The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-01-07

7 Iuy
Assembly list of the names of all persons par
doned by me, from which it will be seen that the
number OF pardons granted from the llth day of
JANUARY 1869 to the 18th day of January, 1870, is
From the Pententary los
From the Bridewel, Chicago 1
From the Reform School, Chicago ............ .
From County Jails
lotal ......,...... .....,...-....-..., ..llS
The number Of pardons granted from the 1lth
day of January, 1870, TO the Ist day OF January,
1871, is:
From the Penitentiary Observation-Disclosures. GO
From the Bridewell Chicago ................... /
From County Jas Observation-Disclosures.
Total. Observation-Disclosures. .......,...,...:; ~
II Is due to candor TIN; fshoud say that In some
instances, ! have granted pardOns on account Of
conviction thai the provision made by the law for
the defense of the poor and trendess charged with
the commission OF crimes, Is not equal 10 the
quiremcnts ofthe civilization Of which we boast.
STATE FINANCES.
The reports of the Auditor and Treasurer show
that the finances of the State are in a satisfactory
! condition.
| For third Of a century the people of the State
| have borne the burdens of taxation to meet aud
provide for the payment Of debts tina. were created
| under circumstances so deusiye as to blind the
most far-sceing public men of the period hut they
may be congratulated that they arenear the end OF
| the struggle and that the time is at hand when
= the State debt will he fully paid. The struggle
has been severe one. and we have left us but the
lesson, mat states. IKE 0QlVluuals. VIII consult
their interests and safety by obeyng the law, pay
| as YOU go.''
The report of the Auditor shows that the to, al
State debt outstanding on the Both day of Noyem-
Der 1870, was A,sn, e37 80. There il in the State
Ire asury, applicable TO the payment of the public
debt, 3, s21o4,22; the balance of the State debt.
oyer and above the sum last named is, therefore,
will be provided for without any additional taxa
| ton.
| The carefully prepared statements Of the Au.
| dor and Treasurer furnish complete Information
as to the finances of the state and fully warrant
| my expectations that the State will be soon en-.
| tircly free from debt. ! commend the suggestion
| of the Treasurer, a. to the payment of the remain
| der of the State debt in coin. to your favorable
consideration. It is far better to adopt such
course than that the money of the State should re-
| main in the treasury unemployed.
| revenue law, prepared by the Auditor under the
| advice. and TO meet the wishes, of the Board Of
| Equalization, may receive a careful and candid
consideration. II is not claimed to he perfect. but
| it undoubtedly possesses great merit as the work
| OF practical men of extensive experience.
The report of the Auditor suggests that difcul-
| act to fund and provide for paving the railroad
| debts of counties, townships, cities and towns"
| and he points to the possibility of conflict be-
tween certain provisions of the Act and the exist
| ing Constitution of the State. The whole law its
| principles and details. are. in my judgment, vio-
| iative of the Just theories Of taxation and of the
Constitution of the State. and has been in practice
|
| con.se TO be pursued is to repeal the law at
once.
| REVENUE.
| II has been settled that one of the most difficult
| legislative achievements il satisfactory revenue
system. Still, there are certain principles of taxa
ton that are generally conceded TO be sound. and
| the Constitution of the State contains provisions
| designed TO establish and enforce them
II is provided in the 18th article of the Constitu
| ton that every person and corporation shall pay
a tax in proportion to his, her or its property,
/ oh (. In, ,bstun lnf ,lp af tln
just rule of equality of taxation The Sd section
permits the exemption of property used for GER
| tain purposes from taxation. hut the exemption
| must be made by general law. The probable
effect of this language is TO abrogate all the spe
| cal exemptions Of the property of literary, char
| liable and other associations and corporations
contained in many special laws The exemption
ofproperty from taxation is against common right,
and Of doubtful policy. II will, however, proba-
i bly, remain a part of the revenue system of the
State hut the general law which Is now necessary,
ought to he very carefully guarded 10 prevent the
/ ahnse of the privilege of exemption.
The manner in which the sales of land for the
| non-payment of taxes have been made has been
most vexations. and snare to property owners,
especially in cities where the demands of the pub
lie for taxes and special assessments have been so
| numerous, and imposed by so many distinct and
| independent authorities. twill become necessary
| to provide by law for the return of all unpaid
taxes and assessments. of whatever character, to
some general officer of the county having authority
to receive State and county taxes, who Will con-
/ duct all subsequent proceedings.
| The most important provisions of the article Of
| the Constitution under consideration. and which
will excite great degree of interest ana atten-
prives IT, General Assembly of the power to re-
,aase or d;schia,s. ..,g ,SKnty, city, toWnisnp,
sals purposes and and requires nt taxes
| for State purposes shall be paid into the STAT
| Treasury" The 10th section also prohibits the
General Assembly from imposing taxes upon mu-
| nicipal corporations or the inhabitants or property
| thereof, for corporate purposes. The effect of
these provisions Is 10 correct serious abuses and 20
put an end to system of exemptions and indirect
| appropriations that j. not only dangerous IN prin,
| ciple hut mschevous in practice. Large sums of
money have been by TINS species Of lndEeSt ap;
The taxpayers Of the State, and in some instances
| to objects that had no claim upon public bounty.
All laws heretofore in force that are inconsistent
| with these provisions, cease 10 operate and some
legislation will he necessary to provide for certain
| classes of cases.
| To enumerate all the laws made void by the pro-
vitions of the Constitution, IL unnecessary, bu u
Is proper TO observe that they defeat all laws cN-
emptng the property of any district or the inhab'
itants of districts from taxation; all laws appro-
pria,ing the taxes of districts to the use
| of persons or corporations; all laws that impose
taxes upon the inhabitants of municipal inC0rpor'
ations for corporate purposes and also AL laws
that authorize or require persons appointed ny the
General Assembly to levy or impose taxes for nlU'
| nicipal purposes. The provisions OF the tonSttu,
ton suggest the inquiry whether they do not repeal
all laws authorizing the Auditor TO assess or 0roer
the assessment of taxes for the payment Of local
or corporate debts and, If that Is the true result
whether some legislation Is not necessary to pro-
vide remedy for the holders OF corporate seclr''
ties.
| EDUCATION
Your attention l. invited 10 the report OF the
Superintendent, of Public Instruction, which affords
mil information In regard TO the important inter
ests con,idcd to his management, me pubic
| schools under the influence of his administration
M Tho eyisiinr laws and aided as he Is by the in
tegeni men and women throughout the stare
who are employed in the different literary lnst'tn.
lions, and in the noblest and most useful OF them
al-thc public schools themtelyos-haye reached
degree Of excellence that will compare asoraoiy
with those of any other State in the lnion.
THO dn,y Of the General Assembly Is defined IN
the clear and precise language OF the first section
of the Sh article of the Constitution 20 we 10 Pro
vdc thorough and efficient system OF iree schools
whereby ali the children of this state may receive
good common school education, to-, InS aM v h Is
| s,l.. ni,bout Distinction of race or color, and