Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1856-12-13

Expenditures and liabili-
ties for all purposes,
from oath March, 1855,
TO 30th Sept, 1856. 1890 AZ
Stock on hand Sept 30,
1856, l,lO3 IL
- lS,43 l9
Excess of Expenditures -
and Liabilities during
this period, 1896 "a
A geological survey of the State has been
completed by Prof. JAMES HALL, of Albany
N. ", and Prot. j. ID. WHITNEY, of Massachu-
sets, who will soon transmit their report.
He advises the organization of the State Uni
versity, the fund devoted to that purpose amount
ing to nearly 5000, 600.
The commissioners to revise the School Laws
will report in a few days. The commissioner
are Hon. HORACE MANN, of Ohio, Hon. AMOS
DEAN. President of the State University, and F.
Z. BIssEL, Esq, of Dubuque.
In reference to a Registry Law, the Governor
says:
Almost every person residing in any of the
large towns in the State, acknowledge the i'm
pemtive necessity for some law to protect the
purity of the Ballet Box. That gross frauds are
perpctrated ut every exciting election, by the
voting md double voting of unqualified per-
sons, is not to be denied. Tormedy this great
and constantly increasing evil, the passage of a
registry law is resi- ectfully recommended. Such
laws have been in operation in several States
from a period long anterior to the adoption of
the Federal Constitution, and have fully an
swered their design.
Upon the subject of County Indebtedness he
uses the following language:
The Constitution wisely provides that the
State shall not in any manner create a debt ex-
ceeding one hundred thousand dollars.
The trainers Of that instrument did not i'm
agine that there was as great necessity to pro-
hibit the counties from creating large public
debts, for the reason that the history of the coun-
try did not then present the ease of a county
becoming a large stakeholder in private corpo-
%rations.
Within the past few years, however, so great
has been the anxiety to procure the construction
Of works of internal improvement, that many
counties and cities in this State have adopted
the very doubtful policy of creating large mu
nicipal debts, for the purpose of becoming stock
holders in railroads and other private corpora
tons. The amount of municipal Indebtedness
already voted by the different cities and coun-
ties, exceeds seven millions of dollars.
Without stopping to enquire into the author
ity under which the loans have heretofore been
voted, it seems to me that prudence and sound
policy requires that some check be imposed up
on the future exercise of this power to create
public Indebtedness. 1t is true that many in
vestments made by the counties and cities may
result profitably to the stockholders but it is
equally true that many will prove disastrous, as
some have already done.
Municipal corporations are designed for local
and limited purposes, and it is O perversion OF
their organization when they are embarked in in.
ternal improvement beyond their jurisdiction
Nor is that an equitable principle, which allows
the people of one portion Of the country to fas-
ten an Indebtedness upon a emote portion OF
the country, for other than legitimate county
purposes. Equally unjust is it to allow the
property Of one man to be heavily burdened by
taxation, imposed by the vote Of another man,
who is without property, without u household,
and who sustains none of the burdens of gov
eminent. There is a manifest propriety in al
lowing every man the right of suffrage, under
ordinary circumstances. 1t is proper that ev-
cry man should have the privilege to join in the
selection of his own lawmakers, and his own
executioners, but there is not the same proprie.
ty i'm allowing to every man the privilege Of cre-
atipg AZ indehtedn ness for othere to pay.
safeguards cannot be thrown around this pow.
Ell, if such power exists at all, of creating mu-
nicipal Indebtedness for purposes of internal
improvements. 1t is a dangerous power, and
liable to the grossest abuse.