Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-01-23
NUMBER 4.

precautionary anu nave become much less
the horroS oy reason OF the general de-
as it falls dds, value Of real estate; many os
creasing debt wte ceased to pay the interest
tv. and an increase results are raoidlv In.
pie to supply the dehtly diminished secpr.
caused hy the non-payiion upon our ne,.
than this: under our Coir~the school f,n,T
to the permanent School andsterest More
which shall have been occasioNall losses
talcaton, mismanagement or frax Fund
agents or officers controlling and made.
the same, become permanent debt aAss
the State. Large losses of both these fINs
have already occurred, ind the amount isN
steadily increasing. for want of proper atten-
ton and proper laws. The responsibility for
these losses rests with the law-making power
of the State; and the responsibility for all
further losses must rest there until by the en-
actment of proper laws, that responsibility is
placed elsewhere. | recommend that proyis-
ion be made requiring the prompt closing up
of all loans which are insufticiently secured, or
on which the interest has not been paid with
in a reasonable time, unless the borrowers
shall entitle themselves to further time by
giving further securities, or payment of tho
interest due. j also recommend that where
loans are now sufficiently secured and the in
tercst paid an extension of time be given to
the borrowers, if desired, under proper limita-
tions ; that no new loans be made and that
sums of the principal either of said funds that
may he paid, shall either be paid into the State
Treasury and used as other State funds the
state paying interest thereon, or invested for
the support Of the proper fund either in the
stocks OF the United States or of this State
The State University is now in successful
operation, although much embarrassed from
want of means arising from the non PAYMENT
of interest due on the loans of its permanent
fund. The enactment Of laws requiring the
| more prompt payment of interest, and for thu,
snI.s h9ttAr ir,-o Al,
fund as above suggested, will enable the Trus-
tees and Faculty to extend the usefulness OF
the institution. / am decidedly Of opinion that
not only the interest of the institution but
also of the State require, that you should pro.
vide Military Department of the University.
and should establish u Military Professorship
! thereto. The sad experience of the last few
months has shown us the necessity of military
knowledge among our people. by giving to
the young men who may attend the Universi-
! ty. military instruction and training, we will
not only greatly benefit them, but will ais,
have made provision for what our present ex-
perience shows may at any moment become u
necessity to our people. The Board of Educa-
ton at their recent session directed the Trns-
tees of the University to make provision for n
Military Department therein as soon as th,s
General Assembly should make the necessary
appropriations therefor, and earnestly recon-
mend the subject to your favorable considera-
ton.
! The affairs of the Pcnitcntiary have been
well conducted during the last two years. Its
present faithful and efficient officers although
| laboring under many 6.ifficulties. have, bv
their careful management, maintained excel
lent discipline, preserved, in a remarkable de-
gree. the health of the convicts, and have 81
! economizcd its expenses, that of the sam ap--
! propriated at the last regular session for the
general support Of the Prison, there remains
unexpended an amount so large. that, in the
opinion of the Warden, no appropriation will
| he needed ut the present session. These Off
! GERS, however, as well as those in charge of
tue Insane Asylum, the Asylums for the Deaf
and Dumb, and the Blind, and all Others Who
have been charged with the duty of procuring
tor the State either labor, materials or mer-
chandizc of any kind for ordinary State pur-
poses, have been continually embarrassed fox
! the want of money, and have been compelled
to carry on their operations, and make their
purchases at great disadvantage with warrants
ON the Treasury. OF course they have been
compelled to pay higher prices in warrants
than they would have had 10 pay in cash. As
soon as these warrants are delivered they are
presented To the Treasury. and endorsed un-
paid ior want of funds. and from that time
draw eight per cent. interest, so that the ex-
cess OF price and interest are so much clear
loss to the State that might be saved il our
taxes were prorHtly paid. Neither States nor
individuals C;tu manage their affairs in this
manner without serious present embarrass-
ment and great ultimate loss, and in my
judgment it is clearly your duty us guardians
OF the pabic welfare to see to it that this state
Of affairs shall not continue The reports of tho,
officers of the Peltentiary show the sums,
which, III their opinion. should be approprat-
cd by you. and the objects for which they arc
needed. Whilst | am satisfied that all these
| objects are legitimate and that the accomplish
meHt of them would add much to the safety
and completeness of the Prison, | cannot in
the present condition of our finances recon-
mend appropriations for all The completion
OF the third tier of cells, additional accommo-
dations for the hospital, additional shop-room.
and new cistern, are perhaps Indispensable
and should be provided for.
The suit pending for some years between the
Warden and the contractors, for the labor OF
the convicts, has been decided, and in my
Judgment, very untavorably to the State. In
view OF this decision, it will he necessary that
considerable additions be made to the present
shop-room in the prison yard unless ii be de-
termined to feed and clothe the convicts at the
expense OF the State and furnish their labor
and shop room for them gratuitously. l re-
commend that a Special Committee be sent to
examine what farther shops may be needed
and what steps can he taken to protect the in
terests Of the State in this particular. The
present contract for convict labor will expire
on the first day of June, 1864. In order to
have fair competition for the re-letting OF that
labor at the expiration of the present contract,
provision therefor should be made at the pres
ent Session, and if possible such provision
should be made by law as will prevent, under
a new contract, the heavy losses the State has
sustained under the present one
The reports of the proper officers of the ,lea.
and dumb and blind asylums are herewith
submitted. These institutions appeal so strong
~ to our better feelings, and necessities of
those for whose benefit they are intended,
are peculiar and SO urgent that cannot
withhold my accommodation that the usual
appropriations be made for their support
The appropriations made at the last regular
session for the new building for the blind at
Vinton has been expended in the manner re-
| auired 10y law. The building is now enclosed
and is not, as l understand liable TO injury
| by exposure To the weather, and l submit
whether it is not advisable. in our present
| financial condition TO withhold the appropria-
! ton necessary to complete il until the next
| General Assembly, The failure to make this
appropriation will not prevent the proper care
and instruction of the pupils, in the meali-
time, as they can be as well provided for in
the building now occupied by them. You
will learn by the reports of the officers
of the Insane Asylum, that that insti
tuition, SO long and SO much needed, has been
! Tor some months III SuCttssIul operation. Inc
! appropriation made at the last regular session
for finishing and furnishing the center and
east wing Of the building has proved To be
more than sufficient for the purpose, and there
| is considerable balance uncxpended The
number of patients now in the Institution is
nearly or quite sufficient to fill all the finished
portion of the building and much inconveni-
ence arises from the fact that patients of both
sexes are confined in the same wing. This
| fact, with the additional one, that before the
next session a large portion of the bow unin-
! ished part OF the building will in all probab-
ity be needed for the reception of patients, in
duces me to recommend, as j earnestly do.
that an appropriation be now made which
with the nnexpended balance Of the last appro-
priation will be Sufficient to finish and furnSt,
/ the west wing. Every one who has witnesSr,
the misery and degradation, and knows thv
hopeleSsness of the cure of those poor unfortu
mates when confined in the cells Of our county