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

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
.zY1IW T 1917 -
Gsaileu,ea Of Tie Senate and Hoass Of
Representatives.
/, l Am hap, y To be able to congratulate
you upon TIE prosperity of our State.
During ,he. last two yeals our people
have EMO, ed their usual good health,
and have secured reasonably abundant
hastests Labor has been we'll rewarded,
asl lbs products Of labor have brought
remunera,ivc prices. The educational
interests Of the State are ~ prosperous
% ever; and peace an ] good order with
II our borders, although on one or two
occasions &c mewhAt inperiled, have been
msintsincd.
Let Us rtnd.r thanks 10 God for those
blessing. voucbsa'ed us during the ex-
istence OF a desoiating war, that has
scourgcd large port OH OF Our land.
FINANCES.
Our State finances have never before
been in more healthy condition. Our
State deb. is only sG22,295.75, consist
ing OF loan from School Fund, Sl22,-
295.75; loan of 1858, 100000; and
war loan Of 1861, 100000. OF the
100000 of war bonds authorized 10 be
sold, $500, 900 remrin on hand-none
have been offered gnce the $500. 600
we're sod !; ard it is believed no further
salea wil, Ia. npcp,aary.
The report OF tue State Auditor shows
that the moneys pov in the Treasury,
the delinquent taxes. the amount esti.
mated to be dne from the United States
end the taxes Of 1868 and 1864, are
sufficient to pay the estimated expendi-
lures for the next two years, the out,
standing warrants on the Treasury, aud
our en- ire State d bit, leaving a balance
in favor OF the Treasury Of about $500, :
900.
Provision should be made Tor the re.
dempriou OF the bonds issued in 1858
and 1861 as they fall due. / recon-
memo that a sufficient sum DC set ssoe,
annually. FOR this purpose, and invested,
with its accumulations in United States
or other stocks. 10 my Judgment, the
amount due The School Fund should be
permitted to remsin rs permanent debt
Of the State. The State Is trustee OF
this fand, anil liable for losses thereto;
and there eau be no safer mode Of invest
ing this amount of the fund, than the
present.
The Report OF tie Audit r still shows
large amount Of delinquent taxes. So
much OF tdis rs is due upon real estate,
will be finally paid but it is thought q
very considerable portion OF the dc.in-
quency is due upon personal property,
by person, not owning any real estate,
much OF which will be los.
Under ou1 revenue law real estate is
assessed biounaly, aud personal proper
ty annually. The assessments are made
between the lst OF January and the LIST
of April the levy is made in Scptem
Der, and tbs taxes become delinquent on
the lst OF FEBRUARY of the next year. 1t
thus happens that persons may bring
into the State, for sale, or may buy
within the Sta.e, large amounts of per-
sonal property, which are assessc to
them for taxation may keep and use
the same, within the State, more than a
year, and finally dispose Of It before the
tax becomes delinquent; and if such per-
sons do not own real estate in the same
county in which the personal property
was assessed, there are no mcsne Of COM
peiIiog payment OF taxes due. This de.
feet in the law should be rcmedied in
justice to the State, and to the owners Of
real estate, who already bear their full
share Of the public burdens.
renew the following recommends
tions made by me 10 the Ninth General
Assembly:
IN order 10 make the revenue OF the
State more certain, l recommend that
the County Trcasu,ers be required by
law to pay tho State Treasurer 1T fixed
times, certain proportions Of the amount
Of revenue due To the State, until the
entire sum for each year is paid, whe,h-
er the County Tseasurers have received
the entire amount OF State tax or not.
At present the State is VIII 1i!y helpless
as to its revenue. 1t has to depend
wholly upon the officers .oI counties for
its collection ard transmission, aud il
the county ilic.is are in fficient, e
State is remedies E,ch county is
now Liable b, law to The State for the
amount of State tax assessed 10 it., bu,
this liability, without any means Of
making it .tfecti.c, is useless. Ii the
counties were r.qai cl to pay the rev.
enue due The State, whether collected
or not, tn. County Supervisors would
be stimala cl 10 require Of the Treas
urer st,:ct performance OF his duties;
aud il, in Il iis.on, YOU sho1li SO change
tho prescn' Nv rs 10 give County
Treasures, in li.u OF salary, a per cent
um Oh the ainonnt Of money collected
and d,sbu s-d, or provide for township
collectors. To be pa d in the same way,
our taxes wunl.l. in my opinion, be
more punciually paid"
II ALEC iecc mmcnd that it be made
the duty oil the Board OF Supervisors OF
each county to.esnp!ov competen ac-
countant, once in each year, to examine
the accoun.s oil zach c.uaty off ..r, aud
state an accom-, bstweem each .tlic and
his county, and betscen officer Ind off :
Ger; and si.o thst t,,nnty Treas rese,
aud oil other per IONS who receive public
moneys, be froh.b ted, under severe
penalties, from using them in any wav,
or placing them n D'hc,s to he used
-