Nebraska Newspapers

    rt & . & * . THE OMAHA
- rtv DAILY EE.
ELEVENTH YEAR. OMAUA , AVEDNI'SDAY MORNING , JANUARY 11 1882 NO. 17i :
GEAR'S GREATEST.
Johnny's Farewell to His Follow
Citizens and the Assembly
of Iowa ,
In Which Ho Minutely Ac
counts For the Interests
Entrusted to Him ,
And the Grand Strides Made
by the Great Central Com-
monwoaltb.
$ >
> " * ' JProfjroM and Prosperity. Pn t ,
Preient and Protjpootlyo.
MESSAUI. .
Fellow-Citizens of thoRcncrM Arucmbl )
In pursuance of law , I herewith prosen
for your consideration the reports of tin
state ollium find the different institution *
showing the financial and oth-r ccmilitioiiH
of tha state and such Institutions , accnm
panled with suggcstionM of such measure-
as scorn to me to bo for the welfare of the
fltnto anil her people.
You Assemble in a. time of general urns
pcrity , both in nntion and state. Whlli
the returns to our husbandmen have not
for the year just c'osoi ) , been ho ohundnn
in amount il product as in past yours , ye
the remunerative prices prevnlent.fnr what
was produced ploco Iowa on a , high plain
of pr sperity.
On this general assembly , in addition to
the onljnary matter of making prpviiiot
for carrying on the state and her in titu
tiotiB , devolves duties of a high politicn'
clmructer. You are culled on to redislrid
the state into cnngro-sional , senatorial am
representative districts , and in view of the
resignation , on the 7th day of March hut ,
of lion. Samuel J. Kirkwood , who has
rendered such dmtiugninhed services to the
state , both as governor and senator , you
are called upon to clct a successor for the
remainder of his unexpired term , as well
as a mnator for the full term beginning
March 4 , 1883. To these duties yon come ,
fresh from the people , presumably wol
aware of their wishes in these regards , an ( |
it in to bo expected that you will discharge
the responsibilities imposed upon you in
.such manner as will bo for the beat int-r-
< .t of the commonwealth.
THE IINAN'CKS
The auditor's report , herewith submit
ted , shows in detail the receipts and ex
penditures for the bicnniU period ; also ,
the condition of the banks and insurance
companies doiiifj business in the state , ac
companied by his suggestions in regard to
revenue and other matters pertaining to
our financial interests.
At the beginning of the term there was
no money in the goueral ruvenuo fund ol
the state. During thu term that fund ic-
ceived 82,120.900 DO. There was disburse i
2,035,050.39 leaving a balance on hand in
general revenue of S'Jl,8r > 0..r > l. The war
rants drawn o gainst general levenue
atnoi-nt to S1UO,24'J.87. ! In aldition
there wns paid for interest on warrants
$10,063.45 , which makes the npi'regate
cost of carrying on the government of the
state for the term 31,950,313.32. leaving
an excess of receipts over expenditures ol
$17i > ,087.58 in general revenue. During
the peri. > d just closed not a warrant has
been indorsed for interest ; the taxei have
been paid promptly ; und the amount in
the hands of the county treasurers is
slightly lea than at the close of the last
period.
I congratulate you , und through you the
people of the state , on the healthful con
dition of the finances as compared with
the two previous biennial periods , Attho
close of the biennial period , . tember30 ,
1877 , there were outstanding warrants to
the amount of § 207,770.31 ; and these were
at a discount of two to five per cent.
Through the efficient help of Hon. George
\V , Bcmis , treasurer of the state , an ar
rangement was made with some of the
banks during the ensuing period whereby
warrants were brought up to par.
At th clo < e of the biennial period ended
September 30 , 187H , the warrants outstand
ing had been reduced to § ' .li,9)3.54 ( ! ) , while
the interest paid during that period was
$27,328.315. much the larger portion of
which hail accrued on warrants of the
former period.
The amount of wuriantti outstanding ;
but not boarin ? interest , September 30 ,
1881 , was § 22,003.71 , and there are now in
the treasury ample funds to meet the cur-
rcnb expenses of the state ,
The war and defense debt has been paid ,
except the warrants for § 125,000 negutia
ted by the executive , auditor and treas
urer , under the law of the eighteenth gen
eral assembly , and $2 500 of the original
bonds not yet presented for pav ment. The
onlv other debt owing by the state amounts
to 8215,135.10 , duoto the permanent school
fund , a portion of which n made irredeem
able by the constitution. These faoti place
Iowa practical y among the states which
have no debt , a consideration which must
add to her reputation. The expenses of ,
the state for ihe post two _ year ai * less >
than those of any other period since 180' ) ,
aud notwithstanding the factthat the state
is to-day sustaining several institutions
not then in existence , nameljr ; the bos-
pital at Independence , the additional pen
itentiary , the normal school , and the asy
lum for the feeble-minded , besides
the girls' department of the reform
school. Ihe state also , at par
ent , makes provision for fish culture , for .
3 useful weather service , for sinitary
supervision by a board of health , for en
couraging Immigration to the state , for a
the inspection of coal mines by a statu inspector v.
specter , und liberally for the military arm v.i.
of Its government. These catitis of in- >
'creased expenditure are only puttially off
set by the In gely reduced cost of support
ing soldiers' orphans' homes , although si
hero a small additional outlay is necessi- for
tat1 d by the admission of Indigent children - foh
dren to the home. This diminished ex ca
penditure , notwithstanding the state's of
Hiopii ation has augmented over fifty per ofwl
cent since 180 ! ) , anues , I mbinit , an eco wl
nomical management of the aflalrs of Ihu pe
stite government. A hasty comparison nt
with the cost of go.-ernments of our sister 8.1
'c mmomvealths still further demonstrates ar
the frugality of state administration of to
Iowa , hi
The auditor estimates that the expendi I',1 '
tures for carrying on the nt.ite government tlfu
during the current period will be 81,787- fu
STiO , and tluttho receipts nf general revenue - him
nue from all sources for the same time m
will be 32,202,700. leaving a surplus of be
available for CO
gllR.lSOns extraordinary ex-
iieuditures. It should bo borne in mind , fo
in making special oppr ilirlatlnns , that , 111
owing to the expense attending the ees.ion IIIbe
of the general assembly , only about one- be
third of thin amount will be available for
uch appropriations during the current
yeur. 1'or ( let died information and 8114.
