Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-02-20
GIVEN A SURPRISE.
Gov. Larrabee Sends His Message
to the Iowa Legislature
Principal Points Mentioned The Flnan-
ciaI Condition Gratiiying-RaiIway
Legislation, Prohibition, Trusts
and Ballot RE form.
oovrnNoM I.ARRAnEE srEAKs.


DIS MONIES, Ia, Feb Il. To the
great surprise Of every one Governor
Larrabee submitted his message TO the
Legislature Thursday. Ii 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 a 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 formalty will probably be dis
pensed with. A synopsis is as follows;
The financial CONDITION at Iowa. according 70
Governor Larrahee g. better than that OF any
other State ia the Union. II is even better than
II has been for SIX Years ANA it has been good
all that time. The State debt June 10, 1889
was bagatelle Of s39.3ss Estimates for this
year show that taere viii be surplus Of $500,
~ available for improy ements
IN the last two years says the Governor
crime has undergone q remarkable decrease ia
Iowa. While there were 6.l65 convictions for
crime in the two years preceding 1888 there
have been only ,945 since The decrease IN the
proportion OF convictions Tor violation Of the
prohibitory law Is no less remarkable il there
has been no laxity Ia the laws enforcement In
the latter period there were 672 convictions for
liquorselling, as compared With 326 in the
former.
The Governor backing up the Superintend.
ent Of Public Schools expresses himself in
favor OF free text books and recommends the
passage OF an act making il the duty OF school
boards To furnish free text-h hooks TO all children
attending public schools.
Governor Larrabee appears 10 think that the
cities OF Iowa have not been Afforded sufficient
facility Dy the Legislature Ia making The i'm
proyements necessary to the modern city. He
advises that much freedom be given them In
providing sewers, paving lighting, heating
water works aud street railways Al the same
time he guards the recommendation by sug-
costing great caution in dispoSing OF fran.
chises. lie also suggests the adoption Of more
efficient measures for stamping out hog chol.
era.
The Governor speaks al length OF the fight
between the people and railroads Of Iowa
which, until recently has been waged so bitter.
ly since 1883. lie claims that experience has
justified the railroad legislation of the last
General Assembly, and makes some radical
recommendations for The future. He IA
yors two-cent rate on hrstclass roads
and the establishment OF joint rates
He thinks the railroads should be-
prohibited from engaging in the coal
meat business. from doing any thing
else besides railroad work proper so as not TO
compete win persons engaged III 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 enforced more strictly
Governor Larrabee also rayors the adoption
OF the main features Of the Australian ballot
system-CD the printing Of all ballots by the
Government and 90 the seclusion 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. in many OF the States
women vote for melners OF school boards. ana
see no reason whS they should not do so here"
In regard to trusts and combinations the re
port says:
Although the toll OF the husbandman our
fertile soil and propituos season have com
biped TO give us bouutful crops It is u question
whether our farmers fully share ia the general
prosperity. Through trusts and combinations
the prices OF many OF the ucce-saFes OF life are
greatly increased TO the undoubted disad-
vantage OF the .iuter who does not
receive a just equivalent in The exchanges of
commodities. Il il clear That this evil IL az.
graYated by The iucongruities OF the present
tarin, and taI'in revision should be 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.
Rtion Of the subject Of temperance. From
review OF . history Of prohibition in Iowa he
concludes that the present.law, despite It's de.
fects is the best means Of limiting the use of
intOXicants.