Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-01-21

township collectors, to be paid in the
same way, our taxes would, in my
opinion. be more punctuaIly paid"
81 also recommend that it be made
the duty of the Board of Supervisors
of each county to employ competent
accountant, once in each year, to ex-
anime the accounts of each county
officer, and state an account between
each officer and his county, and be-
tween officer and officer; and also
that County Treasurers, and all other
persons who receive public moneys,
be prohibited under severe penalties,
from using them in any way, or plac-
ing them with others to be used, for
their private benefit"
There is due this State, from the
United States, for expenses incurred
by the State in raising and equipping
troops, and sending them to the field,
and for other purposes growing out of
the rebellion, the estimated amount of
100000.
There is, also, an unsettled claim
against the United States, for expen-
ditures by the State, for the protec-
tion of our people during the two
winters following the massacre on our
northwestern frontier, by Ink-pa-du-
tab and his band. The United States
are also, in my Judgment, justly liable
Tor the amounts expended by this
State in protecting our people on the
northwestern and southern borders
since the commencement of the rebel
lion. L recommend the appointment
of an agent of the State to proceed
to Washington to press the adjust
ment of these claims, and to secure,
if necessary, additional Legislation by
Congress for that purpose.
In my judgment, all real estate
should be carried on the tax books in
the name of the true owners and
this result can be effected with very
little labor and expense, by requiring
the Treasurers to furnish the Assess
ors with complete lists of the names
of all real estate owners, as shown by
the last tax book to correct the
names erroneonsly y entered, whenever
such error is shown upon the payment
Of taxes, and by requiring all deeds
to be presented to the Treasurer for
the transfer of the real estate therein
described to the new owner, before the
same can be recorded
| | recommend the enactment of
law for receiving the new national
currency, and a modification of the
present law for receiving the notes of
branches of the State Bank, that both
may be available in payment of taxes.
As the law now stands, the notes of
said branches cannot, legally, be re-
ceived after any one of them shall
have suspended specie payment. \
change of the law SO as to authorize
the receipt of those notes, SO long as
they shall be redeemed in legal tender
notes of the United States, would, in
my judgment, be wise and proper.
| cannot leave this subject without
special mention of the Board of Audit
ing Commissioners. | am well salts
fled, that, to their faithful and impar-
tial discharge of their duties, the state
is largely indebted for its protection
against improper claims, and, conse-
quently, for its healthy financial con-
dition.
SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY FUNDS.
The situation of these funds demands
your earnest attention. You are their
guardians and custodians. Upon their
management depends, to great de-
gree, the educational interests of the
state /; and upon the proper education
Of our youth depends the welfare and
safety OF our government.
/ cannot approve the system by
which these funds are now managed.
The principal, received by the state ia
cash, has been distributed among the
counties, to be loaned to individuals
by certain county officials at one
time by the school fund Commission
ers, at another by the county Judges,
aud now by the county Clerk, subject
to limited control by the Board of
Supervisors. The system, in my opin-
ion, is wrong in theory, and that it is
unsafe in practice is clearly shown by
the large amount of insulliciently Sc
cured principal and delinquent inter.
est. therefore earnestly recommend
that the lending of any portion of the
principal of said funds, as heretofore,
be prohibited, and the enactment of a
law that will require the investment
by the Treasurer Of State, Of such prin
cipal, as the same may be paid in, in
stocks Of the United States, or Of this
state. In this connection | request
your special attention to the report o
the Auditor Of State on this subject.
SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY LANDS.
, The school Lands consist of the five
hundred thousand acres grant, and tht
sixteenth section. Large quantities o
these lands have, from time to time
: been sold by county officers, author
: lied by law to make such sales. These
sales have been generally made upol
time, the purchaser paying in hand {
] portion of the purchase money, ant
: taking a contract emitting him to /;
!, patent from the state upon the pay
! UleuL vi tIlc DdldiSS Wihu iutCl
2 est
In many cases school Lands wer,
J sold, prior to 1857, at such prices tina
. after that date they We're not wortl
J. the amount due on them. The pur
. chasers have ceased to pay either prin
' cipal or interest. | suggest the inqui
. ry, whether it would not be well +
e provide for the surrender Of thes
9 lands to the state, the purchaser be
: ing relieved from further liability, b,
I forfeiting payments already made
8 without resort to legal proceedings.
! recommend the passage of a Law
e making it obligatory upon the prope
e county officers to make returns to tn
l. Register of all the lands of the 81,
8 teenth section and the 100000 acre
G Grant, sold in their respective couI
8 ties, the date OF sale, the names Of tn
d persons to whom sold, the terms {
Q sale, and the extent to which thes
a terms have been complied with, th