The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-01-20
GOV. W INAUGURAL.
The following is an abstract of GOV.
Kirkwood's inaugural message, delivered
to the General Assembly on the 18th:

Al oOd iuadS"Hi "iSSSnS~1
to the General Assembly on the 18th:
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Fears have of late been freely expressed in GER
tain states and to some extent in our own. that II
is 4 settled purpose with some to divert the school
fund from its legitimate object and use it, at least
partially, for the maintenance OF private aud sec
farian schools, and thus eventually to destroy the
school system. | hope this is q ~groundless fear,
or that, If such purpose has been entertained. it
will be abandoned. Persistence in ii will certainty
place those engaged in it in direct hostility to the
settled and cherished policy OF the State, and it is
worthy their grave consideration whether they
shall assume that attitude. Ii belongs 10 you to
inquire whether any ground EXITS for the fears 1
have indicated as subsisting: and il so to do what
may he needed to guard against any probable or
possible danger.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
1t is found to be a part of the criminal law Of
the State that u person convicted OF crime, after a
fair ana impartial trial in The proper court, may
have his conviction set aside because Of some in
Formally or irregularity in the formation of the
Grand Jury by which the indictment against him
was presented. 1 consider this q seFions defect in
our criminal law and recommend that the statute
be 20 changed that upon the imPaneiins OF Grand
Juries the proper officers shall certify OF record to
the regularity OF all the proceedings and that such
certificate shall be conclusive.
TRANSPORTATION.
The growth OF railroad corporations is demon.
strsted, and the subject thus pufsued'
The result is that, unless the people can in some
way prevent it, the companies controlling the main
through lines have it in their power to fix the price
OF carrying persons and property at Just such sum
as. in heir own Judgment of what is to their own
interest. seems to them proper. To-day, four gen
tlemen in Chicago, representing the four through
lines Of railroad from that city TO the Missouri
River, can, al their own Will and pleasure, add TO
ortake from the value OF every bushel Of grain and
every head Of live stock in the State ofIowa. The
same condition OF affairs obtains in Chicago with
tile four main lines leading TO Baltimore, Phia-
delphia and New York. At the last
session Of the General Assembly Of this State, a
law was passed intended to limit and control. to
some extent, the privileges and powers Of railroad
The law Of this State must of necessity have
been to a great extent experimental. The subject
was a new one; 1t involved many dificHIt qnes-
tons and much OF detail. Recommend TO you a
careful examination Of the law in the light of the
experience OF its officers since its adoption. IL you
shall ttud that in any Of its provisions it works I'm
justly and unfairly to the lnilroad companies, or
that it fails to afford to the people that degree Of
protection to which they are fairly and justly en-
titled, such detect should be remcdied.
l do not recommend the repeal of the law.
On the contrary. l advocate lis retention on our
statute books, with such amendments AS your
wisdom may suggest as calculated TO do justice,
both to the people and to the railroad companies.
laiso recommend to you a careful, examination OF
the question whether you cannot by law prevent
the combination among what should be compel
Ing lines 10 which have already alluded.
also recommend the appointment of a Board
of Railroad Commissioners, whose duty, among
other things. it shall be to collect and lay before
the General Assembly at each regular session such
information in regard to the railroads OF the State
as will enable future General Assemblies to act
with reference to them with a knowledge OF many
particulars that cannot be otherwise obtained. |
think it important that the question Of the power of
the States to limit the charges OF railroad compa-
mics within their respected boundaries, and the
power Of Congress to limit such charges on inter-
State trade. shall be settled by the Supreme Court
OF the United States, so that, in case this power
shall be held to reside in the State and national
authorities respectively, we may go on and per
feet such legislation MS may be found necessary
and proper for ourselves. and the Federal Con
gress be urged 10 exercise its authority in the pre-
rention OF abuses in the great carrying trade of
the country.
Various modes have been suggested by which
the public interest can be protected in this regard,
if ii shall be found we cannot do so by statutory
enactment. Among these the opening up by the
General Government of lines of water communIca-
ton through the country, and the building Of one
or more trunk lines of freight railroads, the use Of
which shall be open to all, have been advocated.
Either OF these plans would involve the expendi-
ture of more money than our Government is now
well prepared TO spend. But, il in no other way
the end can be gained, this difficulty will be over
come.
Let us examine this question In all its parts,
calmly and carefully. without passion and without
prejudice. Our people are not hostile to railroads
or railroad companies. On the contrary, We ap-
preCiate fully and cOncede freely The great benefits
our State has gained from these works, and We
have always contributed freely of our means to
their prosecution. We know, too, that our future
prosperity depends largely upon their maintenance
and success. But, to the claim of their managers
that they, like other business men, must be al
Io"co 10 manage inelr business affairs ~ lnelt v
Wy MltHoun lharreden0e m uit ~" ~
business so directly and vitality affects the
interest OF every cttlzeh lhat II Is lhe
guy Oh tne HIate 10 see 10 II that 5he PIN-
lle-es Sidhttu 10 mem ior lhe puDlc goou' ana the
power they claim to have, are not abused TO the
public injury; and, second, that they do not man
age lhelr business %AaiFe IN lHe same way as olhet
BUSINESS men 90. / mink l am sale ID Saying thit
if the managers of these roads will, IN fact and
~ Eoou ialth' apaho3l inc system OF Gohlpihhtloh'
Il tnt companies VIII uePy;il, as olheF BUSINESS
enterprises 90. upon Ihe skill ana courtesy Oh lheit
agents upon the laclHilcs thcy oncrlor tne Trans
ACTON OF business, an" upon tue che"piesh WIN
"hlCh lhey can 90 IL, lhey WIN nhu active ana
earnest friendship instead OF jealousy ana hostil-
ny; ana that IN lneir case, as IN All otheI7' the
rlShl way 10 40 ~ahytllliS Is ne pest way 10 olt.
