The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-01-18


made very satisfactory beginning. and
calls for further aid nj your hands. which
1t emnently deserves.
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
The duties of the attorney general s
| Office have become very numerous ana
| important within the last few years. The
! biennial report of the attorney general
| shows the number and character of the
| suits in which the state has had IN inter-
! est-a very large number OF the cases IN
volving large sums of money FOR past due
! taxes from corporations. III Is Il source
of satisfaction to know that nearly all of
! these cases have been disposed of III ia
vOr of the validity of the tax assessments,
! and the taxes have accordingly been paid
respectfully ask your attention 10 the
suggestions of the attorney general In re-
| htiOn to the defectsi in the law governing
the prosecution Of tax injunction eases.
The case of the People &c rcl the At
! torney General rs. The Illinois Agricul-
/ tural College ut lrvington WAS appealed
to the supreme court in pursuance of the
| joint resolution of the thirtieth general
assembly. and the decision of the court
below reversed and sent back, and de-
| cree has been rendered in the court below
in conformity to the opinion Of the SUI
| preme court, and the buildings and real
lands, which had previously been con-
veyed To the college in trust, have been
Te-cOnVeyed To the state, subject To GER
tain liens. II will he necessary Tor the
| Legislature - make an appropriation sull-
cient TO pay of these liens, or such of
them rs may be finally established in or
der to protect the interests of the state.
Your attention is specially called to this
matter, us the Judgments and other liens
should be discharged. and some provis-
ion made for the disposition of the land
III accordance with the original purpose
for which the same was granted.
The attorney general has. during the
last two years, prepared and delivered to
the officers and persons calling for them,
IA large number of opinions, which are
valuable guides IN the administration of
public affairs. | recommend that you
provide for the publication and diStribu
ton. in book form, of the opinions of the
attorney general, and that you request
him to select tor publication, from the
files of his office, those of public charac-
ter and lasting interest.
EDUCATION.
The report of the superintendent of
public instruction Is we'll worthy OF your
consideration. 1t contains much vallia
bic information on the subject of educa-
lloIl, anu SuSStStS ultllN lIlttHSCo vi lilC
present law. to which invite your atten
ton.
The condition and affairs of the two
normal universities are ably presented in
the reports OF their trustees and officers,
from which you Can learn what ltglSla-
ton is necessary for their benefit. These
institutions are doing u very useful work
rs Il necessary adjunct Of our common
school system. The wisest economy die
tates liberal provision for the mainten
ance of our common schools and these
universities. They belong to IL depart
ment of the government which is now
fully recognized. in all civilized states. us
an important factor in inSuring prosperity
and preserving public order.
BY the acceptance of the endowment
fund contributed by the United States,
Illinois has. rs think, very wisely under
taken, in the industrial university at
Champaign. to found Il state university
in the fullest and broadcast sense. In ODE
dience to the practical spirit of the age,
the design has been to provide a school
where the youth of our state can acquire
tie scientific rudiments needed in their
several callings and pursuits IN life, with
opportunities for the highest literary and
artistic culture. The institution has en-
tered on its second decade and gives the
brightest promises of a long career of
honor and usefulness. The reports of its
officers and trustees show its condition,
and recommend the appropriations for
which they ask.
AGRICULTURE.
Illinois is prceminently an agricultural
state, and caasc, likely to aid in the more
rapid development of our agricultural re-
sources should receive careful, attention. Our
soil and climate are peculiarly adapted to
the profitable production of a great variety
of crops. Much the larger portion of our
people are engaged IN agricultural pursuits,
and proper recognition of this Wealth-pro-
ducing class, | trust, will not be overlooked in
your deliberations. Legislation for the pro-
lection Of sheep, and for the prevention, rs
far ~ possible, of diseases among farm ami.
mails, is especially demanded.
The department of agriculture, under the
control of the state board OF agriculture, has
rendered the state valuable service and de-
serves more than "A passing notice. The re
ports of the condition of the growing crops,
published by that department IN monthly cir
culars, are highly valued by all interested in
our productions. Complete statistics of the
agricultural resources Of the state are most
useful, and whatever legislation may be
deemed necessary 10 secure them, and insure
their accuracy, should be adopted.
The state agricultural museum, rs an ad-
vertSemcut of our varied resources, and is
"a means of exhibit of our products to our own
citizens and visitors from abroad, promises,
when complete, to be a valuable collection,
and is worthy of support.
recommend the usual appropriations in
aud OF the department of agriculture of the
State Horticultural Society, and for the cX-
pcnscS Cf the state cnIomolOgst