Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-01-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

OF REPRESENTATIVES,:
After two years. silence the voice OF
the people, emphasized by the legislative
action of the representatives, is again to
be heard. In compliance with my con.
stitutional duty, and to aid In directing
your attention to matters which require
consideration, I submit to you sum
mary of the condition of the State and
its various institutions, accompanied by
the recommendation of such measures
as seem to me expedient.
The reports OF the Auditor Of State
and the Treasurer of State, herewith
submitted, show the condition of the
public finances to be satisfactory, and
that the duties of these officers have
been diligently and carefully performed.
The Auditor reports that there has been
received into the treasury on account OF
general fund in the last two years
1894, 412.24; that the balance in the
treasury at date of former report was
$31, 2l7.66; making a total State reve'
nue. from all sources Of $1,97s,829 30.
There has been disbuIsed during the
biennial period, $1,975,5l22A leaving a
balance in the treasury OF %, 114.66. 10
this balance should be added tho State
revenue In the different county treasu-
ries which, had not been ordered in at the
date Of this report, amounting to $l47,-
649 40, and which is properly part OF
the cash assets Of the State Treasury.
The Auditor estimates the receipts for
the general fund which will come into
the treasury from all sources during the
two coming years at 81, 962, 900, and the
ordinary expenditures, as provided for
by existing law, at 81 ,553,927, leaving
balance of $4O8,073 to be applied to
such purposes as the General Assembly
NAV deem necessary and wise.
/ desire to call attention to the vari-
ous recommendations which will be
found in the text Of the Auditors com.
prehensivs and valuable report. Tho
nature of his duties has suggested to his
mind several reforms in the manage
ment of the revenues of the State, which
are worthy of serious consideration by
LEGISLATORS. To the following sugges-
tions. viz: to make the appropriation
wear and fiscal year begin and end on
the same day; to hold the counties re-
sporsible for the collection and pay
mont into the treasury Of the State tax;
to give the board of equalization power
to eousllze between the realty in cities
and the lands outside the corporations,
in counties where such action Is re-
ouired, the same as is now done between
different counties; to tax in general
way many species of property which,
from the failure of the local assessors to
reach them, now escape their just share
of the public burden; to require State
banking companies to file In the audit
or's office duplicate articles Of incerpo-
ration; to affix penalty upon counties
misapplying the insane hospital fund;
to charge interest to counties whose
treasurers have created deficiency in
the general re7enue when such def =
cheney is not made good by the county
within six months from the date OF ad-
justmcnt; to put European insurance
companies upon the same footing as
home companies; to authorize the
Auditor to admit, or reject for sufficient
cause, companies seeking to work In this
State, and to order the payment OF ex-
aminers Independent of the company
examined; and to retire the redeemable
permanent school fund bonds and dis
tribute the money to counties in which
it can be loaned. I wish to add my ap-
proval and urge them upon your atten-
ton. I would also recommend that the
fiscal year be made to begin month
earlier than it does under the present
law, in order that the reports may be
prepared at a corrcspondingly earlier
day.
The report of the Treasurer shows the
amounts of the several funds which have
come into his hands during the two
wears, and how and to what purpose
they have been applied. would direct
your attention to his suggestion in rela.
ton to the per centtsn of swamp-land in
demnity fund retained in the treasury
under the law to reimburse the state for
money paid to agents OF the counties,
and would second his recommendation
that the amount so retained be trans
ferred to the general revenue. His re-
marks relative to the agricultural col.
lege endowment fund. fully and clearly
define the status of the portion of that
fund now in the treasury, and which
under the limitations of the law of Con-
gress he has been unable to invest in
either state or United States bonds.
The board of trustees of the agricultural
college in their report upon that institu-
ton make some valuable suggestions in
relation to this fund, which should be
read in connection with the remarks of
the Treasurer. 1t seems to me that the
General Assembly should at an early day
of the session consider the propriety Of
either using the money in the manner
suggested by the board, and paying a
reasonable interest therefor to be used
in support of the college, or of author
izing the Treasurer to invest it in other
safe bonds than those of the State or
United States, or of petitioning Congress
to permit wider latitude IN the use of
the interest fund than was contemplate
ed by the law making the grants.
This last suggestion, however, implies
so much time IN its con-
summation, and is withal 80 uncer-
tain of success, that l am strongly Of the
opinion the legislature should give some
authoritative directions in respect to it.
The interest upon this large sum is 80
much needed to enable that institution
to keep pace in its appointments with
the growing popularity Of Its currlcu.
lum among the people that this lesisla-
ture should not adjourn, trusting tho
contingency of come future action Of
Congress. to make this fund available.
The appendix to the Treasurer's report
comprises statement of the disposition
made of the property which was trans
ferred to the agricultural college by
Major Rankin, and turned oyer to the
State in compliance with section 4,
chapter rs, acts of the Fifteenth General
Assembly. Under this law the executive