the influence of former associations. As individuals we are frequently too prone to approve or condemn, as the law agrees or disagrees with the law in the State of our nativity or former residence. It is also by no means rare that the law failing to meet some peculiar circumstances, its general adaptation is overlooked, and it is subjected to unmerited condemnation. These complaints are so numerous that the feeling prevails that we have no established public school system, nor even settled policy of public instruction. It therefore is devolved upon you to give to the State a school system, that shall be in its operation equitable and efficient, complete in all its parts, and as a whole, harmonious.

SCHOOL BUILDING FUND.

Whether it is necessary to a perfect free school system, to provide a school building fund, which shall be distributed to all districts which shall have occasion to erect school houses, should be made a subject of careful consideration. If deemed advisable to create such a fund, it should be apportioned in equal sums which shall not exceed two-thirds or three-fourths of the minimum cost of the building of lowest grade, to be fixed by law, that shall entitle the district to the benefits of the fund. Such a fund should secure in every district a school house, that would be creditable to the State.

By the change from precinct to independent management of the schools, made by the school law passed at the May session in 1867, injustice was done in many cases. A return now to precinct taxation would in some instances increase that injustice. Under the former law the whole precinct was taxed, for the erection of the school building in each sub-district. Since the passage of the present law, new districts, the inhabitants of which had borne their share of those burdens, now, as independent districts, must, unaided, bear their own. A general fund for that purpose, would remove the evil, and under proper restrictions might became an important part of a free system.

SCHOOL REPORTS.

It is worthy of inquiry, whether all that is necessory, has been done to secure reports that are sufficiently full and explicit to furnish such complete and accurate statistics as to give a definite idea of the condition of the schools and the efficiency of the system. These reports and statistics are indispensible to intelligent legislation as well as to efficient superintendence,

GRADED SCHOOLS.

It is important that more positive encouragement for the establishment of graded schools be extended to those districts in which the number of children to be educated will make them desirable. This can be done in the dis. tribution of the school funds. Division of labor is a greater economy in teaching than in any other department of industry.

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENCE.

No school system will prove successful without constant and efficient supervision. This will be best attained by entrusting it to hands which are not at the same time burdened with other official duties. The local as well as the general superintendence of the schools and their interests, should be made independent offices. To the latter should be attached an ample salary, sufficient to secure the constant services of our best men. This want has been too long and generally felt to need discussion.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

The three thousand dollars appropriated at the May session of the last general Assembly for the completion of the Normal School Building at Peru, has been expended for that purpose. The institution is now in successful operation. I would refer you to the report made to the State Auditor by its Board of Education for more definite information, and also for such suggestions as they, in the course of its madagement, have by experience found necessary. I cannot uge too strongly upon you the necessity of full provision for successful management and efficiency in this branch of our educational system.

THE DEAF AND DUMB AND THE BLIND

Notwithstanding the provision fomnd in our statutes for the education of those unfortunate classes, one only, and that of the former class, has accepted the bounty of the State. Whether a repugnance felt by themselves and their friends to the long separation necessary in going out of the State is the cause of this, or whether it is an indication of the small number in the State who need this aid, is worthy of inquiry. Should the first be found true, it will move you to provide institutions for their benefit at home, while if the last be true, the knowledge of it will be a source of satisfaction.

STATE LIBRARY.

An appropriation should be made for the purchase of volumes to fill out the sets of law reports, parts of which we already have. This branch of the library is continually increasing, and excepting in a few cases of loss in transportation, it is for the most part kept complete in the current publications by the system of exchanges which has grown up among and is fostered by the States. The vacancies caused by these occasional losses and the inability of the States to supply, can at present in most instances be supplied at reasonable cost; but as the editions shall become exhausted. the difficulty and expense of procuring them will be greatly increased. There are many valuable and recent works on elementary law, which should be added to that branch of the library. To the miscellaneous department limited additions of standard works should be made from time to time, as the progress of art, science and literature shall make them desirable.

LAW REPORTS OF NEBRASKA.

From the different States which send to our library their own reports, there are frequently coming to us requests for the reports of Nebraska. To our mortification we are obliged to reply that no Nebraska reports have yet been published. The whole truth is that we have no effectual provision to secure them. Apparently it indicates a distrust of our own juridical ability. This should not be. With a bench occupied by talent that is recognized by all, and from which are pronounced opinions that will compare favorably with those reported in other States, effective measures should be taken to secure their publication. It would supply a want long felt by our lower courts. They frequently are embarrassed in the administration of laws, from the difficulty of ascertaining what are the decisions made in the superior courts.