I , \ geitions rei'iirdiiifctho revenue and other lie
ri' " matter * pertaining to the finan c-i , you
"
FA . / are referred to the report. iir
* V Your consideration U invited to thu adsh
x6 ' - Thabilltyof making taxei payable ov
> annually , which li w been adopted in other of
st-ite * with good results. AIt is now , ki
mo t of our taxes , ainountiiu to over S10 , . one
000,000 annually , are paid during the sc
months of January and 1' ebruary , and the
money locked up in treasury vaults and Wlwi
withdrawn fr m circulation until paid out wi
on warrants , unless deposited in banks , In he
which case it furnishw the latter a certain iso
Biuount of banking capt.ilj ! the custom in o
elthfr ciuo bcmj li s < lwtiolici\l ! limn
would bo the roN-ntioii of half the amount
in the hards of tlic people until noirer the
lime it Is nceihxi , und tu KCstive , aii'i '
often productne.vof ev.l.to thc.twa irerfl
and ta.x-pnoi.i.
1MB It \l > .
The reHirt | of the treasurer of s'tale
shows that at the hegiunin-of the biennial
pcricd there ws in the state treasury , of
all fund * , S74.187.7J7 ! that the receipts for
thn evoral fnnd * anfollows : Agricultural
college endowment , S8I.10I.72 ; coupon.
$329.85 : permanent chnol , ? 22t.uT. ; anil
gcnernlj revenue as above , 891,850.51 ;
which thowiujf corrcsiuinds with that
mndo In the auditor * report. AH the Ag
ricultural co lego endowment fund , except
8 -1.76. is invested in county , city ami
school district securltlM. tearing interest
nt rates varying from . " > to 8 tier cent per
annum.
A will bo seen by the treasurer's report
there was realized to Ihe treasury from the
half mill tax , levied for war and d-fcuso
bond fund , lli2GC2.73 ; that there \v i
transferred to this fund the sum of $ ' . ) , -
837.27 j | , aggregating 917 ! ! , 00 ; and that tliu
amount , with the wiirratitH negotiated ,
ninountiiiii to 8125f 00 , makes the nggro-
gate of $2 ! > 7,500 , which covers the pity *
inent of nil the bonds Issued , except $ ' . ' ,500
not vet pro'cnlcd for payment.
I heartily concur in the recommenda
tion < .f the treasurer In regard to tlio col
lection of the railroad commissioner ! ) ' tux ,
This tax is now ce tilled by the executive
council to the ununtia ? , and collected by
them th same .is any other state tax. If
it were diiectly paid Into theatatu treasury
by the cuniimnics , M suggested , much un
necessary labor would bu saved by the
change.
PKOVtriKNTIAl. COXTlKl.KNT H XI ) .
The eighteenth general assembly placet !
at the disposal of the executive council
$10,000 as a providential contingent fund ,
to be ised in cau of accidento til public
buildings and other emergencies for which
no specific appropriations vvote available.
There has been ex ) > ended from this fund ,
for repairs to tin different institutions ,
$5.725.59 , ns shown by the auditor's ro
jxirt. The. expenditure of .this amount
was deemed absolutely necessary , ami was
authori/ed by the executive council only
after a careful personal examination in
each case
The iicljutant-pei.CMl's report shows the
expenditure for.tho military ! arm of state
government , since the date of his last re
port , to have been $32)8.'i.20.
Tno state has now 1111 effective military
force , caniistiug of two brigades ugg egat-
ing 2'J82 men , well armed and uniformed.
A state encampment has be'en held dining
the past yearr which , it la believed , ha-
been productive of much good to the mili-
law.
law.The battle-Hays of the Iowa regiments ,
which were borne triumphantly aloft in
vindication of the nation's honor on the
battle-Holds of the late wni > , mid which
liave been much inju-ed by exposure , have
been restored by the tender care of loving
women , who-ie husbands , brothers , ana
other dear relatives shed their blood in
carrying to victory these mute emblems of
the valor of Iowa soldiers. If properly
cared for in the future , they will long re-
mnin an proud memorials to their descend
ant' ' of tliopdrl taken by the men of Iowa
in the memorable struggle of 1SG1 ( i" ) .
I'tHI.K SUIIOOI.S.
The report of the superintendent of pub
lic Instruction shows the school system of
ths state in both its educational'and its
financial phases. *
The number of school children' reported
is 594,750. Of thi < number .384,102 nro ,
by approximation , between the ages of six
an-l sixteen years. The number of all
ages enrolled in the schools b(31,513 ( ,
which bhowB that lunch the greater pro
portion of chil Iren of school age uvail
themselves of the benefits of our educa
tional system. The average attendance is
254,088. The schools of the state have
been in session , on an average , 118 days.
There is , doubtless , r-uite a percentage
of children who attend schools other than
the e of a public character. Yet the fig
ures I have quoted show clearly that very
manj- children , through the negligence or
unwillingness of parents , do not attend
school at all , but nro in a fair way to
grow up in ignorance. I , therefore , earn 2
estly suggest that you consider the expe
diency uf enacting a compulsory educa
tional law , which should require attend
ance upon schools of some kind , either
iitblic or private. To me it does seem its if
.he state shall not have done her full duty
jy the children , until she shall ha\e com
peted her educational system by some "
inch enactment. c
'J'he _ inteiest in the normal institutes is }
maintained , and , beyond doubt , they ren
der great aid in training the teacJien , who ti
attend them. fuci.
