Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-01-23

few. This is, perhaps, owing to the
fact that the administration of affairs
Of cities are vested in boards of alder
men. usually composed Of from six to
fourteen members, who are immedi-
Ate representatives of smaller munic-
ipal Subdivisions fact frequently
in combinations which are
prejudicial to the general interests.
1t is well-grcunded conviction in
the minds of many that the financial
interests of the cities of the state
would be better subserved by placing
the management Of their affairs in
boards of commissiOners-ele at
large-somewhat similar to the sys-
tenn under which the affairs Of our
counties are SO well managed, and l
suggest that commission be appoint
ed to report to this or this or the next
general assembly the propriety of
placing the cities and towns of the
state under some more simple, uni
form, and economical system of mu-
nicipal government than we now
have.
COZ ri ENPENsES.
call your attention especially to the
fact that the expenses attendant on
and incident to our court system are
large and increasing annually to a de-
gree that causes serious apprehension
and complaint on the part of the peo-
pie. This demands your careful con-
sideration, that remedial action may
be taken which will give relief to the
taxpayers.
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
1t is thought by close and compe-
tent observers that the present meth
cd of managing our public roads and
highways is neither efficient nor eco
nomical, and that the time has arriv-
ed for change. That the general
condition of these thorougfares is far
from being satisfactory will not be
denied, nor is it matter Of doubt
that the losses imposed upon the COM
munity, by reason thereof, are enor-
nous. The closing month Of the
year just past, during which an al
most absolute embargo was laid on
traffic, has furnished vivid illustra-
ton of the importance of this sub.
iect, and its earnest and thorough
consideration recommends itself.
CONVICT INSANE.
Attention should be given to the
report of the superintendent of the
hospital for the insane at Mount
Pleasant in regard to the keeping Of
insane convicts in that asylum, and tc
the bad results therefrom, for the rea
sons given in that report. 1t is clear
ly evident that this is detrimental te
the other inmates of that institution
: A suitable building should be erected
on the asylum grounds at small ex
} pense to the state, in which the insan,
convicts would have requisite medi
( cal attention, and the other patients b.
!, spared the disturbing and demoraliz
:. ing influences they are now subject to
rENITENTIARY.
: Section forly-six hundred and six
= ty-seven (4667) of the code permit
! the wardens of the state penitentia
ries to draw from the general supper
!. fund of the prisons fuel, lights, ant
: provisions for their families AM
: guests. This is liable to abuse, AM
should be amended by paying tn
. wardens certain sum per annum II
d lieu Of all allowances.
v FEES AND PERQuIsITEs.
9, The custom Of allowing state, coun
# IT, or city officials fees as parts Of o
lie in addition to their salaries is mos
= pernicious one, and is demoralizin
ir in its effects on the receivers thereo
y / recommend that all fees accruin
e. to any officer, above the Office of cor
it stable, be paid into the treasury er
lie titled thereto, and that the stat
s. county, and city officials be paid
e. fixed sum as salary.
IL POLICE.
e. Section thirty-nine hundred an
y, y, one (390l) of the code in regard
~ the sale of coal oil and burning fluid
% should be amended. A large pre-
e, portion Of the coal oil sold in tn
- state is of the lowest grade manufa'
- tured. Many of the accidents result
o. ing from the use of this article al
u directly traceable to the fact that til
~ low grades of oil are highly infan
mable at comparatively low ten
perature. The sale of all coal oil {
is less than one hundred and thirty
H. one hundred and fifty standard fir
~ test should be prohibited.
,e A statute should also be enacte
t, regarding the doors Of building
D. used for schools, churches, and othe
r. public assemblages, which door
l. should be required to be constructe
t.. to open outward, in order that
1t case of fire egress from the san
ID could be safely and speedily accom-
t. plished.
oil MEDICAL.
~ / have been earsnestly requisite
e, by the medical profession from di
c. ferent portions of the state to ca
n your attention to the necessity of e
n, tablishing state board of healt
l. such as our neighboring states hal
'g in operation, whose duty it should
L. to pass upon the qualifications
st practicing physicians, in order tn
as the people may be protected fro
IN empiricism.
g BOARD OF CHARITIES.
~ / suggest that state board Of cha
~. tiles be established, whose duty
IN q shall be to have supervision over Il
al constructing and repairing of all Il
j. state buildings used for charitab
a. purposes, with authority to examil
VI into their condition from time
he time, and report the same to the &c
be eral assembly at each session, couple
IL with such recommendations regar
IN ing their management and necesf
y. ties as may in their judgment be be
~ for the interest of the state and q
e, institutions. The reports of Il
H. board would be found to afford
,d sure guidance for the general assen
H. bly, on which to base appropriation
or The organization of board of tn
character would relieve the gener
as assembly from the necessity Of q
IT. pointing at each session "visitil
committees" to inspect the state
~. situations. The states which ha'
a. adopted this system have found it
II work benefcially and in the intere
r. of economy.
!" During the past year kind Prov
~ dence has rewarded the labor of Il
~. husbandman with bountiful return
as and the statistics show that the sta
A. has an immense surplus of grain al
at other products for export, the avail
W. of which, even at the present 10
;ts prices, must tend to the prosperity
If all her people. The growth and q
velopment ofthe state since her g.
Oh mission into the Union has been o
be ward and upward in a constantly l
~ creasing ratio. In the short space.
fe thirty-one years her population b
~. increased from less than one hundr'
;ts thousand until to-day nearly one al
mr. q half million OF free people are pr
N tected by her laws. Favorably 81
te uated in the valley Of the Missi
I'd sippi and on the great highway fro
~. ocean to ocean, with rich ar
%. fertile soil, coal and other valuab
No minerals underlying large portions
oh it, q salubrious climate, railways pc
~ etrating nearly every one of her cou
~ ties, thus affording facilities for Il
~ transportation of her products, and
nc addition to these natural and mate
ia ial advantages, possessing an unsu
'AS ,,a ocal cvo%av, ~ froa onhnn1a, 1nU