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

cation of the Mississippi and its (
in order that Iowa and a
|! the states bordering on this great i
ighway, may have the largest benc- r
It's possible to be derived from addi- !
ional facilities in the transportation
f their products. I
The fifteenth general assembly en- i
cted a law controlling the railways ,
# the state in their charges for the I
of passengers and
reight. The constitutionality of the
aw has been affirmed by the highest
,ourt in the nation. The principle of
he control Of railway and all other
created by and under
he statute of the state, is based on a
natural law and pertains to the state
n her sovereign capacity, and cannot
be surrendered. 1t therefore follows
hat the application of the principle
becomes sinplya question Of policy.
and all other corporations
in public business should be
by statute in such manner
as shall work for the best interests of
both corporations and state. While
corporate property should be rigidly |
compelled to bear the same burden
of taxation and responsibility to law
that the state exacts from the individ-
ual, it is also entitled to equal pro-
lection, in all its rights, to that which
the law accords the citizen. 1t should
be the settled policy of the state to
encourage by wise ana liberal legis-
lation the investment of foreign cap
ital 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 invest
ed in railways. manufactures, or any
description of corporate property, is
an addition to the taxable property
and permanent wealth of the state.
The tariff law has been in operation
something over three years, and
ample opportunity has been given to
observe its operations, and it there
fore devolves on this general assem-
bly, to remedy its defects, if any have
been developed. Some portions of
the state favor the law as it is, while
other sections ask for it's modifica-
ton on the ground that their products
are taxed more for transportation
than they should be, and
that the law in its present
form is discrimination against
their interests. These different opin-
ions in regard to the law are the re-
suits of its workings in different To-
calities, and this condition of affairs
demands your careful attention as to
the proper remedy. lion examina.
ton 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 Or.
der that the producing interests Of
the state, which are the basis of hel
prosperity, may be harmonized and
protected.
tits believed by many, and expe
rience in other states would seem tt
give ground for such belief, that in
asmuch as the decision of the su
, prerne court of the United States has
given the state absolute power in thi
! matter there would be no necessity
. for the state to fix inflexible rates
and that the knowledge on the par
of railway corporations, that the stat
may unrestrictedfy exersise this pow
er OF any time, would insure on thei
part justice to the people and q read,
obedience to the natural laws oftrade
It may be we'll to consider whether
: would notbe for the best interest of tn
. state to establish board Of commits
sioners-as has been done advantage
ously in other states-whose duty
, should be to collate statistics in re
gard to the cost of constructing, main
tanning and operating railways. wit
. authority to examine into the cause
); and nature of accidents, to receiv,
I record and report grievances, abuse
and violations of law, and to max
= recommendations in relation thereto
By this method future general Assem-
!, Iblies would have reliable data o
(which to base legislation.
t EDUCATION.
: Our system of public schools
. Justly the pride of all, and their eff
l cheney should be promoted by ever
D means in our power. The larg
D amount of money for their supper
!, which is cheerfully paid by our PEG
+ pie, year by year, evidences the inter
est taken by them in the cause of ed
! ucation. While the average daily al
tendance on the schools Throughout
the state is large, yet it will be foun,
r on examination that a large percent
t age of children do not attend schot
9 at all, and it is to be feared that man
s of these are growing up in Ignorance
e which "near akin to vice." The sue
: cess Of republican form of govern
i ment, such as we are blessed will
9 rests in large degree on the intelli
: gence of it's citizens. Recognizin
e therefore the broad fact that the edu
r cation of all the people is for the bes
interest Of the state and nation, ha
: not the time come for Iowa, whic
: has ever been foremost in fosterin
e educational interests, to adopt som
n system of compulsory education ?
: This might, as an experiment, be al
y piled to children under fourtee
o years of age, who should be require
y by law to attend either public or pr
# vate schools, at the option of the pr
e rents, and the enforcement of the la,
Q might as a part of the experiment /
left to the local school-boards of til
It respective school-districts. Compu
|. sorry education has been in operatio
Z, in Germany for great many year
G In 1870, England adopted "limited
# compulsory education act. which lie
e its enforcement to the local schoo
l. boards. In four years the law ha
k been put in operation by the schoo
o boards representing forty-siX pr
: cent. of the population of that cou1
q try. Two years later the act W.
y made general one. Scotland adop
# ed compulsory education in 1872
II The operation of these laws in &c
.. many, England and Scotland, is r,
l. ported as being eminently successful
e Connecticut, New York, Maine, Ne
= Hampshire, Michigan, Texas, Nevad
d California, New Jersey and Obi
IS have adopted laws in regard to con
d pulsory education. In all these stats
a it has been found to work benei
I, cially and the opposition which
n first was manifested against The ne
70 system has ceased, and the better j
8 workings are understood the more
o is growing in public favor.
q The state university is recognize
d by the constitution, and is under th
Q guardianship of the general assembl
# It's growth has been commensurate
e with the growth of the state. In o
y der to enable il to fairly fulfill i
l. part as an important factor, in OF
d grand system of popular education
is it should be supported by the sta,
y with generosity, and q due regar
n to its Increasing necessities. Its re-
IT enues are not equal to its requir
r ments, and It is compelled to con
It before the general assembly at eae
l. session as "a suppliant for pecunial
g aid. The uncertainty of the amour
% Of the appropriations at the hands
a the general assembly render
10 it impossible for the board ofregen
n to make any definite and comprehel
n sive plan that would under more f
rs vorable pecuniary conditions enab
le them year by year to develop the nm
N versity to its largest degree of usefu
" ness. A permanent appropriation
Df q certain sum annually--even if Of