The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-01-19

memoriallze Congress for an immediate APP
preparation for the fnrtherance Of these great
enterprises.
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Tho condition Of our roads Is such ct times
~ almost 10 forbid travel, and thus bring nearly
to standsti the large amount OF business
transacted upon the highways. This subject
needs your attention. The present system Of
working the roads by headless and almost
ainliess army Of over 10000 Supervisors IL rad
ically unsonnd. The inflnltcsimal road districts;
with their attendant dissipation Of RESPONSE
bility and utter want Of system, along with the
practice or paying taxes with what Is called
labor on the roads, ought TO be remorselessly
annhilated. OF tho half million dollars col
lected for road purposes throughout the state,
q far larger proportion, 1t may, / think, be
safely said, il wasted than Of any other amount
OF money collected In this State for any purpose
whatever. The payment OF all taxes IL money
and the consolidation and systemization Of the
work on tho roads under intelligent manage
ment. would be as productive OF good results
here as II has been III other States.
INSURANCE..
At0tion Is called to that part Of the Audi.
tors report regarding tho organization Of
"mntual-aid societies and marriage-dowcr
associations. and to the statutes providing for
cTeatiOI III HHlusi lllbuTdICN COIuDHIl1hs
Az these companies refuse to make any report
to the Auditor. and arc contesting by law the
right of tho State to control them, there is. in
my mind. fair reason for believing the organic
Ations not To be legitimate In their objects, but
on the contrary intended 10 be the source OF
large gains TO those controlling the eo-callcd
insurance companies, ut the expense OF the I'M
wary aud unsuspceting, who take IL for granted
TINT any concern having the worlds insurance
company" on its door or III its so-called policies
Is organized under the provisions and require
mcllts Of law, which are complied with BY i'm
surance companies doing a legitimate business.
The organization Of this class Of companies
should, in my Judgment, be strictly forbidden
by law, for 1t Is certain. II some check Il not
placed on them, serious abu 'es will creep in,
such AZ have been in vogue in other States like
the so-callcd graveyard Insurance. VIII ch Ii
attracting SO much attention. trust you will
apply such remedial legislation rs will prevent
anything Of the kind in this State.
BANKING.
The tabuated statement Of the savings and
other banks, organize! under the law OF the
State, show them To be in q most gratifying
condition, and gives evidence Of financial
sonndncss and good management. | heartily
commend the suggestion or the Auditor that
the provisions OF the Savings Bank law be made
applicable to private BANKERS. Every man who
puts the word "bank" over his door becomes
thereby solicitor for the deposits Of tho pco-
pie in his vicinity, aud assumes, in the eyes
Of the public, at least measurably, the
attitude Of chartered bank, and is
supposed to 10 alike subject to legal
restraints. He should. therefore. be compelled
by law to make such showing OF his business us
will euable those whose deposits lac soliclts 10
judge OF his solvency. and thus furnish them
tue same protection as savings and other banks
are required to do. No legislation can entirely
provide against rascality in banking or any
fNsat1 1Yys hut
Of the state to devise such safeguards ~ have
tendency to make dishonest dealing by bank
ers more difficult aud dangerous.
CONVERSATION OF PUBLIC orFTcERA
he Eighteenth Conceal Assembly reduced
the fees OF the Sherff- SO per cent. While in
the large counties Of tue State this reduction,
owing 10 the volume Of business. still leaves
this the best-paying office in the state, vet in
counties having small population the pay OF
the sheriff under the reduction does not give
tits officer faif living compensation; III fact,
am informed that in some counties the public
service suffers by the inability to procure good
men for this responsible position on account
81 the mcager compensation attached to the
office. In my Judgment, the proper plan
would be to liz tie compensation according to
population.
The eai.pensalion Of other county officers,
ana Gotsh.. Til sc of the Deputy Treasurer
AMI Clerk. n fixed last session, Is also in many
ca mad, qaa.e and shorid be rcadjusted.
The salaries Of the Executive, Auditor, Sec
rtiaiy and Treasurer OF State are, i'll my Opin-
ion. too low. Not only are they much lower
than IL surrounding States. but they are much
too low to CO npensate for the labor and re-
si,a.ssLih : imposed on these officers. The
8, t. 62i per cent less than are paid for sim
liar service IN adjoining States, while the la5ors
imposed these officers are in some instances far
greater, and in no case are they less. 1t may
lie said that if the present incumbents had not
sought the offices there were plenty OF others
Who would be glad to have them. This il true,
but il j.. nevertheless. incumbent on State to
pay her officers sufficient. not only to "keep
the wolf from the door, but to enable them TO
maintain the office with credit to the State.
Tie short terms and frequent changes in these
offices should he thought Of when salaries are
adjusted otherwise the compensation may be
inadequate because Of the expense Of removal
to and from the capital.
THE GENERAL ELECTION.
recommend that the day OF election for the
present year aud every fourth year thereafter
lie changed to the Tuesday following the frat
Monday in November. The constitution fixes
the day OF election in all the other years, but
makes no provision for the even numbered
year. falling between those Of the Presidential
elections, and the action proposed is designed
to prevent repetition OF the controversy which
followed the election OF 1878
In accordance with the provisions OF chapter
e. OF the acts OF the last General Assembly, the
question was submitted to the people in 1880,
shall there be convention to revise the con-
stltution and amend the same?' The pendency
OF the Prcsi icntial election seems to have pre-
vented the question receiving full discussion,
but such consideration as it had resulted IN q
ton.
VACANCIES IN OFFICE.
The last General Assembly amended the
statute for the government Of the ASYLUM for
the Predetermined 20 a. to provide that the
members OF the Board Of Trustees, except those
first elected, should hold Office for six years ;
and three persons we're chosen in joint conven-
ton FOR such Trustees but, ~ the act under
which such cho &C was made did not take effect
nntll after tho adjournment OF the Legislature,
/ was under the necessity OF considering the
elec ion had by that body ~ without validity.
DEATH or THE PRESIDENT.
cannot close this message without IN allu-
sion to the calamtous event which 30 lately
shocked and Inundated our countrymen every.
where. For second time an American Pres
iicnt has fallen by the hand OF an ASSASSIN; and
again the nation mourns the loss Of CHIEF
magistrate who had cndcared himself to the
hearts Of the people. Indeed, it would almost
seem as il the lltu>trious patriots hold on the
popular affections had the more excited tho
murderous hate viii III removed him from earth.
Nuue VIC teiiisiiiA = With StcI AItu ruatitc uis
tragic fate, We cannot Tut f,ei . sense Of prize
AS Americans ia III, life and character Of tht
man, and the loft ness Of purpose, the infex.
ibie integrity. and the fidelity to duty, winch
30 eminen,ly distinguished the career Of james
A. Garfield.
The time has now arrived for me TO lay aside
the official position have been honorcd with
by the p.ope.
In retiring 10 private life I give my thanks ,
every member ~ thu Executive canac uhS
has contributed, ls ad,ica and co-opera i ~
toward whates,r measure OF suc ms I'd
iaiaistratien of ra.l,s If sirs has II anne l. The
people Of the state shall ever os..r in RENE III
lrtaee for the cpa'i ienen placed il m.. an,
they have nv gratitude tn refor. coupled will
| my heartr good wishes for the greatest pros
| pcri'y OF that Iowa, which. as Terri tory and
State. has been mDLonc since he ore its nam,
began TO designate political d.ys. Of tn,
| earth. Jso II. GEAe
4 Confidence Dodge Played ON Il
Western Coast.
Of the many tricks Of those who iv