Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-01-08
Tho covsrnor's message.

The Governors Message.
Governor Browns message, de-
|nvsred TO tho Legislature OF Tho srd
inst, h a very Interesting document,
snetoo long 70 lay before u roadera
entire, making eight solid columns IN
tim Republican.
Tho message opens by congratula.
ting the people on the advance Of the
state from the position nf eightR to.
ffth In the Union. MS exhibited in the
census oflS7o, and oil its proportions
alto progress in nil tho elements Of
wealth aud power. Iie points out
many Of the defects or the state COLI
siitution. ami urges . correction of
them. lie docs not advocate n new
conventions, but seems to favor tho
selection of q commission TO recon-
mend amendments. Among the
changes he suggests arc a moditica-
tion OF the grand jury system, an
enlargement of the executive power
over legislation and u change in the
registry law.
The receipts OF revenue Into tho
state treasury during the last two
years have been $3,63s, 749; tho dis
bursemants far the same time have
been S3. 0i4.2l3-leavirga q balance OH
hand of 1884. $50. The bonded debt
of tho state is Sl7.si4, 900. OF this,
$685. M falls due this year, aud $751;
600 in 1871. The governor stat s that
u temporary loan will be necessary
to cover the deficits created by the
redemption of bonds, during the
next five ys.rs. The governor re-
yrets that the Legislature at its last
session ordered the state bonds
falling due in 1872 to I've paid in mr.
rency, and enters into = computation
to prove that il has resulted in IL loss
to the state through the depreciation
of its bonds. This loss will he OK
tcpded to the bonds needed to take
up the maturin. obligations of tho
next five years. and will amount by
that time, he estimates, to 1857, 70S,
or more than tho whole state debt
cancelled in 1872. The assessed
wealth of the state is $56S, los, SOP,
according to the returns made to the
auditor; but the governor conjccturcs
that tho amount that ought to lie
subject to taxation is not less than
81 ZOO, e0e, 900. lie recommends that
real estate be assessed at n fixed va!u-
alton for four instead of two wears,
and that improvements be assessed
separately, as is now done with per-
sonal property. Some other minor
alterations III the revenue law are
also recommended. The total
amount Of state, county aud municip-
al taxes paid by tho people Of the
state in 1872 is estimated at $l4.696,-
S6l. The collection of this large
amount of money, the governor
thinks, is not as economical a bust
ness as it ought to be. In Illinois it
is estimated that five per cent. will
cover the amount of the Delinquent
cies and the cost Of collection; in
some other statce tie cost of %collcc-
ton is only two and ouc-half per
cent, but III Missouri the Delinquency
returned in 1872 was twenty-sevcl
per cent. the cost of collection was
thirteen per cent. aud the proportion
of taxes never collected was eight
per cent. The cost CT frequent ses-
siOns of the legislature is referred TO
as a burden TO the state that ought to
be avoided. This cost amounted, in
1872, 10 1921, 496,-''aII of which," the
governor ASSERTS, 'wAs unnecessary
in the sense of absolute requirement,
as regards time" The benevolent
and penal institutions of the state
make another large and unncces-
sary drain on the revenue of the
state. Tc correct This, he advises that
before any bill for appropriations to
these institutions shall he entertain
al. : I'm rt o. - -
guardians. The costs o%fcriIninal pros
e%cutioms i'll the counties is another
heavy burden to the state. These
costs in 1872 amounted to $l73.552.
These arc frequently augmented by
charges for expenses which never
occur; and to prevent this practice,
the governor rcco amends that the
costs should be paid to the county
treasurer, instead of the clerk, and
that the original fee bills themselves
be required to be sent up to tho aud
itor. In connection with these eco
nomical measures, he recommends
also the abolition of all special COM
mon pleas courts no longer needed.
The local Indebtedness OF the couu-
ties, cities and townships is stated
at $40, COO, a sum more than twice
as large as the state debt. His cx-
celleucy recommends in addition to
the registry of county bonds, the
passage of laws empowering the
state to enforce tho collection of
taxes to meet the interest on these
local bonds, and f%orbiddidg the issue
Of any local bonds hearing a higher
rate of interest than + per cent. The
riotous actions of armed mobs in
Cass and Lafayette counties are re-
ferred to as a disgrace to the reputa-
ton of the state; but the governor
has the satisfaction of stating that
indictments have been found against
the wrong-dOcrs i'll both transactions,
and that they are under bond to ap-
pear at the next term of the circuit
court for trial. To prevent the re-
curreuce of such affairs, or to bring
the offenders to prompt and speedy
justice, lie recommends certain
amendments to the criminal statutes.
The states unsettled claim awainst
the general government for ord
n amounts to nearly one million
dollars, and the governor advises
that the present adjutant general be
retained to press it to 4 conclusion
and settlement. The geological sur
Vcy IS referred to as a subject entitled
to the favorable consideration of the
legislature. and the prosecution of it
urged. The governor indorsss the
insurance commissioners rccommcn-
dation in favor ofexactin. an increase
pail up capital as a prerequisite to
the beginning of business hv irsur-
ancc companies. The Buchanan
county $4,000 slush fund comes in
for mention in the message. and the
governor advises that the rams
action be made a subject of thorough
investigation. In connection with
some extended and interesting re-
marks on the subject of chart
table and penal management, the
message states that tie total
cost of the penitcntiary for 1872
has been SiO9. 696. The labor that has
been contracted amounts to $37, G5i,
and that done for the State is estima-
ted to be worth $ll1,723. The edu-
catlonal institutions of tho state are
fla'teringly referred TO, and COM
mended to the friendly consideration
OF the legislature. The number of
children in the state of school are
for 1872 10 7O2 sol all increase of 6S.-
45S over 1871. The number attend
ing school in 1872 was 362, l79, an in