeal which yog , bring to the discharge of your duties, I low for a result from your labors which will tpp dound to the welfare aud honor of the Sute. . S. M. CULLOM, Governor. m Executive Owe*. Jan. 8. lfflt. . >£'j -- • I " ' . J..'v A DECISION has just been renders® ,. in St Louis that the city cannot la# held responsible for damages whent*., person is run over by fire eompaaifp j while hastily answering an alarm. THK House Committee on Pensiopk ' have decided not to consider any mo$» pension cases this Congress. VICTOR HUGO is sitting for aportnife <• for the firM time in thirty-six yeara.