commodate, and in some case§ we have had to double up and put more in a cell than it would accommodate. That was not our fault. The Joliet penitentiary of Illinois, is one of the best managed Institutions in its line in the country, so much so that the United States authorities send their prisoners to that prison. Its cells are 7X7x4 and our cells are 7x7x3-J. The discipline has been very lax. It is much less severe than that in the Joliet penitentary. The result of that was, that the convicts became uncontrollable and unmanageable, and they have had to inflict some punishment.

Mr. Anderson: It is the system that I am against. I never blamed your father.

The report of the State Institutions of Wisconsin was filed without reading.

REPORT FOR WISCONSIN.

BY LEWIS A. PROCTOR, OF THE STATE BOARD OF SUPERVISION OF WISCONSIN CHARITABLE, REFORMATORY AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.

It is probably known to many members of this conference that the legislature of Wisconsin, two years ago last winter, made a radical change in the method of controling the state charitable, reformatory and penal institutions; but, for the information of those not familiar with the nature of this change, I will say that up to the time mentioned the state institutions were each managed by a local unpaid board of trustees appointed by the governor: The change made by the legislature consisted in abolishing all of these boards and providing for the appointment of one paid board to take their places, the members to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, and to devote their time exclusively to the work delegated to them. This board is allowed a clerk and given an office in the capitol in which it is required to hold at least one meeting each month, the remainder of the time being devoted to visiting the institutions under its charge, inspecting their condition and needs^ and inquiring into their business affairs, the service and executive methods of their officers and giving such advice and direction as circumstances seem to demand. The board is also made a commission of lunacy, with power to investigate the question of the insanity of any person confined in or committed to any lunatic asylum or hospital in the state,v whether public or private, and to take measures for the discharge of any person confined in any such institution who may not be deemed insane. It is further empowered to investigate any and all complaints against the management of the institutions under its charge, to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, send for books and papers and perform the functions usual to committees of investigation. It is further endowed with judicial functions for the hearing and deciding of cases where counties claim to have been improperly charged with the maintenance of insane persons. The board appoints all the principal officers of the institutions, and has the power of confirmation or rejection of nominations for the minor positions made by the superintendents. It also dictates the salaries, but under a certain maximum regarding those of superintendents.

With such ample powers the board entered upon its responsible duties in June, 1881, and has since devoted itself thereto, with the primary purpose in all its official acts to reduce the cost of the Institutions, &nd at the same time to promote their efficiency in the accomplishment of the benevolent purposes which dictated their establishment. In this purpose the board has met with a marked degree of success. The actual net cost of the six State Institutions for the fiscal year ending with September, 1882, including the salaries and all expenses of the board, was less per capita than under the old system, while there was a positive improvement in the condition of the Institutions. It is anticipated that the statistics for the current fiscal year will show a similar result as compared with last year, although it will not be so marked, as the work of. cutting down expenditures was last year brought well down toward the lowest point.

The average population and total per capita cost of the several Institutions under the charge of the Board for the year ending with September, 1882, were as follows:

The familiarity with what are the absolute needs of these institutions which the members of the board have obtained through frequent visitation, renders possible an intelligent discrimination in making the monthly estimates of expenditures necessary, in each institution which, by law, must precede all purchases by the stewards. The accounts of each institution are systematically kept by the steward or under his direction, while the secretary of the board keeps a full and complete set of books, showing the business affairs of all the institutions, thus placing at the hands of the board the means of ascertaining at any and at all times their exact financial condition, and forming a check to the tendency to exceed appropriations so common in the history of public institutions, and an efficient guard against errors and frauds in business management.

