The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-11-24

every Mepdsy u this Office, Is one Of the Oldest pa
psrs In Lows. and has widely extsnded circala-
tfon throughout the Des Moinss Valley, Northern
Missouri, and wsslsrn Illinois.
CAangss ~ RsAisc rsaicy.
Sons changes ID tbs gssssal laws Of the
Staes, q W nay judge from The expressions
tAss have besn made, soon very generally to
y sxpsstsd and desired during The coming
winter. II 10 possible that Some radical
shangss can b. made, to the public alvan-
tage; but tia svil Of new countries especially
il, the abundancs Of legislation and me ire
qusocy Of changes in the general laws, rather
than reluctance to mako changes really d.
sirable, and Nc hope no more changes viii
Be made in them as the approaching session
than are very plainly for tho public advan-
tsge, and none nads without dus sonsidsra-
ton and cars. II the school Laws oan b
made more simple, il the assessment and
collection laws can be made more e6soeive
and satisfsstory, and II the provisions rela-
ting to county government oan b. Improved.
-aiiof which We feel quite certain can and
ought 70 be done, why, amend those Laws,
wherein experience hss shown that amend
msns San adyantaxsously Do made. But
amend ola laws and systsms, rather than 70
70 experimenting with new, unless II il very
certain thas no amendment il adequate 10
cure acknowledged defects. Wa hays hsd
eneugh Of violent and radical changes
enough Of expsdients and experiments only
change TO remedy and simplify.
Some legislation which shall practically
abolish the Board Of EdusAsion, would doubt
lees meet with the popular favor. Thu valae
ofsthis little legislature was always doabtfal
TO our mind. The short experience W havs
had under II has mot exalted our ideas Of it,
advantage. A judioiously selected commit
sse o. Education in the Lsgislaturs, --such
~ could b taken from any Legislature that
~ have had7or are likely to hsvs,--would bs
every way equal to Il il point Of ftness for
tho b1sinsss Il has 70 transact, while itwosld
have tho great advantage Of legislative con-
currsnoe or descent from ito measures - il
proceeded. II Il oan b practically rot rid
OF until Il can be abolishsd BY amendment q
the constitution u that particular, 70 think
the Legislature would do we'll TO take steps
towards that end.
The abolition Of the 6fkce Of County 60
psrinsendsns OF Connon Schools his been
sugeseted. ID this We concur, There 10
hardly . more useless Chloe, % far g our
own observation Of the manDsr 10 which il
10 administered reaches, than this. At the
same time, II takes : handsome per csntage
Of the school fund to support It, which would
be very naeh better employed II il were dis
tributsd among the schools We, for in
stAIce, in Lee county, have been paying that
ofhoer twslve hundred dollars year, while,
90 far - any Psblie benefit that hes been de-
rived from Il ID conoernsd, the money might
just about - veil have been thrown into the
Mississippi.
The entire financial and business control
OF county affairs by single individual, who
il also required to perform the additional and
important dutiss of Judge Of probate, Il an
arrangement very faulty and unsatisfactory
Il may DO in new counties with ! small
amount Of business, and with nan in oikc,
who need no guards nor oversight But il
old and populous counties the business can
not oil be properly done By one man, and M
general experience has besn that the author
itJ OF the of6csr 10 too Independent and "a.
preme in financial matters, his responsibility
and the guards against improper conduct "
too slight and TOO easily avoided, and the Ii.
ability to abuses in the ofiee too great. w.
think the election of commissioners to man.
sgs the matters Of roads, bridges, tbs poor
and financial affairs, who should Be under
some penalties not NOW existing to keep TIL
public annually infospsd Of tho full and 81.
81 ssaas Of things, and the limitation Of ths
duties Of the present county judge 70 prebas,
and related business, would Do an arrange
msns more advantageous and satisfactory Il
the people.
y addition 10 these things, : Registry law
similar 70 that which has been tested asd
which works % advantagsously and satisfac.
tofily IN Mes York, would undoubtedly 10 /
wise and proper enactment, Zone to which
10 honest man could object, and which IL.
purity Of the bAllot-box and the true spirit Of
democracy oails for.
Above oil will the people expect from th,
present Legislatare f.ugAiity, and consid
srsts employm ent Of their powers.
Ss
0IWe call attention to farther details q,
The Strawstsck War. The trsmor whicl
touches every fbre Of society in tho Old Do.
minion at the circulation Of nonsensical and
sontsadiotory runors and the ignition Of !
sfraw-aeAck and smoke-hoase, would be pain
fully ex0itinr IL Il ~.r. ccA .rr.>-.,- -.