The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-11-22
WGrEk for the Legislature

w OakA kOE tac Leg A~hosNSC"
Lhe Legislature to meet early in jan
uary for colifying the laws of the State
should as first duty, see that the law
staying the collection Of judgments is
excluded from the laws of Iowa. If it
ever possessed merit as means of
temporary relief to the people, the
day of its usefulness is gone. Millions
of dollars that would seek permanent
investment in our State, in the way of
loans, now seek Investment elsewhere.
If it is urged that the repeal of stay
and appraismcnt laws would expose the
property of the debtor to inIiscriminatc
sale and sacrifice, we reply that it
would also bring into circulation mill
ions of dollars Of foreign capital that
could be borrowed and used in lieu OF
the uncertain protection given by stay
and appraisment laws.
The introduction of foreign capital
that could be loaned for series OF
years upon real estate security, at rea-
sonaLle rates of interest, would tend tC
the rapid development and growth Of
our State and the material prosperity
Of its commercial and business interests.
If money could be loaned On suitable
securities at ten per cent, it would give
the people better and more certain re-
lief than stay and appointment laws do,
with the current rate of interest at two
per cent month, as their consequence.
An advantage gained by the stay of
execution for from one month to twelve,
that reaults in excluding from the State
tho millions that could DO probably
employed in manufactures and ag-icrl-
ture, with the thousands it would add
TO our population, iS TOO dear sacri-
fee to warrant the people in continu-
Ing.
A proper spirit Of inquiry on the
part of the members Of orr Legislature,
we think, you'd satisfy them of the
doubtful benefits derived by the people
from the continuance Of these laws, and
if it did not insure their repeal, would
result in their modification 20 that
party procuring . loan could waive stay
and appraisement laws.
Tt should also in its revision reduce
the number Of our county Offices, and
provide for sir,,,lilication of the sys-
tenn of doing its business 50 far as pos.
sihle. 1t should also require of those
holding the Offices the utmost fidelity to
the welfare of-the public as contra dis
tinguished from fidelity to party.
1t should give to the towns the man.
agement Of their own affairs, by restor-
ing to each it's supervisor; giving them
control and supervision of highways, in
cluling their establishment; the collec-
ton CT their taxes, the auditing of all
town expenses, including elections and
paupers, and charging each township
with all the expenses incident to the
enjoyment and exercise of these func-
tons.
An advantage Of this system is, it
brings every question Of economy or
profiigacy home to- the people charging
the responsibility whe.e it belongs, and
further, it familiarihcs the people with
he methods Of doing the town and
county business, and acquaints them
with the facts about every item of ex-
pcpiiturc.
The Legislature should also provide
day for the election Of township Off
ces separate and apart from the election
Of State Or county officers. In this
way these Immediate servants Of the
people are taken out Of the arena OF
politics and chosen because of their ca
pacity, fitness, and honesty, and with
sole reference thereto. The day of
their election would call out the entire
people Of the town, fer eugtom would
require full report OF the expenditures
with their objects to be read on that
day to the electors.