Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1864-01-16

these expGpditnfes, thus made, e A.
objected %. y not coming ~ieain -
letter 81 existing laws OF the VOits
United States. Among these are the
sums paid ~ the State for the sab
sistencc and pay ofthc troops that went
from this State TO Missouri At the request
Of United States officers under the COM
msud of Colonies Edwards and Nor
ledge.
There il, also, sn unsettled claim
.gainst the United States, for expendi-
,ures by the State, for tho protection Of
orr people during the two winters fo'los.
ing the massacre on our northwestern
frontier, by Ink -pa,du.tab and bis band.
Tie United States are sl.o, In my Judg-
men., Justly liable for the amounts ex-
pended by this State in protecting our
people on the north western and south
eru borders since the commencement OF
the ,ebcilion. ] recommet d the appoint
mept OF al agent Of the Stat toproceed
to Washington 10 press the adjustment
of these claims, and to secure, ii necesa.
~, additional legislation by Congress
for that purpose.
The expenditures Of the State on the
north estern and southeru borders are
made payable, by law, ont Of the War
and Defense Fund. This fund was found
to be insufficient, and, 10 June last,
large amount Of warrants on that fund
were left landing and drawing i.te-
rest for want of means to pay them
There was at the same time, la'ge
amount of ordinary revenue in the Tres-
sury not needed for expenses, ard the
Auditor and Treasurer, upon consuIta.
ton with me, decided 10 apply the or
binary revenue to the payment Of the
War and Defense Fund Warrants, 80
far as it could be done without inter-
fcring with the payment Of ordinary
revenue warrants ~ presented. This
was done to the amount of about $780,
900, and thereby consider able amount
in interest was saved to the State. A.
some doubt exists as to the strict lcgali-
ty of this course, the matter is laid be-
fore you that you may take such action
a may be necessary. If the amount due
from the United States could be Tecov-
cred, i, would, probably, be sufficient to
reimburse the revenue fund and redeem
all outstanding warrants, and claims on
the War and Defense Fund.
In my judgment, all real estate should
be carried on the tax books in the name
of the true o.ne,s; aud this result can
be effected with very little labor aud ex-
peuse, by requiring the Trcasurers to
furnish the Assessors with complete lists
Of the names of all real estate owners,
as shown BY the last tax book; to cor
rect the names enormously entered,
whenever such error is shown upon the
payment Of taxes, and by requiring all
de ds to be presented to the Treasurer
for the transfer OF the real estate there
in describe to the new owner, before
the same can lie recorded.
/ recommend the enactment Of law
Tor receiving the new national currency,
and modification Of the present law
Tor receiving the notes Of branches Of
the State Bank, that both may be avail
able in payment OF taxes. As the law
now stands, the notes of said branches
cannot, legally, be received after any Que
Of them shall have suspended specie
payment. a change Of the law so as to
authorize the receipt OF these notes 90
long rs they shall be redeemed in legal
tender notes OF the L nited States, would,
10 my judgment, be wise and proper.
l cannot leave this subject without
special meution Of the Board Of Audit
ing Commissioner. am well satisfied
that to their faithful and impartial dis
charge Of their dutiee, the State is large
Iy indebted for its protection against i'm
proper claims, and. consequently, for its
healthy financial condition.
THE SCHOOL AND uNIvEaTITY FUNDS.
The situation of these funls deman ID
your earnest attention. You are their
guardians and custodians. Upon
their management depends to great
degree, the educati onal Interests Of the
State and upon the proper education oil
our youth depends the welfare and safe.
W OF our government.
l cannot approve the system ly which
these funds are now managed. The
principal, received by the State IN cash,
has been dis r,but, among the counties,
10 he loaocd to individuals by certain
county Officials; at one time by the
School Fund Commissioners, at another
by tho County Judges, and now by the
County Clerk, sntj ct TO a limited con-
troi By the Boarl o! $ pcr,iscrs. =
Would any OF YIN, having a large
amount o. money to lend, lend It tn. ough
these agencies II not, is it right to 30
so with the public money! Is it no,
right and proper that you should do, in
regard to these funds Just what YOU
would we,e they Your private property
The present system Is, 10 my Judgment,
y bad one, for t~o reasons. In the fire.
place, it must happen in M any cases that
the County Clerk IS not Il ted. bv prev-
GUS business training to make safe and
jadicio investments; ,spec ally, he
may not have the Necessary gal kao wi
edge to enable m to dete, mine, accur-
ateIv. the snfiicehcy Of the title 10 real
estate offered ~ security for l,ar. Ia
the second place, the money may be u.s.
ed to p. note pcreonsl or political OBJ
jects. A corrupt Clerk will nse, and an
hooest hut weak one, will be sorely
tempted to use his power to lcnd these
mooeys to sec:re his own political inter-
eat or that IT hi. part, trends. The
system, ~ my opinion, j. wrong 10 theo-
~. and that Il ia unsafe in prac,ice ia