The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-01-30
GOVERNOR CRIMES MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and Hous
Of Representatives..

.
| prosperity of our State. Since you were
last assembled, its population has contin-
tinued to increase, and its resources of
every character to be each day more and
more developed. The earth has yielded
liberally Of its abundance, and peace,
good order and happiness everywhere
prevail 1t becomes us to BE- dcvoutly
! thankful to that benign Providence, that
/ has blessed our beloved State with anoth-
er season Of prosperity and happiness,
and brought us to the commencement of
another official year. You are convened
under the provisions Of new organic
law. loa are expected to provide the
proper methods of carrying that law into
full effect. Your labors will exercise
potent Influence upon the future charac-
ter and prosperity Of the State That
influence will extend to a riod long af-
ter the last of you cease to be interested
in human affairs. It is not to be doubt
cd that you appreciate the just rcIponsi-
bihtics of your position. 1t is expected
that the spirit Of moderation and pru-
dencc will preside over all your dclibcra-
tions 1t is hoped that all your lcgisla-
ton will be stamped with the utmost
simplicity and singlcncss of purpose, and
that you will abstain from all measures.
which, from their doubtful tendency,
may needlcssly distract the public mind
and throw it into agitation and contro-
vcrsy
All the general laws Of the state re-
quirc some notifications to adapt them to
the provisions Of the new constitution
Several new acts of general character
will also be necessary. Special legislation
is opposed to the true theory Of a Repub-
lican government, and is the source Of
great corruption. The new constitution
iuculcatcs most strongly the duty Of gen
eral legislation, and declares that "in all
eases wher1 4 general law can be made ap-
! plicable, all laws shall be general, and of
uniform operation throughout the State "
1t is in express terms declared, ''that the
General Assembly shall not pass local or
special laws in tue following Gases
For the assessment and collection Of
taxes for state, "ouuty or road purposes:
"Ior laying oAt, opening and working
ED&A~ dbl highways.
"For changing the names Of persons:
/ "Eyr the Incorporation Of cities and
towns:
"For ,acat;u9 roads town plots, streets,
alleys, or public squares: and
"l%cr locating county seats
1t will be very important that the leg
islation N these subjects should be very
full and specific.
The general election law will require
very material changes, and | again sub
nit to the General Assembly, the propri-
ETY., VIXEN revising this law, Of incorpora-
tuz into it provision for making COM
plctc registration Of all the legal voters
in The state In no other way can the
ballot boxes b. protected against fraud,
and the elective franchise preserved in
It's purity, The argument that registry
law from its compiexity, be too bur-
densome to be complied with, is entitled
to no consideration It is predicated up
on the idea, either that the General As
sembly is incapable of maturing a simple
and judicious law on this subject; or that
the people Of the State are incapable Of
/ comprchcnding and enforcing one; nei-
thcr Of which suppositions can be admit
/ ted to be correct Such laws have been
! in operation in several Of the States ever
since the foundation Of the government,
and have met the approval Of all classes
/ Of citizens. With such a law, and with
! the strict and honest enforcement Of the
naturalization laws, we shall cease to see
parties arrayed against each other on ac-
count of the birthplace Of those who COM
pose them; aud every bona .fde citizen
! will be secure in his Just weight in the
affairs Of the State Without such law,
/ Judging from recent events, it is feared
! that popular elections will become re-
! proach.
The revenue law will also require re-
vision, aud SO far as it relates to State
taxes, sholld be wholly changed. At
present the county collectors and treasu-
rers, although elected by the people Of
! the several counties, are regarded in some
degree as State officers. Should they
fail to make return Of the State revenue
a. required b. law suit is brought by the
State on their official bonds. Should
defalcation occur, the State sustains she
loss This ought not to be. The coun-
tv treasurcrs ought to be in no sense,
State officers. Each county should be
responsible for its proportionate amount
Of State revenue, and under no contin-
eency should the State be compelled to
institute suit against these officers, and
/ in default Of recovery to suffer from their
delinquency The transactions of the
State should be solely with the counties
The result of the present system, Is
that the county treasurers are almost in
dependent Of State control, and the
prompt receipt of money due to the trea-
sury cannot be relied on. Besides it op-
crates to the injury Of those counties that
pay their guota of the revenue promptly
4 few counties make prompt payments,
while others fail to do so. Auditor $
warrants are issued to discharge the State
indebtedness, which should be discharged
with the money due from delinquent
counties. These warrants draw eight
per cent. interest, which is paid from the
State treasury, and is contributed by the
counties that are not, as well as those
that are remiss in the discharge of their
obligations.
The amount now in arrear from the
several county treasurers, very small
part Of which will ever be received by the
state;--probably not two per eent,-is
So, ,i0l, 81.
recommend that each county be re-
quired to pay its proportion of the State
revenue by fixed day under suitable
penalties for non-paymcnt. If the coun-
ty treasurers neglect their duties or de-