The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-01-06
IOWA.
Biennial Message Of Gov. Car.
penter to the Sixteenth
General Assembly.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Repre-

Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Repre-
SeEEdttpeS.
After two years silence the voice Of the people,
emphasized by the legislative action of their rep
resentatiyes, is again TO be heard. In compliance
with my constitutional duty, and to aid in direct
ing your attention to matters which require con-
sideration, l submit t9 you a summary OF the con-
dition OF the State aud Its various institutions, ac-
companied by the recommendation Of such meas
ures rs 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 dill
gently and carefully performed. The Auditor re-
ports that there has been received into the Treas
ury on account of general fund in the last two
years 81 ,97 ,4l2.2; that the balance in the Treas
ury ut date of former report was 81 ,2l7.60; max
ing q total State revenue from all sources of 81
97S. 629.90. There has been disbursed during the
biennial period s ,y15, 5l2.24, leaving a balance in
the Treasury of So, 1l4.66. To this balance should
be added the State revenue in the different cOun-
ty treasures which had not been ordered in at the
date of this report, amounting to S14T ,643. AZ, and
which !. properly a part OF the cash assets OF the
State Treasury. The Auditor estimates the re-
ceipts for the general fund which will come into
the Treasury from all sources during the two COM
ing years at Il. 49,, $50, and the ordinary eXpendi-
lures, as provided for by existing law, at S ,553,&sI,
leaving . balance Of $4Oa 073 to be applied to such
purposes as the General Assembly may deem
necessary and wise
| desite To call attention to the various recon-
mendatlOns which will be found in the text OF the
Auditors comprehensive and valuable report. The
nature Of his duties has suggested to his mind
several reforms in the management of the revenues
of the state which are worthy OF serious consider
tiorby Legislators. To the following suggestions,
ayiz. 10 make the appropriation year and fiscal year
Nbegln and end on the same day; to hold the coun-
ties responsible for the collection and payment
into the Treasury of the State tax; to give the
Board of Equalization power to equalze between
the realty in cities and the lands outside the ccr-
porattons, in counties where such action Is re
quirei, the same as is now done between different
counties; to tax in a general way many species OF
property which, from the failure OF the loca! Assess.
OTIS to reach them, now escape their Just snare OF
the public burden; TO require State banking com
panieI 10 file in the Auditors office duplicate arti-
Giles Of incorporation; TO atllx a penalty upon coun-
ties mislpplying the Insane Hospital fund; to
charge Interest 10 counties whose Ireasurers have
created q deficiency in the general revenus when
such deficiency is not made good by the county
within ak months of the date of adjustment; to
pat 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 or
der The payment OF examiners Independent of the
Company examined. and to retire the redecmdble
permanent schOol-fund bonds and distribute the
money TO counties in which it can be Ioaned-i
wish 10 add my approval and urge them upon yOur
attention. | would also recommend that the tscal
year be made to begin a month earlier than it does
under the present law, in order that the reports
mav be prepared at a cOrrcEpOndingly earlier day.
The report Of the Treasurer shows the amounts
o. n" several funds which nave come into his
hands during the two years. and how and to what
pnsElS's thpN have been applied | would dr"Ct
yOug lttrntiOn to his suggestion in relation 70 the
per '.ntu0, Of swamp-and indemnity fund re
tIinHi in III" Treasury under the law to reimburse
tnv state Tor money paid 10 agents Of the counties.
and would SECOND hS recommendation that the
amount 50 retained he transferred TO the general
r-vanu.. Hi remarks relative to the Agricultural
College endowment fund fully and clearly define
N" sIytus Of III" portion of that fund now in the
Tr"usHry, md which. under the limitations Of the
law ~ Congress, h. has been unable to invest in
eitlr- state Or fnitrd States bonds. The Board of
Trustees Of the Agricultural COLLEGE in their report
upon that institution make some valuable Su4gcs-
tjDn5 IA relation 10 this fund, which should b. read
in connection with the remarks Of the Trcu-"rer.
