than that of public education. The policy of the State in relation to its school'system has been steadily progressive, and each decade has witnessed an important advance in this great interest. Preeminent in population and intelligence, New York has no prouder record than her educational development. Wisely enacted laws provide for the support of common, or primary schools, everywhere within reach of the humblest child, and permit local communities to establish such advanced grades of academic education, as they may desire for the more ambitious students. The best interests of the State will be promoted by placing the highest educational advantages within the reach of all who seek them. The policy of making women eligible as school officers has been adopted in several States with beneficial results, and the question is exciting much discussion in this State. Women are equally competent with men for this duty, and it cannot be doubted that their admission to representation would largely increase the efficiency of our school management. The favorable attention of the Legislature is earnestly directed to this subject. The Superintendent of Public Instruction has furnished from the statistics gathered by him, the following statement relative to the support of the common schools, and the attendance of pupils, during the year ending September 30, 1879: COMMON SCHOOLS STATISTICS. Total receipts, including balance on hand Sept. 30, 1878.... $11,293,716 40 Total expenditures. 10,323,961 90 Amount paid for teachers' wages. 7,600,392 00 Amount paid for school-houses, repairs, furniture, etc.... 1,205,687 03 Estimated value of school-houses and sites. 30,767,479 00 Number of school-houses... 11,862 Number of school districts, exclusive of cities... 11,280 Number of teachers employed for the legal term of school..... 20,295 Number of teachers employed during any portion of the year.... Number of children attending public schools.. STATE PRISONS. Under the operation of the recent amendment to the Constitution, the State prisons have been nearly self-supporting the past year. Gratifying as this may appear in a general view, it has been 30,669 1,030,041 5,385 114,460 755,380 1,628,727 accomplished at some detriment to certain mechanical interests with which prison manufactures have come in direct competition. Many intelligent and industrious mechanics represent that great hardship proceeds from this cause. While it is desirable that the prisons should be as little burdensome as possible, care should be taken to avoid all unnecessary interference with industrial interests. The earnings and expenditures of the several prisons of the State for the year ending September 30, 1879, are shown in the follow. ing exhibit: There are doing business in this State 178 fire insurance companies, classified as follows: New York, 89; other States, 68; Foreign, 21; having, in total assets, $139,093,601; liabilities, including capital stock, $98,558,223; net surplus, $40,535,377. While these companies present this financial showing, there is much cause for solicitude in the fact that the losses and expenditures during the last six months exceed the gross earnings by $4,361,188; also that the previous surplus has been diminished by $3,051,051; and of the eighty-three New York companies only ten have kept up their surplus. Such facts strongly indicate that the companies are either insuring at too low rates, or they are conducting business in an expensive and hazardous manner. Of the 3,693 fires which occurred in the United States in 1878, involving losses amounting to $19,000,000, more than 2,000, with an aggregate loss of $11,000,000, were of incendiary or undiscovered origin. In view thereof, it is worthy of consideration whether additional legislation is not required to suppress the crime of incendiarism. There are at present fifteen life insurance companies organized and doing business under the laws of this State, with aggregate assets of $206,552,630; liabilities, $174,793,338; surplus to policyholders, $31,759,292; and nineteen other State companies with assets of $197,526,513; liabilities, $164,792,287; surplus, $32,734,226. Seventeen marine insurance companies are also in operation (eight of which are organized under the laws of New York), with assets amounting to $21,000,000, and a net surplus of $2,700,000. The laws of 1853 require Foreign fire and life insurance companies to deposit securities in the Insurance Department of the State; but as no such requirement is made of marine companies, the question arises for the Legislature to determine whether or not there is substantial reason for any exception in their case. BANKS. On the 1st of October last, seventy-three banks of discount and deposit were doing business under the laws of the State, with an aggregate capital of $19,353,200. The number of savings banks reporting July 1, 1879, was one hundred and thirty-one, of which twelve were closing and not receiving new deposits. Number of depositors. $341,368,686 304,692,339 36,326,929 827,852 The increase in the several items for the last preceding six The improvement thus shown in the condition of the savings banks is encouraging, as contrasted with the frequent disasters of the past few years. The reduced income from investments renders economy of management the more important. That such economy is feasible, is evident from the fact, that while each depositor's account in the savings banks of this State costs for management $1.63, the same service in Connecticut and New Hampshire is but $1.11, and in Massachusetts only 89 cents. There were on July 1, eight Trust companies with an