The Van Buren press., 1899-01-14
TAXATION.

lion which requires all taxes to he
equal and uniform and all property I'd
be taxed according to It's value. 1t Is
notorious fact that assessors
throughout the state do not tax prop
ertv according to its value, but accord
ing to an arbitrary percentage, when
each assessor fixes according to his
own whim or caprice and varying Ill
each county of the state. These laws
also afford a convenient shelter Tor
thq tax-dodger. and some of the most
valuable property of the state escapes
taxation partially and sometimes
wholly. while the poor man with MS
forty acres and his COW and his mule
nays his full measure of taxes, be-
cause his property cannot be ma. lhls
Is all wrong and | recommend coln
nlefe revision and amendment OF Our
revenue laws. at least so far as they
relate TO the ascertanment of the val
he of corporate property and the pow
ers and duties of assessors and boards
of equalization. Nothing like equailty
and uniformity can be obtained WITH
ont the creation of n state board or
eaualization. and | recommend that
Vol, crpate one. which may consist OF
state or county officers already in ex-
istence.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The laws of this state provide for
the appointment by the governor at
stated times of a state board of health.
and invest 1t with certain powers and
impose upon 1t certain duties in the
interest of, health and life among the
people of the state, but last general
assembly failed to make any appro-
priation TO enable the board to per-
form those duties or exercise those
powers. During the prevalence of
yellow fever in some of our sister
states | found it necessary to expend
n considerable part of the small con
tingent fund appropriation for the
governors office. in aiding the board
to protect our people against the
spread of that dreadful disease. This
was wholly insufficient for this pur
pose. and we are indebted more to the
merciful providence of God than tt
any exertions we were able to max,
for our escape from il. At other tinle:
during my administration smallpox
made its appearance in different sec
tions of the state and threatened I.
become epidemic and widespread
This caused other drafts upon tn,
governors contingent fund whiel
was wholly inadequate for the pnr
pose. The medical gentlemen comnos
ing the board of health are 1eseryin.
Of great commendatiOn for the MAN
ner in which they have discharged
their duties. but they advise me tha
The health and lives of the people ar
i'll constant danger from the epidem
les peculiar to our southern states
and that we cannot hope for continues
| exemption from them unless mean
are provided for adopting the neces
sary safeguards against their spread
| therefore recommend that suitabl
appropriation be made for this pun
| pose.
UNIFORM STATE LAWS.
The American Bar Association ha
been engaged for number of year
in endeavoring to create uniformity /
the law of the different states. |
aid of that movement more than hal
Of the states of the Union have pre-
vided commissioners to confer tC
gether and recommend such uniform
ty as deemed advisable The con
missioners from these different state
have conferred together and in 1S9'
the conference recommended an az
entitled, "a General Act Relating
Negotiable instruments" This az
las been adopted by the state of Ne
York. Florida, Connecticut, Colorado
Maryland. Virginia and Massachusett
and has been favorably reported
both branches of congress for the Di
trict Of Columbia, and passed unan
mously in the house of representative
A copy of this act has been furnishe
me, and have examined it with grei
care and diligence. | find it to
really a codification of the laws rela
ing to negotiable instruments. and
believe it will be of great benefit
our commercial and business men
general. as well as to all who may de-
in negotiable instruments. if adopte
by you. 1t puts the law in such shaI
that it may be readily understood |
any person of ordinary understandin
and will do away with the necessit
of eearching through hundreds I
books to find what the law on that su
! I 70.
age by YOU. and will furnish cop
if so desired. to any committee or cor
mittees of your respective bodies.
ELECTION OF UNITED STATE
SENATORS.
am Informed that a bill or resol
ton providing for an amendment
the constitution of the United Stat
requiring United States senators
be elected by direct vote of the pc
Dle has passed the house of represe
tatives of the congress of the Unit
States and is now pending before Il
senate. | recommend that our sen
tors be instructed by you to vote f
the passage of such bill or resolutio
COUNTY CONVICTS.
recommend a change of the prese
method of Furnishing prisoners co
, victed of misdemeanors. Under Il
present system the county court ci
hire such prisoners to be worked an
, where in the state the contractor IN;
. wish. and in some cases the perso
5 convicted in one county are hired o
I to work in n distant county, beyoi
p the Jurisdiction of the judge w
7 hires them. BY this means the coun
Judge cannot overlook the farm up,
| which the convict is working al
, cannot know whether the contract
+ being carried out in good faith or n,
! While the law provides that the co