Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-15

it not be equitable to permit all the creditors to
share in the benefits Of the attachment upon
filing their claims, and paying their pro-rata
share of the expense, before judicial termina-
ton is had; this would, in q degee remedy the
evils and lessen the expense, growing out OF
the repeal Of the Bankrupt law, and would in
sure all parties in interest their pro-rata share
Of the debtors assets.
REDUCTION AND ADJUSTMENT OF SALARIES.
! Much has been said of late In regard to COM
pensatlon Of public officials, the same beng
thought in some cases excessive A corrective
therefor, if the fact be found to exist, will be
expected at your hands If the sy tenn Of pay
ment by fees could be done away with alto
| gether, and one looking to compensation by
fixed allowance, varied according TO population,
substituted therefor, the fees going into the
| public funds, am inclined to think the change
| would be satisfactory to the people generally
The mode Of compensation by fees has been
entirely abolished in the State offices, the last
| General Assembly having completed the work ;
and the present system does so well that it is
not likely to be disturbed.
| At present, the compensation Of county
officers is largely subject to tho control Of tho
| Boards of Supervisors. This ia especially the
| case with the Auditor and County Superinten-
dent, and TO- more limited extent with the
Treasurer, Sheriff and the Clerk of the
Courts. II it be not thought proper to discon-
| t'nue entirely the fee syst m Of compensation,
there is yet room for legislation in that direc-
ton of limiting the powers of Boards of Super
visors in this matter. At this time, it would
seem to be necessary to take some legislative
action to make such imi' atoms effective, for
l regret to say experience has shown that
| these boards are sometimes disposed to re-
gard very lightly the rest lotions thrown
| around them by law. In moro than one county
of this State is the Treasurer allowed and paid
hundreds Of dollars in excess of the maximum
| fixed by statute, viz: 81 500.
The compensation of member of the Boards
of Supervisors should be settled more definite
ly Section s. 01 Of the Code is susceptible, it is
thought, of two interpretations, and the pre-
vailing one is that which takes most money out
| of the county treasury.
of county offices is most desirable, whereby
frequent settlements should be made, in order
| to secure better checks on receiving and dis
bursting officers.
A Limitation of tenure Of Office of county Off
GERS has been suggested as desirable in the in
terest Of greater rectitude in the management
of county affairs. The suggestion is worthy of
your consideration, particularly in regard to
officers filing fiduciary positions.
RESPONSIBILITY OF FIDUCIARY OFFICERS.
Deficiencies in the accounts of public officers,
while perhaps no more frequent or extensive
than in former years, are yet sufficiently 30 to
| invite legislation. I would recommend that a
public funds to account for such funds, when
ever called upon go to do by lawful authority, be
made presumptive evidence Of embezzlement,
and the offender be summarily removed from
Office and otherwise dealt with according to law
MUNICIPAL DEBTS.
The increase of municipal Indebtedness
throughout the country during the past four
teen years has attracted much attention, and is
justly causing uneasiness in the minds Of the
people, While municipal debts have gener-
ally increased to an immense amount in the
country at large, the people of Iowa are to be
congratulated that such state Of affairs does
not exist among our municipalities From re-
turns on file in The Executive office the debts
Of the counties and cities Of the State are
found to be 81 ,0OO, 600 less than in 1869, and
$500. 600 less than in 1878, showing that,
withstanding the hard times which have
pressed upon the country, Iowa counties and
cities have been nstantly reducing their LA
tilities The following shows the debt of the
counties, cities and school districts on June l,
1879, go far as returns have been made:
Ninety counties S., BIC, $50 OF
One hundred and eightynine cities. 593 $50 43
Three hundred and fifty-three school
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 167 ,374. 45
Equal to about Il per cent. of the assessed
value of the State While it is gratifying
fact that these debts have been reduced, yet it
may be well to legislate on this subject, in Or
der to prevent as far as possible, the troubles
that harass many of the municipalities of the
older States
In many Of our counties and cities, the
amount of debt exceeds the constitutional and
statutory limit l earnestly recommend that
all counties, municipalities and school dis
tricts, when they incur debts and issue bonds
for the same, be required to file with the Secre-
tary of State:
l. A certified statement by the local authori-
ties of tine amount of the assessed valuation of
the municipality mourning the debt
2. The amount of debt to be incurred, and
for what purpose, and that it is not in excess
of the amount provided by law, and that it be
made the duty of the Secretary Of State to
keep record Of the same, and make report
biennially to the Executive for the information
of the General Assembly. That no bond shall
be valid until it is countersigned and certified
to by the Secretary of State; that municipali-
ties mourning debts should be required to pro-
vide special fund to meet the interest charge,
and sinking fund that would pay the debt at
maturity. If this were done, the purchaser Of
the bonds, being assured of the legality Of
their issue, would be willing to pay an en-
HANGED price for them, and the taxpayer would
be assured that his rights we're not trespassed
upon by reckless Issue Of bonds beyond the
limitation imposed by law.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
Experience has shown that there is some ne
cesslty for remedial legislation regarding the
financial administration of our cities and towns
l am we'll satisfied that the affairs of our mu-
inequalities would be managed much more In
the interests Of the taxpayers if they were
placed under the control of board Of Commits
sioners elected at large by the people. Ii this
were done, the combinations which result Of
tentimes to the 81 ecal benefit of tbs few and at
the expense Of the many, would be avoided.
The administration of affairs, being more sim
MI f1on urnv1 n
more economical, and earnestly hope you will
take some steps towards bringing about bet
ter form of government for our cities and towns
than We now have.
BOARD OF HEALTH
have been requested by the medical profess
zion of the different schools of the State to call
your attention to the necessity of establishing
Board of Health, whose duty it should be to
pass upon the qualifications of persons DESTROYS
TO practice medicine, in order that the people
may be protected from emplricism. This board
should also be empowered to take measures Tor
protecting the health of the people generally.
and also for colec ing the vital statistics of the
State Many States have these boards now, and
they seem to give satisfaction and to be doing
an efficient business.
This board conld be created without cost to
the State. as its expenses could be betrayed by
the fees paid by those who come before it for ex-
animation.
In the early history of the State, Iowa was
supposed to be almost destitute of COAL but
time has shown that over two-fifths CT our area
is underlaid with this valuable mineral The
mining of coal has attracted the investment Of
large amounts of capital. and gives employ
ment to thousands Of men and constantly-in-
creasing traffic to cur railways. Much COM
plant is made by the mlners-and in my
opinion the complaint is q just one-of the in
efficiency of the present law regarding the in.
spection of coal mines. In view of the rapid
growth OF this industry, would it not be well to
! repeal the present law, and provide by new
law-as is done in other States-for State In
spector of the coal mines Of tie State. The
Inspector should also be authorized to inspect
the method of weighing coal at the different
mines, and correct any abuses therein.
INSPECTION OF BOILERS.
As the use of steam power. is increasing