The re' eipts for all school purposes ci.Hi
Hi
hrouqhout the state wore SU5OOIi,0-3.iO ( ,
and the expenditures 8r > ,12'J 27 ! > . Ill ; but of or
receipts und expenditures about ci
ilOO.OOO w.is of money borrowed to refnm m
utstanding bonds at lower rates of inter- la
fit. ! )
The amount on hand aggirgated , at the tli
nil of the libcal year , $ L'Oj3,3ii. : ( . " . . This I >
um is , inmy _ judgment , much larger than I"
lie necessities of the schools require , ami s
woul I be well to impose some clieck to tli
rovent an excessive or unnecejury levy .
f taxes for school purposes. IK
at
The general discussion in the list gen- be
ral assembly ; the attention called to the bewt
ubje.-tof school finance ! by the piens ( pf
ho state ; and the action taken by the ovCi
t.ite and county Htiiieriiiteiidents , supple-
lented by greater illlliencH on the parts
f boards of ncliool diructoro , have result- Htl
il in nioio thoiiniglily calling to account the
.hobchool treasurci-H- although not in any Ikfl
mproved methods of keeping the accounts fill
, ind has cnuscd , at least npiacntly ] , a CO
argd ; mini of money to be recovered which thi
V.IH Hiiiioted | ) to bo lost through dcficien- th
iei. . In iilaee of a deliuiency of § 15- co
52.-1U as eliown by the report two yo.tis un
go , there seems at the present time to bon thK
8u excess of funds to the to the amount of K
NlL',115.81. Whiloit is certainly better de
the school districts that the difference ing
shown un exceis rather than a shortage , y t inl !
candor compels mo t say that the system nl
Iwok-keeping in vogue among the f1
school treasurer * of the state tw
which shows , at 'the end of one K ?
period , shortages , and t the end of the the
next an excess the difference aggregating fiu
857,708,33 when the accounts should bnl- eri
ante exactly , does not entitle the system be
any largo degree of confidence nt the th
hand of the the in
* general assembly or pee
ple. This demands lint
mutter your atten
tion < , in order that the custodians of the
funiu for thi educationof the young shall ge
brout'ht to render correct account of the any
moneys placed in their hands , I appre raih
hend ihu greutcat dilllculty In thu way of h
correct ace untlng is to bo found in having ed
four thousand three hundred and thirty rlno
nine treasurers tndo wnrlc whiih could bo no
much better done by one tenth that num Ini
ber. co
ber.Tho
The restriction in section 1821 of the lie
code upon he issuance of bonds by inde mi
pendent districts should , in my judgment , InU'
cn'orcfd is U'
by a severer penalty than
now provided by statute. The oflicers IS
implicated in the overissue of such homls of
should be indictable for felony , mil , more ye
over , hold personally liable for the amount
the excess , That something of the
kind JH necessary U shown by the fuel that
: dlttiict U reported , which tun a
fecliool population of only Unity-two , and
school property valued at oiilv * Jir.O ,
t h a known bonded debt of 800,000 ,
with a probablli'y that there are more
bonds miutanding , and the startling fact
further disclosed that the tax-levy in
ome of the di trlctn of the ame county by
range * from 1" tn 20 per cent , wlilcti
cqnlvAlrnt toeotifisl-ntio , A fiiiii-arsUt
of ntf.ttrn , although purlmiw not HO lla
urant , exist * In other dUtricUot the sum
nnd perils ] ! * ot er comities. I derm
iiuMitant | for thn state's credit that tli
most strino'iit tneaMire * be adopted to pi
uttnp to Ilia Incurring of iniUblodness b
yond thn limit lived by hiw. IK.o of tli
most clfoctivo nieniurcs towird the ac
complishinent of this cud would bo nu ei
aclmcnt requiring the regittrnlion of a
bands with mi > o state olllcer. This ha
been tried in other sUtrs wlh Rign.ill
good ftlects , both in the restraint It a
forded and In Imp'uved mutiiolp.tl credit
1'l'llUC UNOS ,
The repoit of the register of the si
land otlico iliovvi in detail the trim-action
of that d-partmi-nt.
There are remaining unsold Iu the hnml
of the respectlvo county ollicluls , nf th
HKtoeiith oectlou , f > 00lHl < ncris , and niorl
gage school lands , HS.GtJt.lill ncro , n mini
ber of town lots , which , when sold , wil
largely augment thu Ihjrmanent sci.on
fund.
Special attention is e.illeit to the opinioi
of the nttMrney gcnum ! regarding th
right of one person to hold leases for mor
than llil ) ncr s ot college lands. It i
clearly for the intcrutt of the college am
state that these lands should bu leased li
smnll parcel * ) to actual settlers , ami s
laid , If soli at nil , and legislation tlioul.
bo devned , if fimml nevexnry , to proven
these lands getting int i the ImiuU of npuc
Chapter 91 , acts of Iho eighth genera
nsiembly , appropriated 1,000 to relmburx.
persons who hail ] iurcha-icd lands from th
stito supposed to be school laud * , bu
which vvei-4 claimed is Mrt of Uio D ?
MoiiiLM river grant. The eighteenth gen
eral nscmblv nlio appropriated § 8,000 fo
the same purpose. Of thu first npproprin
lion tlio Ii ilatn.o ri'imiiuini ; undrawn , n
the clim of tho. last biennial period , wa
§ 588.20 , which has since , been expended
Of the ifcnml appropriation theru was dis
bur-cd § 773.19 , iiggregating for the perioi
§ l,3lil.l9 ! , pnitl to tivo per on , ns showi
by thu report of the register. The balnnci
of the aiprnpration | ! , it in thought , will IK
ample to meet the future requirements o
th * act.
The state holds in trust for the countici
of Greene , Chicka .iw , and Mailuti , "spec
ial Hwump-lAiul idemnity" scrip , which en
titles these counties to 10,8 7.41 acres. It
view of the fact that theio are no govern
ment lauds within the limits of 4hu stale
I suggest that the general us-embly mem
urlalize congiuss to authori/.o the stitu ti
select lands for this , or any other scrl *
which may bo found duo the state in tin
future , in some of the territories , or tc
commute the value of thu same in cash.
