The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-01-13
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Delivered, January 5ih, lSiS.

and House Of Representatives.:
The ninth section oi the filth article of
the constitution ol this State, provides that
the Executive '.may on extraordinary On.
casions, convene the General Assembly by
proclamation, and shall tate ~ both hou-
ses when assembled, the purpose fur which
they shall have been convened" Believing
that tho interests and welfare Of the State
called for tue exercise of the power thus
conferred upon the Executive. issued my
proclamation converting the General As
sembly al Iowa City, on the first Monday
in january, 1918. You have assembled
in obedience 10 that proclamation, and I
now proceed to state, as conciscly as posi-
BILE, the ''purposc" fur which you have
been convened.
Our laws relative To Common Schools, in
my Judgment, call for Your immediate and
careful attention. The people OF Iowa have
ever manifested an earnest aud commend
able zeal in the spread Of education, and es-
pccially in the establishment Of an efficient
and permanent system Of Common Schools.
OF such prominent importance is this SUBJ
ject in their estimation, that they have
made the most ample prov isons in the con-
siilution fur the spread Of education mud tho
support Of common schools; aud also, en-.
joined upon the General Assembly, in an
imperative manner, the duty Of carrying
OH. thosc provisions.
The net ofthc General Assembly npprov-
cd, Feb. 9th, 1917, entitled San act sup
Elemental and amcndatory 10 IAN net 10
establish common Schools approved Jan.
10Th, $780, provides '.,hat there shall be
annually an election on the first Tuesday
Of April, in each school district, for the pur-
pose Of choosing three directors, who shalt
hold their Office until their SUCCESSORS nre
elected" that sat each annual township
election there shall he a school inspector
elected, who shall hold bis office for one
year, and until his successor shall be cleo
ted;" that s.at the next annual township
election, md trienna!ly thereafter, there
shall he a superintendent 81 public instruc-
ton elected, who shall hold his office for
three years, and until his successor shall
be duly elected and qualiticd;" and that
''at the next annual township election,
in every organized county ia this State
there shall be elected school fund com.
missioner for the county, who shall hold
his Office for two years. and until his sue
ccssor is elected aud qualified" Soon
after its approval, and previous to the
last township elections, the law was pub
lished in several OF tho newspapers Of tho
State. Surprising the law to have taken
effect and to be 10 force, tho people, on tho
first Tuesday of April last past, aud ut tho
last to ynshp election. elected the officers
above enumerated. The highest judicial
tribunal Of tho State Inns since decided, that
nj the time those elections were held, tho
school law Of 1917 was not in force, aud
that the elections, so far as their offices
were concerned. were void and Of no effect.
As ii is understood that the law is nov
in force, and rs il expressly repeats all
school laws heretofore in force, il seems tho
people, n, the present time, have q school
law, bni no officers to carry out the provis-
ions Of that law
Some Of the school officers thus elected,
have entered iuto bonds, and have cndcav-
orcd todischarge their duties under the law,
and, among others, tho superintendent Of
public instruction. Some Of them, howev.
or, remain inactive and uncertain us 10 the
line olconduct they ought TO pursue. To
be titus situated is extremely embarrassing
and detrimental ID the cause Oc education.
The school law OF lSl7 would, probably.
be so construed as 10 authorize the election
Of school officers at the coming township
elections; but rs much confusion nndonbt-
eddy prevails in the minds of the people
touching their duty under tho law, respect
fully recommend that this subject receive
your earliest and most earnest attention.
md that such measures lie taken rs will
secure 10 the people, a. speedily as possible.
the benefit OF the liberal provisions made in
the constitution for the spread Of education
and the support ot common schools.
In connexion with the foregoing. would
respectfully invite your attention 10 nm
net otlhe General Assembly approved Feb.
25lh, 1917, entitled IAN net to provide
tor tho management aud disposition of the
school fund.-" The eighth section of this
OF this net provides, .That the manner &c
selecting the five (hundred) thousand acres
Of land mentioned ia the second section oc
the tenth article Of The constitution, and the
disposition thereof, for the supper. IL schools
shall be as follows, to-wii: Any person
capable Of contracting, having settled upon
public lands, the quality whereof, and tho
impros cmenls thereon, will, in the opinion
Of tue fund commissioner OF the county,
render the selection safe aud profitable
one, may in writing signify to said co,nmis-
sioner his or her desire to have the sumo
recognized rs school lands, and therupon
The same, not exceeding three hundred and
twenty acres, shall be returned BY said fund
commissioner, with the date Of their selsc.