Year: 1876

their salaries? Let the taxpayers
and office-holders answer this ques
tion at the ballot box nextNovember.
l am .sensible of the fact that no
change can be made during their
present official term, but if not pro-
vided for before next August two
years it cannot be done during the
next eight years without an amend
ment to the constitution. So what
ever change may be desired ought
to be made at the next session of the
Legislature. do not think the as
sets under our present revenue laws
will meet our liabilities by from
100000 to 100000 a year. Bnt
under a proper revenue system,
with moderate Tstrenehmsnt in
the salaries of our State officials,
proper reforms in the government,
and rigid economy in our eXpendi-
lures, our assets could be made to
meet our liabilities without any in
crease of taxes, by leaving the COM
mon schools unprovided for, except
so far as they are provided for by
the interest on the permanent school
fund, which would be about $780,
600, and so far as the people might
think proper to tax themselves for
that purpose.


A government that cannot pay
all the demands upon the Treasury
will always have its pets and favor
ties, and rings and cliques will be
formed to speculate upon the needy
and unsuspecting. 1, therefore,
think a large irredeemable floating
debt a great curse to any people,
and that it offers greater tempta
tions to fraud and rascality than
almost anything else. l, therefore,
thinkit almost indispensable for the
the government to provide for the
payment of all proper demands up
on the Treasury. Then l would
provide that all such claims should
be receivable in payment of the
State taxes. And next l would not
borrow another dollar unless it was
TO raise money to use as a sinking
fund in buying such of our bonds
as might be selling in the market at
reduced prices, or for some other
extraordinary occasion. Then, af
ter providing for the support of the
State government, if the people
wished to tax themselves further for
school purposes 1 would have no
objections, under proper restric-
tions. But l do not think any per-
son has any right to vote burdens
on other people when he has no part
of that burden to bear, or greater
than he himself has to bear. And
since 1 am done with the questions
of State credit, revenue, DC, l will
next take up the subject of the pro.
| posed amendments to the cOnstitu-
ton. l think the Legislature ought
to sit until the business before it is
properly disposed of, or at least enc
hundred days if Thoughts necessary
but l do not think they ought to b,
elected for longer term than two
years, and think four dollars a day
plenty for their services. l think
eight years a long enough term tC
elect a judge or any other person
for, and do not think he ought tC
preside as Judge over any people
when he is dependent upon thai
people for a reelection. So i


elected by the people they ought
not to be eligible for the next term
and if the sessions of the Legislature
are limited, it might be better tC
give the election of judges to them


but if not, it would be too expen


sive. In many cases they would
ballot a week on one election.
think it would be better for th,
Governor to hold his office foul
years if he does well, and if not ht
| ought to be turnel out and a bettA,
man put in, and as he is eligible *
re election I see no particular ne
cessity for a change. l think tina


three Judges of the Supreme Cour


might do as we'll as five, as a major
ity have to concur in all decisions


and three would be much less ex


pensive. l am not prepared to sa,


how many kinds of courts we ough


to have, but we ought to have SOM
system that is less expensive. Tha


part of Art. ", sec. l, which re


quires a voter to give satisfactor,


evidence that he has paid his pol


tax before he can vote, has alway


been a dead letter on the book, an,


ought TO be stricken out. That par


of Art. II, sec. %, which speaks il


reference to the poll tax, ought t,


be stricken out. The other amend


ments proposed I consider as mat


ters of minor consideration, but i


thought necessary or required / vii


give my views on them at som


other time. The 10 per cent. la'


is beng discussed in some portion


of the State, and will come up 70


consideration before the next Gen


eral Assembly. l think it ought t


he repealed or greatly modified.
was never intended nor expected B.


the friends of a conventional inter
est to allow 10 per cent. on all sort
of contracts. The object was {


draw out all the idle capital of tn


State and invite capital from abroad
: The law authorizing parties t


charge 10 per cent. on all sorts c


contracts has had a very depressin


effect on the price of labor, produc
and property, and ought to be re
: pealed The dog law is causing
i great deal of dissatisfaction an
. some disturbance in some portion
! OF the State, and the people deman
! its repeal or a great modification {


the measure, and no man can suG
cessfully face the Opposers of tn


measure in some portions of th


country. II is a measure with theI
, of more Importance than Stat
|. credit, the currency, the election {
United States Senators or any Othe
. question. 1 agree that the ownin
: Of great droves of hungry, starved
/ out dogs by every person in th


country is a nuisance which ougl
; to he abated, but the owning Of On
: dog or bitch By every head of
family who desires to keep on
> could not be a nuisance, and ougL
not 20 be taxed by the Legislaturr
= County Court or any other bodl
: Neither ought the whole dog rae
Z be exterminated by imposing 5


heavy a tax on bitches as TO caus
n them all to be killed out, but ever
"