The eighteenth general assembly cmictei
that the ollicc of register of the state Urn
office should be dune away with on thu
first Monday iu Jimuiry , 1883 , and that
the dutie-i of the ollico should , after thai
date , devolve oil thu secretary of state. Ii
my opinion this ollico had uetier he con
tinuotl , and there should bu nssigned to il
the duty of looking after the insuraiiua am
banking interests of the st.ite. There arc
doing businest iu tbu state at ibis t mo
over 1-10 insurance companies and sixty-six
b inks , all of which are under the sap r-
Msion ( if the auditor of state. Tliu state
is growing to rapidly that the business ol
the auditor's. etliee is becoming burden-
home. The cliange proposed would relieve
the auditor's oulco of an immense amount
of work , nnd permit him to give his whole
time to the duties more properly pertain-
in. ; to his otlifc. If it should be deter
mined by the general assembly not to
adopt this suggestion it will bo necessary
to add to the clerical force in the offiru ol
the secretary of state to enable him to
carry on the land department of IIH ollico.
On May 12 , 18li4 , conjjresH granted to
this state cei tain lands to aid in the cons -
s ruction of a railroad from Sioux City t (
the south line of tbo state of Minnesota at
such point ns the state should select be
tween the "Big Sioux" and the "west fork
of the Des MpineM river. " The grant was
designed to aid in constructing a line from
Sioux City to St. Paul , and was virttja
continuation of u branch line of tbo Union
Pacific railroad , contemplated by the act
for the construction of that ro.id passed IN
1802 , and t > bo built from Sioux City ti
ROIIIU point on that railroad cast of the one
hundredth meridian. '
Uyi > hnpterl44 of the nets of the eleventh
general assembly , which tonk elfuct May
2i18GC , this state accepted the g cut ,
which was by the s.imu general nis mbly
conferred on the Sioux City & St. 1'aul
railroad company. This comu.iny bui t Its
road from thu southern line of Minnesota ,
inL the direction of Sioux City , as fir ns
Lemurs , at which point it intersects the
Iowa Fulls k Sioux City rnihoad , now
operated by the Illinois Central railroul
company , n which road the for ncr com
pany lies tra knge into _ Si-uix City. Tbu <
fur the road was built in 1872 , siuco which
time the lands along the completed line
for fifty miles have been c rtllied to the
company , aggregating 322,000 acres , or a
little more than the amount to which the
company was entitled under tlio net of
congress. ; In 1878 the company requested
me to certify to it thu ronn.inder of tMe
lands , amounting to between 85,000 and to
90,000 auros. This I declined to do , on
thu ground that the c impany lud notcoin-
plioil 1 witii the ternifc of the grant , which
ptovided for a line from Sioux City to the
nth line of thu htntuof .Mimic otu. Iliul
the to .d lioen completed to Sioux City , thu
I.imh would bi.ve beuu cei tilled , hut 1 can
not bo persuaded that a ro.id terminating
Lomars can be faiily construed to have
been built to Sioux City , even if tliu rail
way com , any has trackagu to that nlacu
over another line , much less from Sioux
City.
The act of May , 1801 , required the con- tbu
structlon of the road within ten years after In
acceptance nf thu grant by the slat' ,
nfter which the state hud five yearn
further to compluto Ihu work , lly not tlio
cnmpIoUng the line to Sioux City within
the
time presciiuuil , it will bu xern
that the Sioux City & Si 1'aul railroad the
company : has forfeited all its rights to the
uncertified portions of the grunt. It
therefoio becomes the duly of the general thu
assembly to take such steps as may be Um
deemed advisable for the purpose of nunr-
, the completion of the road c intern-
plated i in the act of congress. The original
Intent of thu act was to make Sioux City
point on a great national highway be
tween thu Union I'ncifiu railroad and the ind
great lakes , and to give the people along
line contemplated the benefit of the al
facilities thus to be afforded. The gen
eral uK embIy should see to It that to. tbo
liest of its ability , the lands yet within
control of the punliu shall ' .o utili/u 1
order to secure the completion of the the
for which they were intended.
Chapter 153 , of the acts of the Ninth
gener.il assembly , forbids the certifying of all
lands to the Diibuqiie k Sioux City
railroid company until after that company him
shall have executed releases to land claim
for the uwainii and the Den Molnex
river grants. Wld'o ' these releases have of
never been execut'd , the title to all such -
hinds has he en finally held not to bo In thu 87
company so that thu releases lire no longer
necessary. The statutory proh bitlon re
inuIiiK , however , and prevciitHtho certify
of lands the titlii to which In indisputably by
' bu
tably In the company or its
granteoH , I recommend the removal
* ho restriction , HO as to permit thu con-
yeyarico of thu lands in
INHTITI IION nm ru ; DFAK AND IWMH.
The Seventeenth general nrtiembly up- > ]
prupriato'l # 10,000 for the irection of the
main building ol this Institution , Of this Iy.
mini there wv < yet unexpended , al thi be
ginning of the blennl.il period , $1,1177,08.
The Klghtcenth general atmunbly appro
priated $19,322.9in addition to such un of
expended amount , for the completion ol
the building ; and there has been rec-ivo 1
the treasurer from other sources ,
30 ; making a total mini available for i < \
I'Oiulituu" on tlho building of $2,10jl. : ! (
Thorn 1m * . been xponded for the | urpo *
i-ontem l.ited $24,330.71 , leav iin-$778.5
to this ( und in the h.iml.s of th
treasurer.
