Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-13

| whenever it would be lust to do 80. 4,
| time, are dull ana prccariuus, and labor
| and the cost Of living very much re-
| duced. the civil service can be maintain
| ed on less compensation than in more
| prosperous times Criminal costs. in
GLIDING the sum above specified, have
been audited during the past two wears
to the amount OF S411 l54 65. This
much cost is created by the presence OF
unnecessary witnesses, the result per
haps, OF supposed right to call any
one as witness, whether or not his ties
| timony would be material to the issue
submit that safeguards should be de-
! Vised to protect the interest Of the state
agalnt such abuses. As the state has t.
pay the cost generally where the ques-
ton of ITS payment il between the state
and an individual. there is. fear. :.
culpable indifference in many respects
to that economy in the creation OF costs
which should be rigid!y observed by Of
ficers and parties
The fees and compensation allowed BY
law for the transportation of prisoners
10 the penitentiary should be reduced.
They are in many cases and respects ex-
Urbitant The details for charges for
such transportation, as may be seen in
the auditors report, vii! fully corrobo-
rate this assertion. AS one evidence OF
the excessive cost. am advised that 10.
every Two convicls (gereraliy brought
IN pairs) transported from st. Louis IL
the prison, there is profit Of some $50,
| above actual expenses, to the officers tol
service ot less than twenty-tuur hours
! During the canvass some candidates
for the office of collector OF the revsuue.
sought election upon promises that il
elected they would retain only halt OF
the compensation allowed by law
| Tor collecting. and devote the other L.
some public purpose; and whenever the
qualifications favored, they We're nc
doubt successful. Such facts as these. il
connection with the reasons given Tor
reducing the compensation for othel
civil service, may Justly authorize yuu
to reduce the cost OF collecting the rev
enue to some ludlclous extent.
teel sure that in these. and in sucl
other particulars as nave been suggested
in this message. and i'll others which
may occur To your better Judgment, tn,
current expenses OF the government
with i limitation on extraordinary ap
propriatiOns to subjects that dcmauc
present and immediate relief, can be IT..
irenched to such an extent as to eu;,hl,
the treasury 10 lqui,iate all indebted
cess OF the state 10 accrue during til,
present biennial period
REVISION OF TIE STATUTE LAWS
The constitution requires L revision
digest and PRONUNCIATION Of state laws Q
q general nature, both civil ;tad crimi
nal, within five years from its adoption
This revision mas. 1c made by this %
the next general assembly. 1t would h,
expensive and quite impracticable for
legislature 10 undertake. il, and, there
tore. would advise that three revisor.
be appointed. TO do the work in vacation
and make report thereof I" the next gen
eral assembly. This has been the prac.
:lce heretofore in this as well is in othe
states. OF course persons especially
qualified tor such labUrs should be alp
pointed They should be allowed tle
use OF not mure than two clerks The
per diem Of revisUrs and their clerk!
should be fixed by law. and the commits
sions on printing directed to furnish nee
essarv paper and stationery. 1t shoul,
be an additional duty for the revisors I,
revise all local and special acts, \ fleet
ing the administration Of Justice, 50 n
70 make them nlore uniform and to re
move antiquities and uncertain mean
Iugs.
tLEKks Oh CERTAIN Cuuirs OF RECORD
The elections and terms of clerks 0
courts ui record were authorized bv sec
ton - Of article Il of the constitution o
tinted III the present constitution. no
their election provided for by any exist
ing law, 1t is L matter OF the highes
public Importance that Legislation oil
the subject should not fail of adoption
SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCCIT.
Benton county comprises the ell
tire circuit. and the Judge receives tn
same salary that ether circuit Judge
. do. That Judicial lsbors in that ricin
" may be more nearly equaliled, cour
ties from neighboring circuits should b
added 10 this Que.
SUPREME COURT.
Owing to the great cost ut priu,iu
the dockets. about 81 POO year. whc
, in all probability not more than ont
fourth of the cases would be hear
during the year, the law should h
changed to allow the court to direct il
, publication from time to time as it ma
, deem best. As this court has bee
consolidated and its SESSIONS confined t
the capitol, which does not afford su
ticient room and accommodations for tn
G Judges, committees of the two house
and state officers. it becomes the dut
! of the state to build court house wit
all necessary departments for their ust
o 1t should be erected in the soulh-eas
: quarter of the capitol grounds. thre
3 stories high, with a basement. and {
a light quality of stone and color wit
: those OF the capitol and armory
should be commouious enough 10 allo
!, of proper sized court room. librar
a room with ample capacity for at lea
$4,000 volumes, a clerk office wit
a fire proof vaults for records, ten judge
: rooms large enough tor health and con
o fort. and 4 ianitor's room. Such
building could be erected mainly vii
= convict labor. An appropriation wouI
y have to be made 10 cover the eXpen:
! of an architect and such necessary mat
y rial Is could not be supplied by th
:. kind of labor. In building such a hous
"a the future OF the state and necessity
: increasing III an early day the number
~ Judges. shouid be considered and d
i. termine its architecture, capacit
: strength and completeness.
V REGISTER OF LANDS.
e This Office has been diligent in reCO
II ering from the general government sue
S indemnites rs the several counties ha'
5 been entitled 10 under the law in regaI
to swamp lands. The general result
" the action OF this department may
II seen in the following iacts:
o CASH INDEMNITY
,f Amoun, received dining 1875 AMI ls.s s.?, ,Gss
. Dus on prouis made IN lo's, but not yet
- lbati 40
II LAND INDEMNITY.
= Lands patented to the state durr
r. 1873 and 1876, 2.62S 55-l00 acres.
Due on proofs made during 1870, IL
: which location certificates have been /
,. ceived. the lands located and the pslen
>, applied tor, 5000 acres.
Due cn-proots made during 1876, f
!; which no certificates have been receive
; IL. tju .ll-lt0 acres.
o NEW SELECTIONS.
g Selections tor which patents ha'
: approved by the department OF the i
- terror for which patents have not BET
:: received, 81 ,57S acres.
J. Selections submitted to this depar
u mcnt for approval, 59,97l 29-l0O acre