Regarding the treatment of the insane I feel warranted in reporting what the board regards as progress in the direction marked out by the best authorities upon'that subject There is less of physical restraint, more of work and out-door exercise. Reports are required of the Superintendents, showing the name,,age, social condition and nature of the insanity of all those admitted, discharged, and dead for the month, also the number in restraint, the kind and cause thereof and the changes in the corps of employes. These reports form a very fair summary of the operations of the Hospitals. Notwithstanding that a considerable number of the chronic insane have been transferred to county asylums, the population of the Hospitals has materially increased during the year, being at present 478 in the Hospital near Madison, and 607 in that near Oshkosh. In the latter the males outnumber the females by 47 and a similar difference between the numbers of the two sexes prevails in the other Hospital. The capacity of the two existing buildings will probably be reached within a year; and the proposition to erect a third building has been quite generally discussed, bills providing therefor having been introduced into the last two legislatures, and strongly advocated therein, the matter having been commended by Gov. Kusk. The amount appropriated for current expenses, including repairs, for the two Hospitals was $139,000.

The number of inmates in the Industrial School for Boys is less than last year, being 275. This is owing principally to the fact that the board has deemed it best for the boys to shorten somewhat the average duration of their retention in the school. In cases where a good record in the school has been ihaintained and the stay there has exceeded two years, the boys have been released on ticket, provided they had a reasonably good home; or, in the absence of that, they have been found homes with worthy families, principally among the farming communities. Some of the boys so released have had to be returned for bad conduct, but the great majority have fulfilled the promise of good conduct at their release; and but a small per cent, have entered the criminal classes. The problem of what is the best method for reforming this class of boys, many of whom have been most unfortunate in their early home associations is one which the board has by no means solved satisfactorily to itself. As in the case of prison convicts, there is infinite room for speculation, experiment and benevolence ere perfect reformatory methods are reached. Half of the time of the boys is devoted to school exercises, and the other half to work, the industries being the manufacture of boots and shoes, the knitting of socks and mittens, making the clothing for the boys, and farming, besides chore work in the buildings, work in the engine room, the laundry and the bakery. The work upon the farm and garden is the favorite employment of the boys, and the majority of those for whom places have to be found desire to be sent to farmers. The ages between which boys may be committed to the school are ten and sixteen, and the limit of their retention is eighteen. The amount of the appropriation for current expenses, including as in the case of the other institutions, repairs, is $40,000.

The number of pupils in the Institution for the education of the Deaf and Dumb has materially increased, being at this time 202, with an anticipated early addition of ten or twelve. The course of instruction embraces the common branches of study with the recent addition' of elementary drawing for which some of the pupils show a decided aptness, and in other respects an effort has been made to enlarge the usefulness of the institution. The industrial part of the education here conducted embraces printing, shoe-making, baking and carpentery for the boys, and sewing and housework for the girls. The appropriation for this year is $40,000 for current expenses.

The institution for the education of the Blind opened with 56 pupils, with the prospect of a dozen more at an early day. There are probably as many more in the State of proper age for entering this institution, but whom, on account of the timidity or ignorance of the institution of parents, it has been found difficult to reach. The comparatively small number of pupils in this insti* tution has contributed to keep up the per capita cost. The course of instruction is quite comprehensive and the work thorough and practical in rendering a naturally dependent class in a large measure self-sustaining and independent. The industries are carpet weaving and caning. The appropriation is $18,000.

The State Prison contains 354 convicts, an increase over last year. The number of women is but seven or eight, and has never at any one time exceeded fifteen,, and the average has been a fraction short of ten. The number of life convicts is some 45. The labor of the

Erisoners is let to a company for the manufacture of oots and shoes at fifty cents per day. The proceeds from the labor of the convicts last year fell $16,428 short of paying the cost of the prison, and this year will fall short some ten to twelve thousand dollars, the appropriation being $15,000. The prison is in good condition, and the moral and educational wants of the prisoners properly looked after, there being two chaplains employed, one Protestant and one Catholic, the former of whom devotes his time exclusively to his duties, conducting religious service and a school on the Sabbath, and during the week mingling with the men, conversing with and advising them, and encouraging , them to good conduct in the prison and to a better course of life. There is a law under which convicts may, by good conduct shorten the time of their incarceration; it provides for a diminution bf one month for the first year, two months for the second, three months for the third,