Of the special nppropiim Inn i made h ;
the { 'ev. n-eenth general a. embly for th'
Jiurchnso of furniture thcro was In th
htimU of the treasurer , nt the elime of th
preceding term , the mini of $1 OH. Mi , whlc !
has been expended provided by thu net
The KiRhtomth geacrnl assembly nppro
printed for sl > eci.il purpose * the mini o
> ? -M'.I , all of which has hern dinlmrtin
except sixty-atx cnt * , * thuwn by tin
report. The halano * of nil i > i > tvlnl fund
in the hands of the treasurer U , then fore
$7.U.25.
Of support-fund * there via * Iu the hand/
of thn . * the lUte
treasurer. tt of the last report
port , the sum of $ tl,109.2i , and hu Imi ro
ceivedfrom ho state and other .oiuous
i' 1,217.t"l ! , making a total of $ K.0(1.I ( | |
There hns been expended for thu ouppor
of the institution § 70.508.17 , leaving n bat
ntieu in tluse funds of 84r3S.7l.
Voiichera for nil * xpcndlture < , covering
twenty-three month' ) of tlie term , hnvi
been Ii ed , thoHiiltutlntemlcntinformiiigiui
that the September bills could not ho gul
In nnd In time to
paid appear In tbu ro
port. The amount of those lul is S- -
(15.110 , which , when paid , will reduce tin
c sh on hand , available fur mipimrt , to
82,7112.81.
The number of pupils in attendance i <
constantly iucrea-lng , nnd lim been nmoli
larger thu past year th in at any tlino ti-
fore In the history of the Institution. I
bollttvo this institution i * . doing a good
work. In my opinion , industrial pu suits
should bo tnitght on n ninth mure- extend
ed ccnle than ut present. The suggestion
of _ the superintendent that the state
printiiu could bo done by 1h * iiunate.s of
this inntltutlim is well worth con * dern-
tlon. The hoys could t o oadly trained te
do the work us it dune elsewhere.
Th nppropriutions waked by tlm trim-
Ices , < if § 13,50,1 , for ward robes i.ud othur
furniture , uindovv clmttcrs , fences , iu-
pairs , nud n laundry building , I consider
as actuillv necessary , not only for the
jomfnrl of the inmates of tlm institution ,
but in the interest of economy , Iu lo/ntii
to th * other special appropriations asked
by the trustees , you aru referred to the ru-
turt.
1IIK I'KXITKNTl.Un AT J'OllT SI IDIS.OV.
The receipt * of thifprison _ on account ol
salaries and for special purH | > nM ilnrinc
Llm blounial period wore S' .O-S. 18 and
ihe disbuiucmcnts woie , for s.ilarioi of
Dfllcora andgiinrds $ . ' ! 1,2S3 81 , and for nun-
.iry improvements , for which appropria
tion" wore m do by the general assembly ,
§ 18,74 1 , ( ! , aggregating the sitmo as the re-
: eipti < , and leaving no balance on hand ,
The receipts on nccount of general sup-
: iort. including a balance of Sl.lliO.7t ! on
laud at ditto of last report , were $ SO-
7 ! > .r > . 15 , and the disbursements were , for
support of prisoners Slil.OOA2.t , paid into
; ho state treasury 81-1,079.87 , aggregating
878i 80.12 , and leaving a balaiu-u on hand ,
n support fund , of 8 ,715,37. The re-
lolptu on account of convicts' deposits ,
ncludiiH' a balance of $279.27 on hand
September 30,3879 , were $1 , ' . ' ! 1.93 ; and
.he amounts paid out aggregate * ; ! , ! I II. 17 ,
caving a balance of § 771.40 on himd. The
receipts fn > m visitors , includim- bil.mco
of S315.U ! ) on hand nt the close of the pro-
I'WUH period , were $1.088. * > 1 , andthndis-
jursementft for the library , were S77R.40 ,
caving a balance on hand ( n this fund of
S310 08. The h-danco oil hnnd in all
funds was Sll,705.l ! ( , forj'the details of
whi h you are ic < pectfnlly referred to the
report.
The disbursemontH under Hpeclal appro
iriiitioas have been made with economy ,
and the wor . authorized therobyhas been
well done. The new roof which has been
tut on the cell house , being of Ir n , ren
ders this bull ilntj entirely fire proof. A
new wash lioiuo has -been reot a And , ft
tow ready for' use , IViin WOH a much
neededimprovement. In the basement ol
; his buildfiignvill bo placed the boiloas ,
which wjll furnish the steam for lieatlag
tha entire prUou. Contracts Piave been
'ntered.into for the erection of the heat
ii- | works to tht ) amount of the nppropria
tinn mad by the iait general osspmhly.
An appropriation to pay for the futures
.o complete the works is needed. When
-hoy are finished the daiuer from fire will
30 much lessened , and the saving lu fuel
will , in a , few years , mure than repay th
expenditure. A little over a'yoar ago the
warden advised me that thu pump ami n
> ortion ot the pipe through which the
iiipply of water for the prison ia obtained
lad given out und that a water famine at
ho prison was imminent. The executive
council immediately vi-ited the priion , and
uiou examination authorized the purchnst
) f a new pump at the expense of SGIO. ,
vhlch was paid for out of the providential
contingent fund. The pump lionno is at
ircsent located below where the now
ewer empties into iho liver , und sanitary
canons demand its relocati n as wiagustcd .
iy the warden. An 'ippioprittion of suf <
icient amount to inaku the change is
It would pcem only that the
just appro- en
priutlou of § 80 , oskul for by the wniiien. enf
reimburse the surgeon and hositai ]
steward for clothing used in mnall pox
cases should I HI miido Thu nppropriu-
lions for lupaiivi ui > d tnui'p utation of con
vict * au neccHdary. 'f'he uppropriuti < n
sked for by the warden for the jiavmcnt
I gifts and turn-out milts , Mid for the
iiicluiHi of blunkoti' , 1 ilo not indorse , as
liuy have h-retoforc been paid foroiiLof ,
upport. funds , and are , in my opinion , t
roperly chargeable thereto. In tile i"-
eiesl , of th < hcahb of the convicts , tbo ox-
put vu council authiiii/.L-d thu cimstruu.
lion of a "lean-t' ) ' on thu slioj | > cuiilainlng
the ' foigoH. to take thu placu of thu HIUII on r
seciind Hour thereof , the use of which
to bo discontinued as u work room ; this
was accordingly done , and paid for out of
general repiirx fund. I am of the
opinion that nn addition f a building on wi
opjioHito sldu would 1)3 ) favorable to
health of the convicti employed iu tliu
forgo room.
