The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-01-20

financial officer of the county, and
has received, SO far as my knowledge
extends, universal appreciation. To
complete the Same change thus In
augurated, it remains now to supple
ment this law with an act placing the
control Of tho Court House, and the
supervision Of the CENSUS, yif indeed
the present effective mode of taking
the census is to be perpetuated, in
the hands of the County AUDITOR
That officer should also be required
to furnish the Secretary of State with
tho names of all the county officers
immediately on their qualification
a duty heretofore required of the
County Judge. H, should also be
empowered to appoint deputy the
same as other county officers. Per
haps some other matters might prop
erly be entrusted to his charge, but
your experience will suggest to you
such further legislation as may be
necessary.
I call your attention to the law o.
; 1858, providing for the organization
of new counties, which law should,
think, be materially modified. Under
its provisions counties were organ
lied tenyears ago, that have less thar
a hundred inhabitants to-day. TIC
give into the hands of the first few
who may wander into new county
the power of levying and collecting
taxes, issuing county warrants, fahri
eating bonds; and disposing of swamp
and even school lands, is of more
than questionable wisdom. 1t has an
inevitable tendency to attract tc
these counties unprincipled adventu
rers by prospects of plumber, and
thereby to deter legitimate immigra
ton. I am informed that attempts
have been made to organize Lyon
county, but that they have been de-
fcated by the protests of the settlers
in that county. would suggest that
provision be made by law against
the organization of any of the new
counties until they shall have attain.
cd certain minimum of population
and that the proceedings towards
such organization be had in the dis
trict court after due notice of the
same. On the other hand, it may be
necessary to enact proper laws fol
assessing the property in these coun
ties, and for the collection of taxes
levied therein.
| I have made sn effort, through .
circular issued form this Office, to OBJ
tain a statement of the indebtedness!
of the several political corporations
of the State, in order to lay the az
gergate amount before the Genera
Assembly. In this effort have beer
only partially successful. Some O
the counties, and q few of the citieI
and towns have failed to notice thu
circular asking for the information
Nevertheless, the returns l have re
ceived are such as to:enable us to oh
taic q measurably satisfactory view
of this class of public obligations
Seventy-eight counties, all that hav'
been heard from, report a bonded in
debtedness, not disputed, including
arrears of interest, amounting tt
$942,672.53; bonded Indebtedness
IN dispute, including interest, of 81,
GAG. $50 and a floating debt of 1852,
763.47 /; in all s3,341,616. Seventy
five cities and towns report a bonded
debt, undisputed, of 81, 76S, 3o8.95; .
bonded debt, in dispute, of 1896, 966.
66; and a floating debt of 1925, 1876.
A.: in all, $3.50, 411.O3. The aggre
gate of both is S., 49,, 027.0
During the last faw months hav,
received information that pretended
bonds of the unorganized county o
Lyon hevo boon repeatedly Offered
for sale in the city Of New York.
have also heard indirectly of othe
similar cases of fraud. I suggest t,
the General Assembly the prophet,
Of clothing the Governor with autho
ity to employ counsel to aid in bring
ing to justice the parties engaged
outside Of tho State, in this and SINH
lar crimes, which are not only of in
jury to the victims of the fraud
but highly detrimental to- tn
financial reputation of county ant
State.
REGISTRY LAW.
i The law for the registration o
voters having now been operative a
two general elections, an opinion
may be the better formed of its utili
ty. You, gentlemen, just chosen BY
tho people under that law, are fully
aware Gifts benefits and defects. II
my judgment it might be amended
with advantage by providing tina
the assessors return of voter
should be the basis of the registry
list, and that the poll-books of tn
preceding year be not used for tina
purpose.
IMMIGRATION.
/ Without any bureau of immigra
ton, or any provision whatever TO
diffusing information relative to tn
climate, soil, agricultural and miner
al resources, and extent Of unoccu
pied lands in our State, we receive
nevertheless, a large part of the yer,
best of the immigration that i
crowding from our Eastern State
and from the old world to seel
homes in the growing West. In re
ply to a request from the Citizens
Association of New York, l address
ed, on the 23d of November, 1868,
letter to that association through
it's president, Mr.. Peter Cooper
presenting an amount of statistical
and other information such as
thought would be of value tx
persons contemplating a change O
home. This letter, I had the salts
faction to learn subsequently, wa
reprinted and scattered widely ovel
the Eastern States and foreign coun
tries of kindred tongue, while trans
lations were freely distributed in thu
countries of continental Europe. II
addition, l caused large number o
copies of the letter to be printed ane
sent to various parts of the country
| have gratifying assurances thai
this effort has been and will be at
tended with the happiest results
| Nevertheless, with the limited means
placed at the disposal of the execu