Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-19

gers and freight. The constitutionality of the
law has been affirmed by the highest court of
the nation. The principle Of the control of
railway and other corporations created by and
under the statutes of the State. is based on a
| natural law and pertains to the State in her
sovereign capacity; and cannot be surrendered.
1t therefore follows that the application of the
principle becomes simply question of policy.
| Railway and all other corporations engaged in
public business should be controlled by statute
in such manner as shall work for the best in
| terests of both corporations and State. While
corporate property should be rigidly compelled
to bear the same burden of taxation and re-
ssponsibility to law that the State. exacts
from the individual it is also en-
titled to equal protection in all its rights, to
| that which the law accords the citizen. It
should be the settled policy Of the state to en-
courage by wise and liberal legislation, the in
vestment of foreign capital within her limits
which is SO much needed for her growth and
development in the future,-and all legislation
that may affect this future should be wisely
| considered. Every dollar of such capital,
whether invested in railways, manufactures, or
any description of corporate property, is an adj
d1tlon to the taxable property and permanent
| wealth. OF the state. The tariff law has been in
operation something over three years, and am
| pie opportunity has been given to observe its
operations, and it therefore devolves on this
| general assembly to remedy its defects, if any
have been developed. Some portions Of the
State favor the law it u.s. while other sections
ask for its modification the ground that
| their products are taxed more for transporta-
ton than they should be, and that the law in
its present form is discrimination against
| their interests: These different opinions in re-
gard to the law are the result of its workings in
different localities and this condition Of affairs
/ Il i
per remedy. If on examination the law should
| be found to work injustice to any portion of
the state, it ought to be modified or some diff
ferent application of the principle of control
should be resorted to, in order that the produc-
ing interests of the state; which are the basis
of her prosperity, may be harmonized and pro-
tected.
1t is believed by many, and experience in
other states would seem to give ground for
| such belief that inasmuch the decision of
the supreme court of the United States has CIV
en- the state absolute power in this matter, there
| would be necessity for the state to fix in
| flexible rates, and that the knowledge on the
part of railway corporations, that the state may
unrest1ictedly exercise this power at any time,
| would insure on their part justice to the people
and ready obedience to the natural laws of
trade. 1t may be well to consider whether it
would not be for the best interest
of the state to establish a board of commits
sioners; it has been done advantageously in other
States-whose duty it should be to collate sta
| tistics in regard to the cost Of constructing,
| maintaining, and operating railways, with au-
| thorlty to examine into the causes and nature
of accidents, to receive, record, and report
grievances, abuses and violations of law, and
to make recommendations in relation thereto
By this method future general assemblies
would have reliable data on which to base leg
islation.
EDUCATION.
()IJrcT ycfnr prfy h to 0p tba
pride of all, and their efficiency should be pro-
NOTED by all proper means within our power.
The large amount of money for their support,
which is cheerfully paid by people, year by
year, evidences the interest taken by them in
the cause Of education. While the average
daily attendance ON the schools throughout the
State is large, yet it will be found on exami-
nation that a large percentage of children do
not attend school at all, and it is to be feared
that many OF these are growing up in ignor-
ance, which lis near akin to vice." The sue
cess of Republican form of government, such
Us we are blessed with rests in large degree
on the intelligence Of It's citizens. Recognizing
| therefore the broad fnct that the education of
all the people is for the best interest Of the
State and nation, has not the time come for
| Iowa, which has ever been foremost in foster
:. ing educational interests, to adopt some system
of compulsory education? This might as an
experiment. be applied to children under four
teen years of age, who should be required by
law to attend either public private schools,
at the option of their parents, and the enforce
ment, of the law might, as part of the expert
ment be left to the local school boards of the
respective school districts Compulsory cdu-
cation has been in operation in Germany for
many years. In 1870 England adopted a lin
ted compulsory education act. which left it's
enforcement to the local school boards.
In four years the law has been put in
operation by the school boards representing
fcr No LOTT hot
country. Two years later, the act was made q
general one. Scotland adopted compulsory ed
ucation in 1872. The operation of these laws
in Germany, England, and Scotland is report
ed as being eminently successful.
In our own country, Massachusetts Connec
ticut, New York, Maine, New Hampshire
Michigan, Texas, Nevada, California, New
Jersey and Ohio have adopted laws in regard
to compulsory education. In all these States
it has been found to work benefcially, and the
opposition which at first was manifested against
the new system has ceased, and the better its
workings are understood the more it is grow.
ing in public favor.
The State University is recognized by the
constitution, and is under the guardianship O.
the General Assembly. Its growth has beer
commensurate with the growth Of the State II
order to enable it to fairly fulfill its part as al
important factor in our grand system of popu
lar education, it should be supported by tn
State with generosity, and due regard to it.
increasing necessities. Its revenues are no
equal to its requirements, and it is compelled
to come before the General Assembly at eac]
. session as supplicant for pecuniary aid. TIL
uncertainty of the amount of the appropria
tions at the hands of the General Assembly
J renders it impossible for the board Of regent
} to make any definite and comprehensive pla,
that would under more favorable pecuniar
| conditions enable them year by year to develo1
; the University to it's largest degree of useful
| ness. permanent appropriation of d certai
| sum annually-even of small amount-woul
!, accomplish this object and at once place it on
| basis that could not but add materially to it
efficiency, and in the course of few year
make the University what it was intended to b
: the cap-sheaf of our educational system.
CITIES.
2 The administration Of the affairs of GU
cities demands your consideration and after
ton. While they are, comparatively speaking
yet in their infancy, it would be wise to ador
some uniform system of safeguards for th
vent the loose and careless expenditure of mt
Y nicipal funds of which the cities in some c
< the older States are now experiencing the ba
4 results. 1t is already q cause of general con
e plant by the Taxpayers of our cities that the
l municipal affairs are conducted too loosely an
: without due regard to their interests. Man
t Of the cities are already hampered in the
t GROWTH by debts incurred for various purpose
i which are increasing in amount year by yea
, No city should be permitted to contract an ii
e terest-bearing debt without first submittin
/ the question of mourning the same to vote
: the taxpayers, and it should be required that
:, specific fund should be provided to meet tt
e interest and sinking fund to nav the prime