The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-02-20
LARRABEE'S MESSAGE.

1t Ii Unexpectedly Laid Before tho lows
L~gisiature-Gratifying Condition 0f the
uawkeye states Fin nces - The Gov.
ernor's Views ON Railway LegtslstiOn.
Trusts. Prohibition and Ballot Reform.
DEs MOINEs, Ia. Feb. ito the
great surprise Of every one Governor
Larrabee submitted his message to the
Legislature Thursday. 1t was supposed
that he would wait until the House was
permanently organized, but as that
event seems still afar of the Governor
decided to present his last State paper
Immediately. The document Is . very
long one, covers sixty-two closely
printed pages and touches upon almost
every subject of interest to the State.
The paper was not read in either house,
and this formality will probably be dis
pensed with. A synopsis is as follows:
The financial condition Of Iowa. according to
GovernJr Larrabee. Ii better than that OF any
other State in the Union. 1t Is even better than
II has been for six years and il has been good
oil that time. The State debt June 30. 1889.
Was q ba gateile of s39, ,sSs. Estimates for this
year show thst there will be a surplus Of $780,
~ available for improvements
In tho last two years, says the Governor.
crime has undergone remarkable decrease In
Iowa While there were ol6I convictions for
crime In the two years preceding 1858 there
have been only f9;5 since. The decrease In the
proportion OF convictions for violation OF the
prOhibitory law Is no less remarkable II there
has been no iaxiiy In the laws enforcement In
the latter period there were 6s2 convictions for
liquor-selling, as compared with l.3sG in the
former.
The Governor. backing up the Superintend-
ent OF Pubic Schools, expresses himself In
favor Of free textbooks, and recommends the
passage Of an act making " the duty OF school
boards to furnish free textbooks to all children
attending public schools.
Governor Larrabcc appears TO think that tho
cities OF Iowa nave not been afforded sufficient
facility by the Legislature In making the i'm
provements necessary TO the modern CITY, He
advises that much freedom be given them In
providing sewers. paving lighting, heating,
water. works and street railways. At the same
time he guards the recommendation by sug.
gesting great caution In disposing Of fran.
chises. He also suggests the adoption Of more
efficient measures for stamping out hog chol-
era.
The Governor speaks at length Of the fight
between the people and railroads Of Iowa,
which. until recently. has been waged SO bitter.
" since 1883 He claims that experience has
justified the railroad legislation Of the last
General Assembly. and makes some radical
recommendations for the future. He To-
vors . two.cent rate on frst.class roads
and the establishment Of joint rates.
He thinks the railroads should b.
prohibited from engaging In the coal
or meat business, or from doing any thing
else besides railroad work proper. SO ~ not to
compete with persons engaged in other kinds Of
business. He thinks the railroad commission.
ers should be empowered to compel the rail.
roads to tell who are their stockholders and
give their residence. Also the salaries Of all
general officers. and thinks the law against
passes should be enforce more strictly.
Governor Larrabee also fayors the adoption
| Of the main features Of the Australian ballot
system-,D the printing Of all ballots by the
Government and l2) the seciusion Of the
| voter when he prepares and casts his ballot. He
calls attention to the question OF extend
Ing to woman the right of voting at munic-
ipal elections. THE continued good results OF
Its exercise In our sister State. Kansas rein.
force the arguments in favor Of trying the ex-
pertinent in Iowa. Ia many OF the States
women vote for memers Of school boards. and
see no reason why they should not 10 50 here. :"
In regard to trusts and combinations the ~
| port says:
/ although the toll OF the husbandman. our
| fertile soil and propitious season have COM
/ bined TO give bountilul crops IL is question
whether our farmers fully share In the general
prosperity. Through trusts and combinations
the prices OF many Of tue necessaries OF life are
| greatly increased to the undeubted disad-
vantage VI the farmer, who does not
receive just equivalent In the exchanges Of
commodities. 1t IL clear that this evil is ag-
grayated ny the inconyruities Of the present
! tarin, and tariff revision should he no longer
delayed. The accumulation Of funds in the
/ National Treasury Is the fruitful source Of
many evils
The message ends with an extended consider
alton OF the subject Of temperance. From .
review Of a history Of prohibition In Iowa he
| concludes that the law. despite its defects, Is
the best means Of limiting the use uf inioxi-
!