Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-16

TO the treasury.
consider it to be my duty to direct
your attention TO the propriety of estab
fishing the office of Attorney General.
as such an Office is becoming absolutely
necessary to protect the interests of the
Stale in the collection of its reyenue,and
in the prosecution and defence of suits
in which i, is Immediately interested
The sums which have been paid for SER
vices, added to the losses which have
been sustained from the want of legal
skill in cases where the State has been
party, would,in all probability ,have more
than paid the salary of such an officer.
His services would also be valuable to
the various executive officers. Such an
appointment would be justified on the
ground of economy as we'll as necessity.
At the last session of the General AS
sembly, proposition was made to estab-
lish State Land Office for the super
vision and sale of lands which have been
or might be granted to the State. AL
though the proposition was not then fa-
vorably considered, yet it is manifest to
my mind that such an Office ought to be
established, under regulations thai will
prevent Inconvenience in the sale of lands
and al the same time secure an unques-
tionable tile to the purchaser. Without
such an office | am unable to see how
the swamp and other lands of the State
can be prudently and properly managed.
And unless our present system should
be reformed much confusion and trouble
will be the result.
Ii is with much satisfaction that in
vite your attention to the affairs of the
Penitentiary of this State, and to the re-
ports OF the proper officers. The law
passed at the last session of the General
Assembly for the government of this in
stitulion. and the rules and regulations
adopted under il have had most happy
effect in establishing discipline and good
order in all its departments. The duties
Of each officer have been specially as
signed. All accounts and proceedings
are required to be kept of record, so lha,
full understanding and settlement of all
its affairs might be had at any time with
out Inconvenience.
Being authorized by an act Of the
General Assembly "to take The proper
means TO cause TO be investigated the IT,
tie by which the State holds the grounds
upon which the Penitentiary stands" |
appointed Curtis Bates Esq Ito make the
examination, whose report is herewith
transmitted; by which it will be seen
that the title TO the State has been per-
tected. and the deed therefor recorded
and filed in the proper office. also.
under Joint Resolution, approved Feb
ruary 4'h. 1851. appointed the same
gentleman "s Commissioner "to settle
with all persons having claims or unset
tied accounts with the Penitentiary, in
cluding those of John w. Cohick, the
books of A. H. Haskell. late Superin.
tendent, and of John Scott, his success
sor: and who, after CAREFUL examina-
,ion, made final adjustment of the
claims presented, as will appear by his
report which was fled in the Auditors
office, with the exception of the account
against Cohlck, upon which suit has
been ordered to be commenced in favor
of the State in the District Court of
Johnson county. The reports herewith
submitted show the present condition of
the Penitentiary, and suggest such chan
ges in the law regulating the same as
the officers have found to be expedient.-
OF the $4,000 appropriated by the last
General Assembly. $S,736 Sc has been
expended upon the buildings and tree
hold improvements, and $IS6 O4 for ap.
pendages 1862 80 for officers services
in part, and SITS 90 for ra,ions, leaving
5000 81 balance on hand. An omission
to provide for paying officers and an in
ability TO procure rations by contract,
created necessity for an appropriation
OF this fund in part to these purposes. -
And ! would recommend these points,
with the suggestions of the officers to
your early attention, to make such pro-
vision and change as would be proper
Some further appropriations are also
asked for to pay the present indebted.
ness. and further enlarge the capacity of
the prison, by the completion of addition
al cells and otherwise. Under the able
and highly satisfactory management of
this institution, in the hands of its off
GERS, it is fully meeting the purposes Of
its establishment, and | would recon-
mend all its interests to your favorable
consideration.
By joint resolution approved Janua.
ry 18th lS49, the Treasurer of State
was authrised to procure a finely
wrought sword, with proper inscriptions,
to be presented by the Governor to
Capt. Benjamin $. Roberts. of the Rifle
Regiment, as memenio Of the pride of
his fellow citizens of this State for his
patriotism and deeds Of valor performed
by him in the war with Mexico. Capt.
Roberts not finding it convenient to
visit this State to enable my predecessor
or myself to make such presentation in
person. | therefore forwarded il 10
Washington City where under my in
structions II WAS presented in an appro-
pirate manner by Hon. A. g. Dodge, in
behalf of the State. In connection with
this subject | may say that while we
have justly remembered the living. we
hay Al .k a.