During the biennial period contracts for
lab t of the cimvict-i , tor u period of
, vuar , have been entered into by the
ivii'den , nu higher ratuH tlnn havu been >
received iindt-r former contracts , nnd these n
have- been approved by the executive
nouncll.
The illscipllno of thu pri' > n Is excellent ,
thu bouks nro kept In a ncnt and ac
curate manner. A comparative statement
the innnugeinent of this ponltentlnry ,
under the admlnMratlon of the present
warden and that of his immediate preile-
uessor , may not hu ami-iB. The former i
warden , during the last four years ho hld
olllre , uxpeiidud for supjiort nearly
twice the amount allowed by law , which
expundlturo requited not only thciiHo of or
iho proceeds of the luhoi of tbo ton-
victx , but in addition there WOK paid to
from the state treasury $52l > | l.00 ! ;
whlln thu iiresunt warden nupxjituil | thu
convicts , during his first term , at the rate
§ ( i. 10 per convict per month , and thin f
f-ir-lining his second term at the ratu of
per convict per month ; nnd , inntoad r.f
drawing from the state tieusury for pur-
poiesof siippoit , hu bus paid Into tbu
treasury , from ids genenl support fund ,
my order , thu HUIII of 828,081,40 , and
hud on h nd , In assets uvailublu for thu
support of convicts , ut the clone of thu ;
Irene-it biennial period , In ciwh , 82,715.37 ,
evmtiuctorH'iiotuH $9,210.81 , In aocouutii
agalnH coiitractorn , § 2,70:1.55 : , and in pin-
iVi ! ! ? , " ,1' ' ' ' | 'l'll ' " . . ' ' . . ' . . , uggrugnting M
in,8fllll I < iirther coinment is UIIIIUCCH.
jury , in the figurestelUlui story vury plain
. Suflieu it to nay , If the former wmdcl. ,
hail ndmlnistured thu atfalrH of thu prlsn n
with Ihu sumo regard t > law nnd economy
wliich luHchar.icteii/ed thuadmliilstiution
thu prenont Incumbent , the BUtu wouh :
have been overouo hundred thomaud del
mrn better off by reason thereof.
Your attention in culled to thu dehtt
against thn stito incurred hj tlio late wr.
den , and U'ft unpaid whin luvrut nut i
oiliei- . These nmouiit to about Stfi.Oii
ind hav e been Ht.indlng four years un
over. They .should have boon paid , nud
Migrcst that an appropriation for that pu
pose bo ( undo and placed under the i-oi
trol of tlioexectitlvo council for dlilmrM
incut , on proper pniof boli'g made as t
th jutlco ol thoclulni , and the furtho
proof that tbo party ti > whom the debt i
due did not collude with others to dofrau
the stnto.
During the past tvvo years , suits hnv
lioen pnwecutetl ngalmit the late w nl r
his sureties , and iwinons Implicated wit
him. < liu1gment has been obtained in th
district a urt of the county of Vmi llurei
agalnnt Morri . a clothing contractor , fo
SIi'H.81 ' ! ; , ami thn amount collected.
Judgment hasnlso bi'n ohtiilncd ngains
tinl.tttMirhn , in ths clrouit court a
ICookuk , on his lust bond , for ? S,000. Tin
sureties on this bond , who hail separate !
their oaoo from that of Ihu warden , ait
C'liiteHttng the vilidity f the bond un ac
count of alleged serious ! iregularities In Its
execution , and their suit is now In thu
lupronui court on appeal. Th * expensed
luivo been S3 , ItI ! 07 , leaving S'JI82 21 , in-
eluding monn > H nilvaiiced bv tho-tute , in
the hands of the attoinuy , who , in ron.
nection with the attorney-general , has
. hargo of the case. The I'vptMi-es attend
iug ( his litigation luivn been heavy , owing
Lo fretiueut coutliiu.vneoschaiigi'sof venuu ,
and other means tesorteilto bv tl defense
tn delay mntturs ; but , vvhatover Its cost ,
f it shnll have i o other ultimatu elTeel
.lian to dein u tratu that the ntati > cannot
j > pluudorvd with impunity by its servants
t will bo money well -pent. I deem it
uoper here tn say a word of ci'tmuend.v
ion of the manner li : vvhleh the ntato's
: asc him been conducted by Hon. ( ialuslm
I'lii'Mins the counsel
, having immediate
h irp' of It. who has duvnted tlmo and at-
ention to this litigation , nud brought to
; ho trial nnd nrgtinient of th ciiuscn nu
ibility and experience wliioh havu done
utieli tuvviiiils atUining thu results id-
roadv ' acid \ed , nutl givu promi-e of fin-
.her'succesis . in the units yet to bo deter1
ui' ed.
Doth penitoiiiiriu * have- been legularlv
visited as required by law , ud nt each
vitit the accounts havu beuuamined ,
ind tbo cadi counted and found to correspond
spend with the amount called for by the
jooks.
AllimiONAI. PKNirKNll VltV.
