CIRCULAR.

The Illinois Institution for the Education of Feeole-Minded Children was organized in 1865, and has since been incorporated as one of the permanent charitable institutions of the State.

The design and object of the Institution are not of a custodial character, but to furnish the means of education to that portion of the youth of the State not provided for in any of its other educational institutions, who are of a proper school-attending age, and who shall remain such periods of time as shall, in the estimation of the Superintendent and Board of Trustees, suffice to impart all the education practicable in each particular case, and in conformity with regulations hereinafter specified.

Children between the ages of ten and eighteen who are idiotic, or so deficient in intelligence as to be incapable of being educated at any ordinary school, and who are not epileptic, insane or greatly deformed, may be admitted by the Superintendent.

The parents or guardians of those in whose behalf applications are made for admission as pupils, will be required to answer, in writing, such questions as the Superintendent may prescribe.

All pupils will be received upon trial, and will be expected to come to the Institution provided with a supply of neat and substantial clothing. A bond will be required, in all cases, with securities, accompanied by a certificate of the county clerk that the sureties are responsible, to insure the removal of the pupil, when required by the Superintendent, free of expense to the Institution, its officers or agents, and the provision of comfortable and suitable clothing or pay for such as may be furnished the pupil during its continuance in the school.

Pauper pupils must have a certificate from the county judge, that the county court or board of supervisors have passed an order that the county from which they are sent will be responsible for clothing, incidental expenses and traveling expenses incurred on account of said pupils; also, guaranteeing that said pupils shall be taken away during

the annual vacation each year, without expense to the Institution, or any of its officers or agents.

FORM OF BOND.

Know all men by these presents, That we,

and

as principal,

as security, are held and firmly bound unto

the Board of Trustees of the "Illinois Institution for the Education of Feeble-Minded Chil.... dollars, for the true payment

dren," in the penal sum of ....

whereof we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.

....

The conditions of the above obligation are such, that whereas, the said has placed in charge of the said obligees an imbecile child, for the purpose of being trained and instructed, as provided for by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, entitled "An act incorporating the Illinois Institution for the Education of Feeble-Minded Children," approved the 6th of April, 1871, and has agreed to furnish the said child with comfortable and suitable clothing, or pay for such as may be furnished during .. continuance in the school, and also to remove the said child from the Institution whenever required, without charge to the Institution or any of its officers or agents.

........

Now, if the said shall well and truly perform the conditions aforesaid, then this obligation to be void: otherwise to remain in full force and effect.

Illinois Institution for the Education of Feeble-Minded Children:

SIR: By virtue of an order of the

...

... of

18.., and in accordance

with the provisions of section 11 of "An act incorporating the Illinois Institution for the Education of Feeble-Minded Children," approved April 6th, 1871, I, ...

Judge of the County Court of..... is a resident of .....

.....

... county, do hereby certify that

county, that he is a pauper, and proper subject for the

care of said Institution, under the provisions of section 11 of said law. Therefore, ....

... county will be responsible for all necessary clothing, and

also all traveling expenses incurred in the transportation of said to or from the Institution to said county.

And it is hereby understood and agreed, that said returned to said

....

.... shall be

..... county during the annual vacation, each year, or whenever the Superintendent of said Institution shall so order, at the expense of said county, unless other arrangements be made, satisfactory to said Superin

......

tendent, at expense of said county.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, and cause the Seal of the County Court to be attached hereto, this

The education furnished by the Institution will include not only the simpler elements of instruction usually taught in common schools, where that is practicable, but will embrace a course of training in the more practical matters of every-day life, the cultivation of habits of decency, propriety, self-reliance, and the development and enlargement of a capacity for useful occupation.

There will be a vacation during the months of July and August, at which period all pupils must be removed from the Institution by their parents or guardians, if required by the Superintendent.

The combination which this Institution presents, of practical medical experience and proper physical training, with efficient educational resources, will supply, it is hoped, a want which has long been felt by the parents of the children of this unfortunate class in the State.

A large number of applications have already been made for admission. Others designing to apply should do so at once, as the accommodations of the buildings, though good, are limited. The mansion and residence of the late Governor Duncan have been secured, and are in use for the purposes of the Institution.

The location is healthy and accessible, yet retired. The surroundings are all pleasant, and as fully suited to the purposes for which they are used as could be expected in any buildings not constructed with special reference thereto.

The improvement and progress of the pupils have been very encouraging, and parents and friends in almost every instance have expressed satisfaction with what has been accomplished in the short time since the school was organized.

The Institution is open to the inspection of the public at all reasonable hours; and all are not only cordially invited, but are earnestly requested to visit the school.

It is the desire of the Trustees to ascertain accurately the number of this class of children in the State, and persons knowing the residence of feeble-minded children in Illinois, will confer a favor by writing to that effect to the undersigned, as it is desirable that reliable statistics may be gathered in order that proper legislation may be made in behalf of all of this unfortunate class of children in the State.

Application for admission, information, etc., should be directed to C. T. WILBUR, M. D., Superintendent, Illinois Institution for Feeble-Minded Children,

Jacksonville, Illinois.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR,

RETURNING TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL No. 703, WITH HIS OBJECTIONS.

STATE OF ILLINOIS,

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, SPRINGFIELD, March 19, 1872.

HON. WM. M. SMITH, Speaker of the House of Representatives: I am unable to approve and sign a bill for "An act entitled 'an act to enable cities, villages and incorporated towns to contract for a sup ply of water for public use, and to levy and collect a tax to pay for water so supplied,'" which originated in the House of Representatives. I have examined the provisions of the general incorporation law, and also the special acts incorporating many cities and towns in this State, and find that all the towns incorporated under the general law, and also those incorporated under such special laws already passed, possess the power to contract with any incorporated company or individual for a supply of water for public use.

The general authority to provide such means as may be deemed necessary "to protect such towns from fire," and other general and special provisions found in the incorporation law and in the charters of the cities of Springfield and Quincy, that are made general by the 25th section of that law, are ample to accomplish all the objects apparent upon the face of the first section of the bill, except, perhaps, that of warranting a contract to continue for thirty years.

If I am correct in this statement of the powers already possessed by the cities, towns and villages in the State under existing laws, I am led to apprehend that the peculiar language employed in the second and third sections of the bill is so general and ambiguous as to justify the apprehension that it may be employed for mischievous and dangerous purposes.

By the second section of the bill, it is proposed to authorize any city, incorporated town or village, contracting with any company for a supply of water for public use, to levy and collect a tax on all taxable