Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-16

the opinion this amount is not excess
sive. A larger portion of Iowa troops
took part in this siege than in any
other battle or siege, and numerically
more soldiers from Iowa were there en-
gagged than from any other state save
illinois. Visitors ought never to leave
this park doubling either the patriot
ism of Iowa soldiers or the apprecia-
ton OF Iowa people. The Light Bril-
gade in the famous charge of Bala-
klava lost 6S per cent, and Tennysou
has immortalized their valor. The
Twenty-second Iowa in single charge
at Vicksburg lost SO per cent, Several
other regiments during the siege lost
from 80 to over 70 per cent? and it
will now be the privilege of the TWEEN
ty-nlnth general assembly to perman.
entity commemorate both their valor
and their awful sacrifice.
Salaries.
am still of the opinion that the sal.
airy of the chief executive of this
state ought to be increased. A bill
fixing the salary at $4,000 passed the
lower house of the twenty-eighth gen
eral assembly, but for want of time
failed to pass the senate. Salaries of
all state officers are very low. They
were fixed at a time when living ey
penses were much lighter than at pres.
ent.
Official Bonds.
In former years the bond of the
treasurer of state was 100000. This.
through the discretion lodged with the
chlef executive, has been increased to
Ss0O,OOO. For more than six months
the balance in the treasury of the
state has exceeded S1,000,OOO, and l
am of the opinion that the treasurer's
bond ought to be approximately large.
am also of the opinion that this bond
Should be furnished at the expense
OF the state. The market value of the
bond now furnished by the state treas
urer is $4,000 per annum. The present
treasurer actually paid $500 in cash
for his bond of 100000. The PROPOSE
ton on final analysis resolves itself
thus: The state treasurer if his bond
shall remain at 100000, must nav
$1,000 per annum in excess Of his sal
airy, or he must secure by subscription
| among his friends that which is pur-
! chasable in the market. think SINH
lar provisions should be made with re-
spect to all bonds required of public
officers.
Interest on State Funds.
In view Of the large treasury bal
ance much of the time, I recommend
that provision be made whereby the
state may receive interest on at least
the greater portion. and l am gratified
that the treasurer joins in this opin-
ion and recommendation
Equalization of Assessments
The executive council, sitting as
board of equalization in July of last
year, passed the following resolutions:
1.-THE executive council recommends to the
general assembly such a modification of
/ the statutes of the state as will allow the
board of review to adjust the assessment
of all property at the same time. and 1t
suggests the following ways IN which this
may be done: Either the railroads might
be assessed primarily by the railroad COM
missioners (who, in view of their duties
! ''tiNa'u W liz DelttI pISpuEtu tDau any
one else to judge % the relative value of
/ OF the several roads,, and then the exc
| cutiNe council adjust all assessments at the
| July meeting; or the time of assessing rail
roads, il left with the executive council
might be changed from March to July. so
| that the whole subject should be before
| the council for adjustment at the time
This action was not taken for the pur-
pose of escaping responsibility, but
IN view Of the fact that the present law
requires the executive council to as
sess railroads annually in the month
of March and equalize the assessment
of all other property in July follow
ing. 1t does not contemplate revision
OF the railroad assessment already
made. The following illustrations will
| think, justify the recommendation
In March, 1899, the railroads were as
sessed at slight increase over the
| tigures of any previous year, but in
July following it was found that real
estate had been assessed $4,000. 900
less than two years before II March
1901, while the railroads. were as
sessed S2,500,000 higher than in 1899,
In July following it was found that
real estate had been assessed $14, OOO,-
| 600 higher than in 1899.
The Parole System.
The twenty-eighth general assembly
provided for the employment of a
parole clerk in the Office of the chief
executive. This action I have inter
preted as legislative approval of the
policy which has grown up in the state
of granting conditional pardons; and
by reason of this additional assistance
have been able to investigate to
some extent the practical workings of
the parole system.
During the ten years prior to the
commencement Of my administration
In addition to full pardons and com
mutations of sentence, 1874 convicts
had been released conditionally. most
OF them in the very recent past. OF
this number eight had been returned
under revocations, and l have returned
one more. The remainder have been
investigated and their whereabouts
their conduct and their standing, have
been carefully inquired into. Very
favorable and satisfactory reports
nave been received from So, and to