Therapoit of the warden of this institu
ion tdiovvs that hu had on band at tbudatn
) f Ills lust icport , of siuchil lunds , thu
sum of $110 IL' ; that II-B receipts from tin
state , miller special appropriations , were
STiS. KM 20 : nnd from olfiur sources . 90 78
iialcitig n total of $ . " ' 8.751 10 ; mid that ho
inn expended , of special fund' ' , us tdiowi
by his repoit. 5l98.r. . 81 , loavintr 8ii3M :
luo other funds ot the prison , which wll
m repaid when hn makes his next ruquist ,
ion on Iho st.ito treasury for specia
uucN. Hu h.is rerciyeil from the stilt
or thu paymu t of oIliuurH nnd puanU thu
sum of 931,113 : * 18 , a ! ' Of which has beet
expended. Of Hiiiiport-futid , ho had o
laud , at uloso af IIIH last report , $3,808 31 ;
lis receipts from the utato for the puiioi :
veruS31i9i 91 , and from other source *
ST > 7 80 , mnkluL-a total of ? : t5llil O.'i ; and
il ilisburi-ements for genunil mipport wore
2'J,81-I I'M ; and hu has paid into thu _ Htate
reasury i y my onler $2. 59 71 , making a
.otnl dishurteint'Ut from this fund of § 32-
0 > 74 ; 31 ! , and having a balance of support-
iinds on baud of $3,081 ! lit ) . The ro.uipts
'nun funds deposited by conviuln inclml-
ng tialance on hand September 30 , 1879 ,
of 128 2. > , were SI , 12-1 , and the disburse.
nutits $1 379 3' , lenv Ing a balance diuthlx
'undol.Mri70. The receipts of the vis-
tors' fund , includ'iig balance on hand al
clone of last rennrt. Sopteinbor 30 , 1879 , of
S1JI7 77 , were S994 87 ; nnd the disburse-
meiiU on library account Sr > 5il F > I , leaving
a balance due this fund nf Slid 33 ; anil
naklni ( l > aUucc in alt funds of $3,931 33 ,
.ofll'nmount which hnx betu advanced , on
construction nccinmt , from these funds , of
r'.IOl 02 which proves thu Imlauco on hand
if $3,0\\ : \ : , as shown by the clerk's re-
lort , mid which advance will bo rolm-
nuried from thu next r qu ! ! tion , ai before
Htated.
Since the dito of the hist bennlal rojmrt
.he cell-h'UHe hn been completed , and is
low occupied by tbo prisoners. This
milding Is beliuved to be ouu of thu hst In
.110 count ! y. Tlio heating and ventilating
ipparatiiH lias been put in , and works sai-
sfactorily.
The fewer him been completed at a cost "
of 81,112 47 , being nearly $900 within the
imlt of thu appropriation. Thu front
; ali ! and a large portion nf MIIU side of thu
iriiinu liicloHiiru havu been constructed ,
lenideH much other work , for 111" details
if which you are refeired to Iy
ho warden's report. All thu to
vork has been dnnu in the m > st
lioiough manner , and if thu general plan
i carried out , as it has been coiniiiunu d ,
owa will have ono nl the model peniton-
.aiics of the country. Work on iho wall
should bu prosecuted as fast us possible ,
n order that the prison shall bu entirely
enclose 1 thus uuttiiiolf | | all chances of o-
capo by the convicts. A marked necessity
if f tlii > prison is an amply Dimply of water.
'or the pant three yvurs thlx supply h.-vs
luen furnished by the Anamosa watt-i
vorks. The warden miKg sU the laying
if pipe * to u spring 'o which thu state-
ins n right of way. In 1878 , Him , liun-n
{ . SliHriuun an inyself devoted a whole
norning to thu uxaiiiinallon of this HH.
tlleil spring. Our opinliui then wu ) that
heiu wan not vvhlui' enough flowing from
for a pi'i-manunt sujiply for thu prison.
n my opinion , it would bu economy for
Instalu , anil to thu best intercut of the
irlson , tn put in a small pump at the i
ivur , nnd with it pump water into a nis-
rvoir to be built on thu hill near thu a
rliMiii. Tins wouhlh'j | done at nn expend- !
lire of not exceeding SH 00) ,
Thu dlHciptlnu of the prison is good , anil
bu I luvu that its affair * are ndnilnistured ufit
with ei-oiininy and ulliiiirnoy , l''or ' neaily
in- I years past Warden Martin has , mi-
er appointliiunt of the executive council , ing
cted as silpi-rllltcndent of cinutriictinti '
vit-.out ! any oxlra compen < atinn. The ,
thcr mcinbuM of tbo cumuli join inu In
ying that hu hat filled this appointment
a halinfactory inuniier , lioth us riuarJH mr
uoiioiny of management and quality nf
work , and thu state has thus burn saved |
ompcntutton which , otherwise , must havu
joun paid u superintendent , umountlng t > i .
early ? li,000. The ipuirry whlth thu ilon
atu purchased has beiin tborouuhly do- , hii
ehuieil , nnd will furnish sullirlcnt stnnn .hu
or thu wants of thu prison forimmy yearn.
Yourntttuntlon Is callud to the f net that my
statute nowhere fixe * the term of of- ii ,
icuof the warden of the additional | HIII- | : '
untlnry , nor thu mode of his selection.
Jliapterj 10. of the actH of IH'li , pruvlded
the election of a warden "by the geii- lias
ral assembly , " to hold "ollicn for two tier
earn from tliu first day of April , 1H70.
nd until his successor Is ulccteil and uf
uslllliMl ; ' but mukuH no piovislon for
ucli siicceHHor 1 deem thu question one for
much Importance and demanding ini- t
ledlato leglilutlvu action. onu
nf
( .
