Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-01-17

New York National Bank of Commerce
the fund commissioners.
Missouri6 per cent. eleven year bonds
sell at l3O, yielding the investor 3 per
cent. per annum. This high standing
Is not the result of any one administra-
ton, but of regular and natural
growth. Tables are given show
ing the increasage in valuation of real
aud personal property.
Aggregate statement Of the, assessed
valuation of property for the taxes of
1883 and 1884:
Valuation for Valuation for
.. taxes of 15S, taxes OF 1884
Real estate .$145 l4 ASS 10 S496, 80, ,663 90
property 6.s ~ .I9l 90 ls7,l45 s5i 20
Fsans fsiesrapnpaoperty sl"Rss 81 81 ST. g Il
Total $3.50 .25c. .4l4 ss s7s5 775 .259 IS
Interest bearing debt January l,
1885:
state bonds outstanding. .S1l SOB GOO
state fund csrtific ties .......... 81 100
University Certificates 5,9 QUO
Total sI5 al3 900
The annual interest on the pub ic
debt is $9lO, 400; OIL bonded debt,
sos, 1870; OH school and seminary GER
tificates, $202, ,3lO. Tue governor hopes
the day when reduction of taxation
may be made will be before the next
general assessment is made. He thinks
the amount necessary to carry OH the
state government for 1885 and 1886
will approximate $4,000, 900. The fol-
lowing portions Of the bonded debt
will mature before the thirty-fourIh
general assembly shall convene: 1885,
$4,000; 1886, 2,l29 600; 1887, $780,
600; total, So, ,S52 900.
RAILROADS.
Gov. Crittenden quite elaborately
discusses the subject of railroads and
advocates reasonable and liberal pol
icy toward them. Fifteen counties are
without railroad accommodation, which
number will be reduced to ten within
the next year, aiId 400 miles of new
road constructed. The commissioners
can accomplish more in the interest OF
the patrons of the road than can be
done by legislation. These officials
should condemn obnoxious depots and
the railroad managers and town Off
GERS should break up such nuisances.
STATE CLAIMS.
Hon. John T. Heard deposited In
the treasury $2S4, ,594, less commission,
in August, 1884, being the amount col
lected from the United States for war
claims, since when he prosecuted other
claims involving over 81 ,000,0 Hon.
John r. Walker has been appointed to
succeed Mr.. Heard, who resigned on
being elected to congress.
THE PENITENT1ARY
is in excellent condition, not costing
the state u dollar in its running ex-
penses, except in the pay of its civil
list, showing $2S,4ll ~ on the credit
workshops destroyed by fire exhausted
the appropriation, ..Sl55, 900, before The
work was completed. The number OF
prisoners December 81, 1884, wai
$40, at total cost per capita of 81 l.:
cents. The health is excellent, death
rate small, $40 per cent. A branch
peniientiary is advocated. One hun.
dred and thirty five prisoners have
been pardoned during Gov. Critten
denis term. He suggests the peniten-
tiary committees recommend the par.
den of the old and broken down men il
the hospital, provided relations ol
friends will take them, and provid,
also for several insane convicts whose
sentences have expired. In connection
with criminal matter the governor
urges the erection of q reformatorS
school.
| INSANE CRIMINALS.
1t is recommended that a law b,
/ klcH s.,
of criminal offense on the ground o.
insanity, verdict to such effect be re-
turned, and thereupon the accused b.
remanded to all asylum until pronounc
ed cured The governor thinks wher,
such law is in force, the plea of in
sanity will be much more rarely in
voked, and juries be less likely to in
hict unmerited punishment when thu
public can be prote' ted by mildel
measures. The building of an insane
asylum within the walls of the peni
tertiary is recommended.
! DOWNING LAW.
The following is the full text of tn
message on the subject of the Down
ing high license law: l suggest tina
this law should either be repealed o
SO amended as to make it applicable il
its provisions 10 every part of the stat,
alike. This law has been in part mad
imperative in the city of ST. Louis b,
the presumed existence and operation
of the act of 1857 am not inclined L
that view, but as it Was SO declared b.
a court of adequate jurisdiction, til
civil authorities OF that city acquiesce(
in the ruling. suggest that the act O
1857 be repealed, thus leaving tn
Downing law i'll unquestioned opera
ton over the whole state. AS polio,
law. think the Downing law has al
ready accomplished much good, anC
can be made much more affective, wit
certain amendments. No law shoul,
remain a dead letter upon the statut
books. If a good one it should be Ell
forced. If bad one it should be re
, pealed. In 1880 there were 3,O4
licensed dramshops, 127 wine and bee
saloons and ninety drug stores retail
ing liquor under the then existin
license. The state license, togethe
I with the ad valorem tax on the liquo
sold by the saloons, amounted to $l57
GIG, and county license and tax t
5 1927 $40, total of $458,S95. The til
puuS uOuSC luCrcdScu Ill iluulDeF Ill III
4 state between 1880. and the time tn
q, law became operative. The law hs
reduced the number of dram shops {
drinking saloons within the first yes
!, of its operation from 3,G01 10 $3.50,
4 decrease of 457, or l2 per cent, and hs
I reduced the number of places of stron
drink from 3,469 to 2,ll5, over one
third. There has been an increase
8 903 wine and beer saloons under tn
e law. think that section of the la
should be repealed. as many who see
shelter under it do so for the purpo
Il ofviolating it, and. in fact, making the
II saloons open dram shops without pa
e ing for the privilege. While the re,
;. enues of the counties have been large
increased under this law, those of Il
cities, towns and state have been mu,
4. reduced. This should be remedie
No law should work so partially
favor of one division of the state agai,
other divisions, and in fact the sta
itself. For the violation of this la
the courts should either impose t
J. maximumspenalty or this body shou
ID repeal the minimum fine. The couu
lie revenue from saloon licenses has be-
lg increased from S35S,O00 to Sl.l64 ,O(
Ill sn increase of SSU6 900 within the fiji
lyeay. The state revenue from Il