THE OLD CAPITOL BUILDING

The grounds upon which the old State House stands were given by the citizens of Omaha to be used by the Territory for the erection thereon of the Capitol. In addition to this, the city gave toward the completion of the building about thirty thousand dollars in bonds, which have been redeemed. On the fourth of March next, the State will have removed from them all its movable property and have ceased to occupy them for the purpose originally designed. I recommend that they be granted to the city of Omaha to be used for a High School, on the condition that when they shall no longer be used for that purpose they shall revert to the State.

EXECUTIVE MANSION.

I am constrained to recommend the erection, within the next two years, of a suitable residence for the use of the Executive of the State. This is urged, not for the advantage of the present incumbent, but that of his successors. The present meagre salary allowed by the Constitution is quite insufficient to defray their necessary expenses. No citizen, if not blessed with wealth, who resides away from the capital, can afford to be Governor of Nebraska. Unless some remedy be provided, the Executive office will be closed to all, however able or worthy, unless they are able to make a pecuniary sacrifice.

THE INSANE.

The number of this unfortunate class for which the State, from prudential as well as benevolent motives, has undertaken to provide that superior treatment and care which exclusive attention and experience alone can give, has increased within the last two years at an unexpected rate. Within that time eleven new subjects, at an average expense of $225, have been sent to the Iowa Hospital at Mt. Pleasant. These cases of insanity have been confined to no one district or neighborhood, so that they should indicate that this fearful malady has been induced by local causes. Nemaha, Richardson, Johnson, Otoe, Lancaster, Cass, Douglas, Washington, Dodge and Platte counties have each furnished one or more. The apparent causes have also been widely different. Drunkenness, grief at the loss of property, disease, fear, and vice, have all contributed from their victims to increase the number.

The average annual expense at the hospital is two hundred and eighty dollars, making for the present number, nineteen patients, an aggregate of five thousand three hundred and fifty dollars. This, increased by the expense incurred in conveying patients to the hospital, gives a present annual expense to the State of about seven thousand one hundred and fifty dollars.

These facts suggest that the time has nearly arrived when economical considerations alone will require that these unfortunate people shall find an asylum under the control and within the borders of their own State. I commend this subject to your consideration, suggesting that provision be made for the erection, within the next two years, of a hospital for the insane.

STATE PENITENTIARY.

The construction of a penitentiary is a public necessity that long has been. admitted and felt by all good citizens. Until within a very short period such was the frequency of escape from the places of confinement that the sen

tence of imprisonment was little more than a farce. At present the State convicts are confined in overcrowded county jails. Frequently the cells are underground, badly ventilated, damp and unwholesome. The treatment of the State convicts shouldinclude their employment at such labor as would be profitable to the State. I recommend that the Legislature take such action. as may be necessary to effect the early building of the penitentiary, and that the State convicts be employed in its construction.

PARDON OF CRIMINALS.

During my official term, in thirteen instances, on the application by petition and the representation of Judges, Jurors, Prosecuting Attorneys, and many of the best citizens of the State, this extraordinary power has been exercised. In several cases it was for the purpose of restoring civil and political privileges, forfeited by their crimes, to those who had undergone nearly the full extent of their penalty. For this purpose William Seeber, J. D. Lewis, Lloyd Thomas, George Young, James Harris, James Brash, and Benjamin H. Reems, have been made subjects of Executive clemency. Once, in the case of David R. Rogers, this power has been exercised to relieve from declining health and save from premature death. In four instances that seemed to warrant it, and at the prayer of many good citizens, minor fines have been remitted. If, in any instance, the Executive has erred, it has been from no wish to interfere with the administration of justice, but he has been moved thereto by representations and earnest petitions signed by a large portion of the best citizens of the community in the midst of whom the offence was committed.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

No greater interests have been commiteed to the hands of any Legislature than to-day rest in yours. The present and future material and political importance of the State mainly depend upon wealth and population. The early or late settlement of our inviting and fruitful public lands; the speedy or slow development of almost exaustless resources; the dispersion of our growing wealth or its retention by our own people, our grasping the helm of commerce, or letting it pass from our hands, are almost wholly involved in our policy toward internal improvements.

The National Government, by generous grants of the public lands to the several States, seeks with impartial liberality, to utilize to the fullest extent, all our national resources. Such administration on the part of the States as will secure their own greatest present and future prosperity, will secure the end sought by the grant, and fulfill the tacit obligation assumed by accepting it.