me "9yernor $ remarks OF a hnanciai character
GGt out OF the usual channel OF State hscai eN,
hinlls' ana trench upon inc purNle" OF PolHlcal
economy:
lne nIihclal cohGiil9h OF Lhe country Is nor 50
favorable as we could desire, INT perhaps a. much
as we can reasonably expect. we borrowed during
the clyli war, ahd III consequence OF IL, hearIy OF
quite S3,coo!!1Vp, ana spent tne money, as al
nations mus N war Inle:, ItNlshl!. iIIio
lhote OF men IN eoth armies were "lIharaWn rom
ptoauCIEe pnrsIlis anu We're engaged IN Sonsu'l,
,is aud destroying inc Prouucls OF INC iapoF u
those not IN the held: Inc government bouSht our
lfu,uucls win D"h9s anu paper money AZ MN
PII'''' anu we hal uAT'uS 'He war anu q a sl"Is
i!!hle aitcr IT. close "hAt many OF us cailcu goou
tthics, ont our tnen E9Gu JnGs were Spnu ON! IA
tie sense that an lhulNldual Wouiu haNe Eonu
TIMES VINO snoulu mortgage ms PiopeFiy hea1lty
ana spend the money IN extr.yaSaht hsihS. Tue
MONEY raiEsI ~ u on our h1Iionii mortSTse VIZ
sP.nt t"P,"Is "nu ",iNaI9i We Josi'eu w II, y
T. iue, LIZ. a. p"U u Vi PlLgeuTHs ;"nue; a reo,OJa
nIl"n' nut 4ia no. sscuFe h!tnInso a marmG'aU,e
NaLne' III IA sne II.'eE seIsJ tne ntones SpSn. va
I"si' lue So-CoIISu Eupu t.!'es CaHssG cN.iaNa-
sahGe IN eHpehGtlHre py tne 4Sailohal Govern-
Iltut, " t4c ol'lG anu mnl'C,p"' n
InSi H. "Hn by Oarf Sn, ,bs imn wv , Mtef fbst
4"st the .iHie c"'He 'naL 'nt 'Iotle! m"e Sill, li't
our sOl4It'S LstuFhee 10 tmelr Monies anu Dooa n
Plol"SeIs !hsteIu VI noneuLi,is' NJ 'n1 SO.Sin.
HltIt Was ny loh7cl tno pnlIn'set VI o1 a"iptHs
pLouucIs anu we NeIe oohSeu - W "a
process ol paying nusleaH y! Coi'inuIhs Nv w
my QUE VI sLShGtn5, ~ tE nj Ie-an w ~"
n.Ia' tne ~ "a - ~ ~ 50
1 lre s Ur q = nro5 s i n~ nv the Labor If
out S.tp.ua IiTuir.a, ~ y, amI ru .ba ~
ouI lenu'nSu o."iva nhn ~ Ion5'l nIeueu ~ u
sTpPoS' VI ,Sn. m rnin ,bn a ~ evA " I hu ~
stan oddrr OF nf he ,ro "a a. cnrrancyfro;n y '>
etanuaIu VI the WUi : eul:en.'. a,;u.
me CIhNequtHSe "as a ste"t anu I4Piu I'm
~ tne baaStS o. aI Me q " sen, iIe pniwsi "
M n :" g hau = pmS aao not u ~ "a ps"pIi' w.
hne nia.uia't1iels VIZ o'n1io t - - -
nopedens " u hcePin5 l"o ~ I1' p H.
- 30 nv ~ : ~, 49, : p.opo. 80 snnreadaS
Hrlcts ol ..r P.ouucLs, ana Ior a utie suTbSe &c, ~:
= dtSIlt ~ ""s az n.sa ~ -.
sntI Mu.Neg In' = " elIe. oua apii' ~ oms
was ,lliIieo oy me amount We reCelNeu iur our
ffurP ~ lroau Gus anI 9y th1 mlpr pies we W. W. no pay
lor the soogs we wished 10 purchase. We ncCes,
shrliF bohaht less; ana the mahulacturtrs l3uhu
themselves compelled TO carry large stocks OF I'M
sold goods; Slowly but surely the laws OF trade
asserted their power. The prices OF what we
"l-ned 10 buy, IN most cases. tcl 10 a proper, pro
portion 10 the prices oil what we had 70 sell. III
those not engaged IN Agricultural pursuits, As
we were the first to suffer SO we have been the
arrt 20 fet leaet: we are dong feaSo1aoiy well
onr laboIs With fair Ttetnrns we buy Mt fair
prices what w need and get fair prices for