Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-02-20

Vuulary pIoHt shouiu DC ftquifcu 10 report
annually the names Of their stockholders and
assets and liabilities, Such corporations as
telegraph and telephone companies
should also be required TO report what sala.
ries are paid TO their officers and employ OF /.
aud railroCd companies should be compelled
TO make their reports In such manner as
may be required by the commissioners. Pub
LEFTY In corporate Transactions Is unfavorable
10 the development OF abuses.
Rates should not be increased OF train serv-
Ice diminished without the approval OF the
commissioners who should also be vested
with authority TO examine into the business
OF the companies, aud for this purpose 20
summon persons and call for papers, books
and accounts. Such requirement II niece s.
sary TO prevent abuses aud to enable the
con missioners TO discharge intelligcnty their
duties. That II is the duty OF boards OF rail
way commissioners TO protect the interests of
the people, and that this, indeed, is the very
object for which they have been called into
existence, has been asserted by the interstate
commission and other high author
tiles. Secret contracts and substituting should
not be permitted, nor should companies or
their managing officers be allowed to engage
In coal mining, inc at packing or any similar
business without the permission of the COM
misaoners No 6isinterested person viii oh
ject To this The energy OF our people should
be encouraged to engage In diversified Occur
pations, aud their enterprise should not be
crippled by such mAnifestly unfair competi-
tion, Only when railroad companies have
entirely abandoned the practice of engaging
In branches OF business foreign 20 their mis-
sion, as we'll as such evasions OF tho law rs
rebates, draw backs, over billing and under
billing, will there DO an equal contest for
all In the arena OF legitimate enterprise.
A In ehp,,II Ia ,rphIlIfInu IN
running OF any but necessary trains on the
Sabbath. Tho old car-oouplers and hand
brakes should be abolished, and the compan'
les DO REQUIRED To adopt modern appliances,
Both the men who are engaged In this hazard
GUS occupation aud the travelling public have
a right to demand such u change, and the
owners of railroad property should not object
to IL on economic grounds.
Officers OF railroad companies have charge
of u business that Is public Ia its nature, aud
should be required TO take an oath to support
the constitution aud laws, similar to that ex.
acted OF directors OF national and savings
banks.
The companies should give more attention
to the Improvement, of their property. The
old wooden. bridges should give place TO
structures ottron and stone, and good depots
should be built In place OF the novels now
used tor such some of which are returned In
the companies assessment reports ut only t. n
dollars each The commodious and beautiful
depot recently built by the Illinois Central
Railway company at Dubuque and the union
depot at Ottumwa are worthy of Imitation,
The railroad property of the country 10
practically controlled by a few persons whose
endeavor Is 10 direct public opinion
In their interest. To this end they have so.
cured, by subsidy or ownership, control OF
the columns of some OF the prominent jour.
al 81 ka xSh iah In lao sFtafa s.f
impartial advisors, advocate tho cause and
keep constantly before their readers the views
OF railroad managers. The people should not
permit them solves to be thus deceived.
Railroads have been called into being by the
people TO promote the common welfare, and
the state can tolerate neither usurpation OF
power nor conspiracy on part OF Its creatures
Bankers trianglcs, gentlemen's agreements,
and oil other trusts and combinations, with
their own code of laws and a system OF en-
forcing penalties upon their members, must
give way TO fair dealing and obedience to the
sovereign power OF tho state. We are build
ing for the future, and the importance OF
keeping intact those principles which lie at
the foundation OF every government of, for,
and by the people cannot be overestimated
The railroad business is still in its infancy.
Those only who comprehend the magnitude
OF this country and its possibilities, with a
thirty years, can have an adequate concep'
ton OF the future vustness of the railroad In
terests and appreciate the necessity OF timely
and wise legislation,
THE DEF nARBoR MOVEMENT.
The friends OF the interstate deep harbor
are numerous throughout the
west; and they are Jealous In their efforts TO
secure harbor on the Gulf OF Mexico. OF
width and depth for international
and tha naval npcnaGltiea
country. The movement is believed 10 be of
great importance TO the agricultural and
commercial interests OF the west, and is
worth OF your attention. | suggest the sd
of memorializing congress upon
this subject.
-EuRLIc PRINTING AND BINDING.
Under the operation OF the law OF the last
general assembly relating to the printing and
binding OF. public documents there has al.
ready been saving, since the beginning Of
the present biennial period, OF S., s929i 10
and S3.20s.4l In binding. There Is
additional economy In the reduced quantity
of paper used. The saving for the term " "a
probably amount TO not less than $4,000.
An error crept into the law, which prot,Ges
in. certain cases for the distribution of more
copies of reports than ars ordered printed.
This should be corrected.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY.
The expense of mair tanning the state capt
toll. including tho compensation OF engineer,
mail carrier, police, mechanics, janitors and
watchmen, as well as the cost of fuel, gas,
water, ice, telephone service, repairs, ETC.,
was $?l, s5Ls3 for 1888, and SIS, 1877 for
1850. or St3, O33 so for tho two years ending
December 81, 1889. The quarterly reports of
the custodian containing itlmlZed accounts
OF the, various expenditures, are on ale In the
executive Office. An act OF the last general
assembly provided for buildirg the south and
west steps and finishing the exterior OF the
capitol, and appropriated therefor tho sum OF
$1,000 This work was done under the d.
rection OF the executive council at an ex-
pense of $40, 100. 81, leaving balance Of s2O3.-
-, which the custodian recommends to
BIO used . for painting the window
ellis and finishing the outside doors.
He also recommends that an appropriation of
$4,000 be made for painting and frescoiDg all
the corridors, committee rooms, and Offices
on the basement floor. as well as the Ave IN
finished rooms 10 the first story, and that the
Office OF adjutant general and uuartermaeter
8 eneral be moved to the capitol. Both OF
these recompe ndations meet my approval.
Should the general assembly not deem IL
advisable at this time to assign rooms to the
adJutant general at the capitol, provision
should at least be made for the better pre-
OF the battle hags of the Iowa reei-
ments during the late was, which are now
Kept at the arsenal. These flags should be
removed to the capitol and placed In hermeti-
cally sealed glass cases, accessible to all Wis
itors.
Chapter 1872 of the acts of the Twenfy-sec-
ond general assembly authorized the execu-
tive council TO sell the property known as the
old capitol, on such terms as might be
deemed for the best interests Of the state.
The property was advertised for sale, and
sealed bids for II were received by the execu-
tive council, the highest being S., $50. This
rejected.
ECAPIToL GROUNDS.
The Improvement of the capitol grounds
ought 10 be begun at an early day. The
g rounds should be In keeping with the capitol
which is one of the most beautiful on the con-
tinent. The expense of properly laying out
the grounds was estimated by the board OF
yapitol commissioners at $780, s8.ii. Since
The estimate was made some grading has been
done without expense 10 the state. Tho sum
Of $4,000 would probably be sufficient TO
com plete this work. The custodian rec oni-
mends that $50, 600 per annum be appropriate
ed for three years for the work on tue grounds
and the interior % the building.
SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
The last general assembly appropriated the
sum OF S. COO TO be expended under the direc
ton OF the executive council In the prepare
ration of sight and foundation on the capitol
grounds for a tnoDu ment TO be an expression
In material form OF the patriotism, courage,
and soldlerly bearing OF the soldiers OF Iowa
during the war Of the rebellion. IL also APP
pointed commission with authority to ad-
vertise for and examine plans for such mon
ument, and report TO the NEXT gem
htr "A for IA