The Lincoln County herald., 1873-01-08
The Coversok's Message.

\ lates the peopls on the advance OF thu
state, from the position Of eight to tha
| Of 9th 10 the Union, o exhibited 10 The
r census Of 1870. and on its proportionatt
t progress in all the elements Of sealtt
and power. he points QUE many Of tho
b defects OF the state constitution, and
Q urges . correction Of them. He doel
D not advocate a new convention, but seem.
to favor the selection Of q commission to
! recon mend amendments. Among the
changes be suggests are modification oi
the grand jury system, an enlargement OF
} the executive power over legislation and
a change in the registry law.
The receipts Of revenue into the state
treasury during the last two years have
been e3, ,63S,749; the Disbursements for
the same time have been s3,044,219--
leaving a balance on hand Of 1894, 529
The bonded debt Of the state is S17 ,S44 ).
900. Of this, s599,000 falls due this
year, and sS11 900 10 1874. The gov
ernor states that temporary loan will
be necessary to cover the deficits created
by the redemption of bonds, during the
next five years. The governor regrets
that the legislature at its last session or
dered the state bonds falling due in 1872
to be paid in currency, and enters into a
computation to prove that it has resulted
10 loss to the state through the depre-
citation of its bonds. This loss will be
extended to the bonds needed TO take up
the maturing obligations Of the next i've
years, and will amount by that time, he
estimates, to s457,70s, or more than the
whole state debt cancelled in 1872. The
assessed wealth Of the state is $685.
l55 SOP, according to the returns made to
the auditor but the governor copjectures
that the amount that ought to be subject
to taxation is not less than 81 900, O,O0O,-
600. He recommends that real estate be
assessed at fixed valuation for four in
stead Of two years, and that improve.
ments be assessed separately, as is now
done with personal property.
Some other minor alterations in the
revenue law are also recommended. The
total amount Of state, county and mum.
cipal taxes paid by the people of the
state in lS72is estimated at Sl4,696 S64
The collection OF this large amount Of
money, the governor thinks, is not as
economical business as it ought to be-.
IT, Illinois it is estimated that five per
cent. will cover the amount of the deln
quencies and the cost Of collection in
some other states the cost Of collection is
only two and one half per cent, but in
Missouri the delinquency returned in
1877 was twenty.seven per cent. the
cost OF collection was thirteen per cent
and the proportion of taxes never col.
lected was eight per cent. The cost of
frequent sessions Of the legislature is re.
lerred to as burden to the state that
ought to be avoided This cost amounted,
in 1872, to 1892 49G-'all of which,"
the governor asserts, was unnecessary
in the sense of absolute requirement, as
regards time" The benevolent an penal
institutions of the state make another
large and unnecessary drain on the rev.
enues of the state. TO correct this, he
advises that before any bill appropria
tions to these institutions shall be enter
tanned, 1t be submitted to the board oi
guardians. The costs Of criminal prose
cutions in the counties is another heavy
burden to the state. These costs in 1877.
amounted to s173,652. These are fire.
quently augmented by charges for expen
ses which never occur; and to proven
this practice, the governor recommend
that the costs should be paid to thu
county treasurer, instead of the clerk
and that the original fee bills themselves
bo required to be sent up to the auditor
In connection with these economical
measures, be recommends also the aboli
tion of all special common pleas court
no longer needed. The local indebted
ness of the counties. cities and township
is stated at $40, 900 900, q SUN more thai
twice as large as the state debt. His cx
cellency recommends in addition to tn
registry Of county bonds. the passage o
laws empowering the. state to enforce tn
collection Of taxes to meet the interest Of
these local bends, and forbidding tn
) issue Of any local bonds bearing highe
, rate Of interest than 6 per cert. Tn
riotus action Of armed mobs in Cass an
Lafayette counties are referred to as
disgrace to the reputation of the state
d but the governor has the satisfaction @
d stating that indictments have been foun
d against the wrong.doers in both transac
tions, and that they are under bond I
appear at the next term of Ahs circui
e court for trial. To prevent tho recul
u renee OF such affairs, or to bring the o
u tenders to prompt and speedy justice, b
recommends certain amendments to th
criminal statutes. The states upscttle
y claim against the general government f
% ordnance amounts to nearly one millio
= dollars, and the governor advises that Il
present adjutant general be retained
j. press it to conclusion and ssttlemeu o
. The geological survey is referred to as
ID subject entitled to the favorable consi
e. GRAFTON Of the legislature, and the pros
~ cution Of it urged.
o, The governor indorses the insuran
commissioners recomn,e n datiou in fav
~ Of exacting an increase Of paid up car
- tal a prsranuis;to 70 Tho han pnip