Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-01-12

There Is n constant tendency to Increase the
amount Of matter printed aud bound Ut tho
| expense 0f the State, as the above figures
clearly aud iorcby indicate. The subject Is
worthy Of the careful attention OF the Gcncr
| al Assembly. | recommend that II he thor
| oughly investigated, with n view OF greatly
| diminishing the amount Of matter printed, re-
| adjusting aud reducing prices, aud 81 amend
Ihs the laws MS TO lessen largely this now heavy
aud growing expenditure. The examination
| 81 printed rrparts will show that IN the nggrc
gate hundreds of pages are occupied with de-
tailed lists Of vouchers, inventories Of u null
| titulc Of small articles, and prolonged tabu-
| lar statements, adding much TO the bulk Of
| these reports but giving to the people OF the
| State very little information of value. The
| law, which now requires the publication Of these
| things, should be amended, the amount Of
| printed matter cut down, and prices reduced.
REGISTRATION AND FEWER ELECTIONS.
The registration law for cities has, In some
| nf it, feature, given excellent satisfaction
| These should b. preserved, while amendments,
| which experience has shown To be necessary,
| should be made to render the execution Of the
| act less burdensome. The Inv ought to be
| perfected and retained Ms one OF the perman-
| cut statutes Of the State
There appears TO be a general and increasing
desire on the part of the people for fewer cleo
| tons, and renew my recommendation That
steps he taken to amend the constitution OF
| the State so as to provide for biennial elections
| lHtSt HHDuiu Dt
| bcred years to correspond with congressional
| elections.
MUNICIPAL SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN
| Is favored by many of our best citizens. II Is
| claimed by those who advocate this that II Is
| not only right aud Just but that II would SO
| re- iu!orye the better element Of the population
| ut our cities as to secure more perfect en-
| furcement of the criminal laws and greatly i'm
prove the government Of our municipalities
| az experiment might be u safe one, for II
| women should not avail themselves OF the
privilege when conferred, or II the results were
| satisfactory, the same power that bestowed
| the franchise could revoke H.. | commend the
| proposition toyOT thoughtful and respectful
| attention.
| LAND DEPARTMENT.
| The report 81 the Secretary OF State furnishes
| an account % the transactions of the Land
| Department for the period. There Is still! a
| large nUmGer o; unissued patents aiticularir
| az ihe School, sricu.tural College. and'Guis
| yersity lands There are many inquiries con-
| Cernlng land grants and titles tu lands which
| have Ia De answered from that Ollie" Deeds
| To lands belonging to the State should bc kept
| In that oiliye aud should be recorded. Now
| they are scattered, some kept In one place and
| some In another. The school lands II ceivcd by
| the State under the Congressional grant
| amount TO l. osi.1j acres, and there vet
| remains unpatentcd l31, 1890 acres. Daring
| the period there wer. patented N, iH acres OF
| school lands 2S.6i acres Of the 5,W,WW acre
| grant aud +i6.6 Of the mortgagci school
| lands. There still remains unsold 1853 acres
| OF the University lands, and 2,6O5.01 OF the
| Saline land grant The University also has
6Ol.45 acres Of land II, and l65 acres acquired