The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-04-01
arHE CODE OF IoWA.n

/
plant and Indignation manifested by The
people, in regard 10 ths.new CODE
These complaints we think are wei
founded, in great many instances. i
fact we are surprised, that, as learned rner
in the Law as Judge Mason, Gov. Hemp
stead, and MIR. Woodward should commit
such glaring blunders, and to pass it upon
the legislature, and upon the people,, code
so lily adapted to the wants and circum
stances of the people of this State. The
whole code appears, more in the nature
Of an essay, than positive law, command
ing what is right and prohibiting what is
wrong"
We have time and space 10 day, to point
out but very few Of the many objectiona
provisions Of the "Code." Ii appears tc
have been the end and aim Of the Commits
sioners and the legislature, to provide well
ior the County officers and the State Prin
ter; their rights and interests are well cared
for, and this too in disregard to the people
For instance, all fees, collected by the
County Judge, Clerk ofth District Court
and Recorder is considered as SO lnucf
money paid into the County Treasury, and
must be paid in moDey in advance; this
money these officers are allowed to divide
among themselves in disregard to the rights
Of other creditors OF the County. If the
County owes me for any services | get an
order on the county Treasurer, for the a.
mount which may not be paid in two OF
three wears. On the other hand if owe
the County anything in the shape of fees
for services rendered by these officers,
must pay the cash in advance.
What aIockery Of justice and equity be-
tween debtor and creditor and between an
office helder and q common man!
Then there is the revenue law, which
would puzzle all the Judges Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, to tell what the
law means, whether the owner is bound ic
| fix the value, on part or all of bis person
al property, and by what means the asses
sor can come at the value Of the balance
And the absurdily Of the law, in paying
the assessor two dollars per day in travel
| ing over the county TO notify the tax pay
ers, TO make out a list Of their property,
then paving him the snme sum, for going
after these lists, which although the prop
erty holders are required to return these
lists to the assessor by the Goth of March
vet they are not bound to do it without they
please, and there is no penalty for not do,
| ing it.
The law creating The Office of count,
Supervisor, and The provisions defining his
duties is in our humble opinion the worst
law, in respect to public bighw way, that, any
State in the Union is cursed or blessed
with, il creates an enormous expense te
the counties without corresponding ad
vsntnge or benefit, either to The roads ol
to the people. The manner Of laying out
and establishing roads is also very loose
and imperfect, and shows that the Com
missioners, and the legislature, either die
not know any thing about the practice Of
such law; or that, they were careless and
Indifferent and passed the law, without
giving the subject the consideration it re-
quired.
/ There are great MANY other things IN
the code TO which we should like to call the
attention of the people, but we have moi
the time to-day, we may refer TO the sub
| ject hereafter and we shall endoavor te
crticise the '!Code" impartialy.
The people have the power in their own
hands, and if they do not attend to electing
the right kind of men to the legislature in
order TO revise this superine Democratic
Code Of some of its worst provisions, the
fault will be with themselyes.-Io,ra Obs