Assets. aggregate capital of.. $6,851,875 66,240,568 NATIONAL GUARD. The National Guard is represented as being in excellent condition, both in general composition and equipment. The discipline of the organization has been for several years steadily improving, and whenever its services have been required it has never failed promptly and cheerfully to perform efficient duty. Happily no necessity has arisen during the past year for active service, except in a few instances where guard duty was required at executions. The organization consists of seven divisions and thirteen brigades, embracing the several branches of service, as follows: Twentythree regiments, six battalions, and thirty-three separate companies of infantry; one regiment and eleven separate troops of cavalry; and of artillery, one battalion, nine separate light batteries, and two batteries armed with Gatling guns. In the aggregate number there are 20,280 officers and enlisted men. The Military Code of the State is composed of ancient enactments that have been amended from time to time as occasion required. Thus incumbered, it has become in many respects incongruous and impracticable. It is recommended, therefore, that a commission composed of officers of suitable rank in the National Guard be authorized to codify the military laws, and to revise the regulations accordingly. In the firm belief that an effective military force, prepared for instant duty, is a useful conservator of the public peace, the National Guard is commended to your favorable consideration. THE NEW CAPITOL. The Commissioners in charge of the erection of the New Capitol report that the total amount expended to date is $9,600,681.65. The amount standing charged to this account on the books of the Comptroller is $10,261,870.84. The difference between these two statements is assumed to be in the cost of land and other expenses incurred prior to the beginning of the construction account. Of the sum first mentioned $132,583.45 were paid for furnishing the completed portion of the building. The last appropriation of $500,000 for the continuation of the work was made not available by the terms of the act, until the Commissioners had filed a written certificate with the Secretary of State, to the effect that after examining the estimates, plans and specifications, they were satisfied the building could be completed at a further cost of $3,500,000 over and above that appropriation. This provision was complied with, and the Commissioners claim that the record of work performed during the year demonstrates the correctness of their estimates, and proves that if there shall be no considerable advance in the price of labor and materials the building can be completed for the sum stated. The Commissioners are also of opinion that the prosecution of the work to the best advantage will require appropriations of $1,500,000 for the ensuing year, and $1,000,000 for each of the two years thereafter, [SENATE JOURNAL.] 3 and that the entire building can be made ready for occupation within three years from this time. As a member of the New Capitol Commission in 1868, my most earnest endeavors were made in opposition to commencing the Capitol, in the belief that it could not be constructed within the limit of $4,000,000, as then fixed by the Legislature; but the Commission decided to proceed and the building was begun. The work has progressed under appropriations by successive Legislatures, notwithstanding the pronounced objections of the last three Executives, until it is now so far advanced that there seems to be no rational course left but to provide for its completion in the most advantageous manner possible. In this view it is suggested whether it may not be best to provide the necessary means by a loan under the twelfth section of article seven of the Constitution, by which arrangement a portion of the burden would be placed upon the future taxpayers, who will enjoy the use of this grand but costly edifice. INSANE ASYLUMS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. From statistics furnished by the State Board of Charities, there were in the several asylums and alms-houses on the 1st of October, 1879, of insane persons, as follows: Males, 3,961; females, 5,054 ; total, 9,015. There were of insane persons in all public and private institutions: November 30, 1878. November 30, 1877.... 8,771 7,921 The condition of the insane in the poor-houses of the State is pitiable in the extreme, and urgently demands attention. The last Legislature provided for the conversion of the State Inebriate Asylum, at Binghamton, into an asylum for the chronic insane. The building is now being adapted to this purpose, and will soon be ready for 300 patients. The same Legislature also made provision for additional accommodations for 250 women at the Willard Asylum. The buildings are now being erected, and will probably be available early in the coming summer. There are in this asylum about 200 female patients in excess of its proper capacity, so that the new buildings will only relieve the present crowded condition of the institution. The annual report of the State Board. of Charities will contain much valuable and interesting information in detail with reference to the unfortunate classes under their supervision, and it will doubtless receive your considerate attention. COUNTY JAILS AND POOR-HOUSES. Many of the county jails and poor-houses in the State are represented to be a disgrace to our civilization. Instead of serving their legitimate purposes they are said to appear more like nurseries of immorality, squalor and crime. Philanthropic citizens who have |