l. seems 20 me that the Genera Assemble should
st Al nir'y day Of the session consider the propricty
Of either using the money illthe manner suggested
by ran Board. and paving a reasonable interest
therefor 20 be used ia support of the college. OF Of
authorizing the Treasurer to invest il in other safe
bonds han those of the State or nited STATES, or
Of p-titipuin- Congress to permit Il wider latitude
in the tie Of the interest fund than was COntem-
plated by the law making the grant. This
last suggestion. however. implies 70 much
time IN its Constanulation. and il withal
50 uncertain Of success, that l am strongly
OF Che opinion the Legislature should Civ" some
authoritative directions in respect TO it. The in
tere~t upon this large sum Is so much needed to
enable that institution to keep pace in its appoint
ment7 with the growing popularity Of its Curricu-
Ilm among the people that this Legislature should
NOT adjourn trusting the contingency of some
future action of Congress TO make this fund ayaila-
bic The appendix 80 the TreuSurer,s report com
prisNS 4 statement of the disposition made Of the
property which was transferred TO the Agricultural
College by Mai. Rankin, and turned over To the
STAT" in compliance with Sec. 4, Chap. IS, Acts of
the Fifteenth General Assembly. Under this law
the Executive Council was charged with the care
of thIs property. The Council appointed Capt,
Chrl-ti 10 the special duty of its custody. He has
realized On sales in money and well secured notes.
SEs2s -. There yet remain l,SSO acres Of wild
Land un@Old. estimated TO be worth $500. The
Treasurer bas given much attention to the care Of
this property, and his management thereof has
been fully approved by his associates.
In tniS connection | desire to call attention TO
the fact that the Treasurer frequently tlnds it diff
cult to obtain currency upon the drafts in which
the general revenue is now almost uniformly trans
WIttcd by the County Irrasurers. ! would suggest
That rho Auditor of State be authorized to make an
arrangement with the express companies for the
dIEr.t transmission OF the currency,
MILITARY.
TaN Al utant-General reports the transactions
Of air Office the past year. which. taken with MS
report Of the previous year. embraces the biennial
period II would reduce expense. md at the same
time bring out this report in time for the Use of
the General Assembly, which is the chief object of
its Issuance, if the law should be so amended ar
to require II to be made biennially.
TIL" Adjutunc-General thinks we should have
a well organized and efficient militia system, and
Ifal.y agree with him in this opinion. lie com
plains that the General Assembly has failed to
supply him with the means to perform the duties
which prior mandatory laws have devOlyed upon
his O1iCo. And it does seem that the Quarter
matters allowance was too limited to be OF prac-
teal utility. if he is expected to do anything for
taf encouragement of militia organizations or to
properly care for the arms, equipments, books and
other valuable military archives. ! INNER the
consideration Of the requirements Of the law, and
the clerical and other aid necessary to the per
foruIance of the duties enjoined, TO the General
Assembly,
| would particularly invite attention to the
claims of the State against the United States. If
other states through special agencies press the
collection of suspended and rejected claims we
cannot well afford to pay a pro rata toward REIN.
bursting these allowances and not at the same
time make proper efforts to collect those Of equal
validity due to Iowa.
To tho miscellaneous suggestions OF the Adju-
tant- GcneralN would direct attention; and would
slggest in addition whether it would not be well
to equip the Adiutant- Generals Office for full and
constant work and impose upon 1t the general duty
OF giving such information to the soldiers and
widows aud orphans Of the war as is now frequently
obtained by them on the payment of exorbitant
fees to attorneys. l have always believed that ev-
cry citizen of Iowa to whom a pension is justly
due, Or whose dues from the Government for serv-
ices in the war had not been fully adjusted, should
receive all proper aid in the obtainment of his just
claims without cost to himself.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The report Of the Register Of the State Land
Oebe shDys the operations OF that department