Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-12-17

iectlng the county treasures the several
measures Of retienchnent recommended
cannot fail to exercise most favorable in
Huence, if carried into effect; and in urging
them upon the attention Of the Legislature
| look not for justification 10 the example
Of other States in which similar reforms
have been gone into, but 70 the circum-
stances by which We are surrounded, and
the manifest necessity which exists Of lin
iting the public expenditures to the ability
of the people 10 meet them.
The laws in relation to the assessment of
real and personal property are believed to
be imperfect, and will demand considera-
ton at the hands of the Legislature in the
general modification of the existing reve-
nue. system which it is apprehended will
take place. 1t is objected that in practice
they operate unequa!iy and unjustly in the
want Of some rule by which uniformity may
be approximated in the valuation of pro-
perily; and these complaints are frequent
ly sustained by evidence showing them to
be we'll grounded. Although led to be-
lieve that the evils complained of are as
much owing to the selection OF incompe-
tent and improper agents TO execute the
laws as TO any inherent effectiveness OF
the system Itself, entertain the hope that
it will be in the power of the Legislature
to apply at least a partial remedy. The
receipts from the personal property tax,
with legal enaclmen!s which will enable
the assessors to make true and correct as
sess,nents, can, have reason to believe, be
materially augmented, without any increase
in the existing rates; but in the absence of
further legislative provision on the sub
ject no addition TO the revenue need be
looked for from this source, and real estate
must continue TO undue taxation Many
proper objects of taxation not intended to
be exempted, but which now escape through
the looseness of the law, might also be made
to contribute their proportlonate share to
the support of the State. The imposition
of a reasonable tax upon each suit brought
in the several district courts of the State,
TO be paid into the county or State treasur-
les, as may be deemed to be most jndicious,
is a measure which | feel myself called
upon to urge on your attention as furnish
ing legitimate and reliable source of rev.
enue.
But while by these and similar reforms
provision may be made for the support OF
the State government in future, without
any material augmentation Of the public
hurthens, we cannot be insensible TO the
pressing necessities Of the present. We
enter upon our new existence as State,
with an empty treasury, which cannot be
replenlshed before the expiration of year,
and heir to debt Of some twenty thousand
dollars. The payment of the debt il deem
ed expedient, may be postponed to a more
convenient period, but the immediate and
accruing expenses of tie government must
be met. | know of no other way in which
this can be done than by tie negotiation OF
loan, and therefore recomne that i'm
mediate steps be taken by the Legislature
towards elfectins that object. The sale Of
the State bonds, TO the am unit OF thirty
thousand dollars, would furnish suili
cheney of means to cover all actual and ne
cessary expenses up TO January, lS4S;
and twenty thousand dollars more added
would enable the State to pay off the en-
listing Territorial debt, all of which is due
10 domestic creditors. With such glaran-
tees III favor of the payment of the interest
as should accompany any law authorizing
loan, and as it will be in the power Of the
Legislature to furnish, the successful ter
minatlon of any negotiation authorized, up
on terms favorable TO the State, may be
reasonably anticipated. Free, compare
lively, from debt, with constitutional I'm
ilation upon the debt creating power; great
in all the elements of wealth, agricultural,
mineral, and commercially Iowa even at the
commencement of her career, cannot but
occupy position highly favorable TO the
establishment Of her credit; and the main
tenance of this credit, under all circum-
stances, should be chief object with those
entrusted with her affairs. Should the
Legislature coincide with me in the opin-
ion that sale of the State bonds is the
course required by true policy, it will be
necessary to authorize the appointment Of
an agent 10 conduct the negotiation; but /
mus repeat my conviction that it would
be folly to attempt sale of such bonds
INC auottioH VI SuCu COui SC VII
the part oil the State in advance as will do
away with all doubt which may exist in
the minds of capitalists as to the regular
payment OF the interest.
Under an act of Congress approved
March Sd, 1915, all the lands lying in Iowa
reserved for the use of schools are granted
to the State. 'ihe aggregate in acres OF
this grant, il the counties already estab-
lished by law, is as follows:
Acres.
Lee county (including 3,3OS
acres granted by the act of
Aug. 23d, 1912, fer the use
Of the Half Breed tract) 9,182
Van Buren, county, 8,90S
Davis do 1876
Appanoose do lO,24O
Wayne do 1920
Decatur do 1920
Des Moines do 7,349
Henry do 1850
Jefferson do 1850
Wapello do 1871
Monroe do 1850
Lucas do $500
Clarke do $500