priation. Believing these expenditures to have been necessary and reasonable, I recommend that you make an appropriation sufficient to cancel this indebtedness.

On the 30th of November, 1876, there were seventeen pupils in attendance.

The management of the institution seems to have been in all respects satisfactory.

DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE.

This institution was opened in the city of Omaha for this unfortunate class in April, 1869. During the first year there were in attendance twelve pupils. Since that time there has been a gradual increase. The number connected with the school during the last two years was fifty-three.

The legislature in 1875 appropriated $31,700.00 for the payment of the teachers and other expenses of the institute, and also appropriated $15,000.00 for a new building, making a total of $46,700.00. Of this amount there has been expended $39,394.13, leaving an unexpended balance November 30th, 1876, of $7,345.86.

The new building authorized by the legislature is now approaching completion, at a cost, including heating, and other necessary fixtures, of $14,495.00.

For information as to the good management of the institute and its successful operation, I would refer you to the reports of the directors and principal.

HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

On the first day of March, 1875, Dr. D. W. Scott, superintendent of the hospital for the insane, resigned, and Dr. F. G. Fuller was appointed to fill the vacancy, and has had charge since that time.

The management of the hospital has been highly commendable, and the success most gratifying.

There is no class more deserving of our sympathy than the insane, and neither care nor treatment for their benefit should be withheld from them.

At the last regular session of the legislature an appropriation of $35,000 was made for the erection of a south wing to the main building. The trustees of the hospital were authorized to superintend its construction. It has been completed in a substantial and workmanlike manner, and furnished, within the amount approprited; and has been occupied by patients during the past year.

The constant increase of this unfortunate class demands more room, and further improvements for their convenience and comfort. I would refer you to the reports of the trustees and superintendent of the institution, herewith submitted, for their recommendations in this respect.

The legislature at its last regular session appropriated $60,000 for the care and maintenance of the insane. This appropriation was made February 23d, 1875, and the expenses of the hospital for December, 1874, and January, 1875, amounting to $4,761.17, were drawn from the balance left from the appropriations of 1873 and 1874. For the maintenance of the hospital during the two fiscal years ending November 30th, 1876, there has been expended $60,746.69, and the amount remaining unexpended in the state treasury to its credit at that date was $4,014.48.

As prescribed by law, there has been $26,962.99 charged to the counties having patients in the hospital during the two years past. The larger part of this amount has already been paid into the state treasury.

The total number of inmates in the hospital November 30th, 1874, was forty-six ; admitted during the years 1875 and 1876, one hundred and eighteen; total number under treatment for the past two years, one hundred and sixty-four; number recovered during the same period, fifty; improved, nine; unimproved, six; escaped, one; died, five; remaining under treatment November 30th, 1876, ninety-three.

The daily average of patients for the year 1875 was fifty-four and one-half, and for 1876 was eighty-one. The weekly cost per patient for the year 1875 was $10.33, and for 1876 was $7.551.

The per capita cost per week for board and clothing for patients and board for officers and employes, for the year 1875, was $2.914, and for 1876 was $2.14.

It will be observed that as the number of patients increase, the per capita cost decreases, which as a natural consequence would be the case until the full capacity of the hospital is reached.

The reports of the superintendent and steward are very full, and to them you are referred for further details concerning the government of the institution.

STATE PRISON.

The penitentiary has been completed under the contract made by the state, and is a substantial structure, well ventilated and heated, and is regarded as perfectly secure. With the addition of cells, it is of sufficient size to hold all the criminals likely to be sent there for years to come.

For a complete statement concerning its capacity and construction, you are referred to the report of the prison inspectors, herewith submitted.

The appropriation made by the legislature two years ago, for the maintenance, care and custody of the convicts, was $50,000.00. And there has been received, on account of convict labor, gate money, etc., $7,658.09, making a total of $57,658.09. The amount expended during the two years ending November 30th, 1876, was $57.658.09. The average daily cost per prisoner has been one dollar and twenty cents. The daily average of convicts in the prison, from November 30th, 1874, to November 30th, 1876, was sixtythree.

The committee appointed by the legislature at its last regular session, to examine into certain alleged abuses in the prison,—of eruel and harsh treatment by the officers in charge, at the conclu

sion of their investigation, passed a resolution referring the testimony and proceedings to me, for such action as in my judgment the care and best interests of the penitentiary demanded. On examination, I found the testimony taken by the committee consisted largely of statements made by convicts, conflicting, and doubtless exaggerated; some testifying to the most cruel and inhuman treatment, while others had no knowledge of such, but testified to good treatment, and sufficient food. One portion of the prisoners were doubtless influenced by prejudice and malice towards the officers, while others were moved with a desire to curry favor, so that in either case the testimony could not be fully credited. From the warden's testimony, however, and from personal observation, I became satisfied that the discipline was at least too severe, and that the warden's influence over the prisoners had become impaired.

Believing the proper end to be sought with the majority of prisoners is reformation, instead of severe punishment, I deemed it my duty to make a change in the warden. I therefore removed warden William Woodhurst, on the 24th of March, 1875, and appointed L. F. Wyman, of York County, as his successor. His confirmation by the senate will be requested.

The management and discipline of the prison under Mr. Wyman's wardenship has been satisfactory.

The younger class of criminals have been separated from the more vicious and hardened, and night schools during the winter have been established, with excellent results. These reforms, in connection with the "Good time act," passed at the last regular session of the legislature, giving prisoners an opportunity to shorten their term of sentence by good conduct, have been productive of much good.

There is sufficient room in the west wing of the building for a reform school, which could be conducted by the same officers, and put in operation at small expense. This would completely separate the younger criminals from the older, and furnish better opportunities for educating and reforming them.

The contract for prison labor has expired. The penitentiary being completed, some branch of industry should be established at the prison, for the purpose of utilizing the convict labor. It is absolutely essential to the good government of the prison that the inmates be kept at hard labor for a certain number of hours each day. It will be necessary for you to devise some means by which this can be done in the future.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL.

An act of congress requires each state to appoint an adjutant general, whose duty it shall be to distribute all orders from the commander-in-chief of the state to the several military organizations thereof. This office was recognized in this state by an act approved February 15th, 1869. In 1871, however, this act was repealed, and the records of the office deposited with the secretary of state.

Without a showing of an organized militia the state's apportionment of military equipments would not be issued by the general government. My predecessor, recognizing the importance of this fact and the necessity of authorizing some person to act, appointed his private secretary adjutant general.

At its last regular session, the legislature appropriated four hundred and fifty dollars per annum to the secretary of state for the care and custody of the records of the adjutant-general's office, and I thereupon appointed him adjutant-general.

Upon the taking effect of the new constitution, the question was raised whether his office and salary as adjutant-general were not, incompatible with section 24, article V, of the constitution. The supreme court decided that he was eligible to the office and entitled to the pay.

I would call your attention to his full and satisfactory report herewith submitted, and recommend that the appropriation therein requested be granted.