In view of thu fact that thu additional (
lenitentiary in paitlully completed , hat
ml thu tlmu arrived when thu gt-mriil as-
embly nboiild Inaugnnitu u system ol
iudiil ( pris ns. HO that tuino wbonru con- ;
ictcd of the graver offenses and Hentencei
or longer ternis.and thosu conviclt-dla sec-
mil time , slum d bo impiison-d at Knrt
diiioii , and thnsu whosu tcrlim of Her
vlcuuio HJiorter nhould ho Kent to Am
mwa ? It U certainly agalimt the ruformu
lon of the young criminal who Is im
s'tiio 1 , perhaps for Irs first olfun-iu , ti
iu brought In dully contact with UKMI '
who aru hardened in crime , and for whun
there IB littlu hopu of ufo'.m. In in ;
judgment , a much larger proportion oi th
younger class of urlinlnaU would , wurnei
by tll lr panl expcrleiuv , become ( food cit
ireushM tlieii term ofsorvico expires
limn Is thoc.i ent present , If it worn n t
for the contaminating Inllueiii-n of older ,
vicious , ami linnleiu'd convicts with wh ii
they nre iiompolied to vuirk duy by da
during the term of their seivice. Th
thi ry nf the law is that criminals are
tuttiMied not only for the crime f > n.milted
hut n't ' un example to others Thu re forx
matinn of the criminal is nt tlio same
time Incidentally forwarded by menu * of
eduentlon. religious teaching * , nnd conon
latlons , nud AH nmplo supply of hookx , nil
of which in cord with the true theoiy re
uiirdhig the reclamation of criminals ,
Another step In n humanitarian direction
Mould be , niter the state has boon rrlm
hursed its outlay on | u-cntint.nf thn convict's
crime , to allow him hi * proportion of the
surplus cnrniiu-over mid nlnivo the cost of
Ids ( import. It Is not in ncconlnnco will
the dignity of the stita to make monej
out of thu convict's labor , or to enter Inti
competition with freu lulxir.
It has beromi ) n set tied conviction , in tliu
minds of nil thoughtful persons who luive
paid any attention to this subject , that
mere punishment has littln if niiythltig lo
do with thn reforinntlon of u irltninnl. If
hn l.s to Im uiforino I ho mil t be lifted up ,
anil have tlirown around him Inlluoncos of
a humane und elevnt'ng ' character : nnd NU
clety has little to hope for in nny utttMiilit
at reformation b.ised on merely puultlvi
measure. If the humane and heiuivolenl
Koricti 's of the state worn to tnko stops
for the puipmo ol procuring work for thu
eonvlet when his loim of norvicu million ,
he would ho induced to feel , If ho had any
luntiliood loft in him , that there was ntlll
n pi net ! loft for him In society , \vhero ho
iiihilit rl o from bis fallen itstnto , rather
thnii become the companion of the vicious
und itepiuved.
.lUVI.N'tl.r.CIIIMINAI.S Miovi .VIIIIUAII.
During the past four \onrs theio lm
been brought , ti liwa , under tlio nuspli-o
of Immune societies , for thu purpose ol
finding them homes , n Inrgu number ol
ehlldretl of both cexiw. These children
have been picked up on the streets , kept
in some charitabletiistltutlon forniduut
time , nud then wont west by tlm car load
und bound out to our people.Vhllu thu
object sought by those-inninging this work
is a good ono , yet 1 nm sorry to H y that
the re ults , in tliu main , are not such as
could bu doslri-d. Many of these children
aru of tbu "hoodlum" typo , crimlmds by
heredity , and nlmowt immedl itely on their
in rival iu Ilia stmo leave the tinmen pro
vided for them and take to xicinus pric-
ticus , mid , because of the superior ncuuion
superinduced by their former method of
living , oxoreieo n bud tiilluoncu on the
ehildieii they are brought In oimtnct
with. A iiiitnblu example of thU wns
nceii in the recent successful attempt lo
throw a train from tbu truck of onu of 0111
principal railroads , vtharuhy n vnlunble
mo was lost and all thu piissvnjroi-H on tlio
train imperiled. How inuiiyof thcsu chil
dren b ive been brought to the ntato I um
nut aware , but of tlmsa brought hern thoii
,110 at. this tiiuu in tlio reform school ulghl
hoys and on1) tiirl , ami two are at pro-teiil
Imnnlcs o1 thu ndditloii.il penitentiary ,
nnd thu win den informs mo that he has
had as tunny as tun ut ono tiniii iu con
liueiiient in that. Institution Thin muttoi
demands finch legislailvu action ns may bo
found prni'ticnble towan's ' provunting thu
stntu from bucomtiig a harbor for thu
criminal youth of tlio uoabonid citle.s.
Tin : IM.KA ol-1 iNHANirv.
Owing to Ihu recent commission of u
heinous crime which has brought grlnf t <
uvcry family in the nation , public Atten
tion has lieen very largely dliected to the
plea of Insanity mndu by persons charged
with tioinlclilnl criruas , and the c'ulm ol
aim-responsibility on account of Insanity
nt the time the rritnu was committed. Thu
law of this state i rovidus that "If the de
fense bu the insanity of the defondnnt , the
jury must bo instructed , if they acquit
him on that ground , to state that fact in
their verdict. " Should not thls.b * rovhod ?
It seems to me that the plea of nut . . . .
should not bo allowed to cover the plea ol
Insanity , but that the latter , when relied
upon , Hiinuld ho specially plead and til d
by experlH , the inquiry being coluly as to
the state of mind of1 thu defendant , first ,
at the time the act was committed , and
second , If necessary , at tbu tlmu of the in-
iiuiiy , thu burden of proof being upon thu
ilrfondniil. ff thu defendant should bu
found to have been Insane at thu tlmu thu
act wns committed bo should bo confined
as a daiigeroiiH man to society by lunwm
of hi'Insanity and the possibility of thu
recurrence of hiH inahuly.
It is not ullitlu singular that , while In
almost nvury ca e of murder whore the of-
feme in too notorious t't admit of tbu
doubt of guilt , insanity is pi nd , il In hard
e\cr heard of In connection with any
othur crime. This fact is well calculated
strengthen thu popular estimate of thu
farcical chaiuuter of thin tiluawtien It Is
iniide , und onfoices the demand for re me
dial leglHlntioli ,
' ' . .
Till ! I'lHIl I'nVIMIHHIO.N.
At tli3 close of the lost biennial period
Lheie lumniued , unexpended , of thu np-
priiprlulinn nindo by thu Suv-
untceiilh gunural assembly for
thu lisli commission , § I1I8.30 ! ;
und tliuru was upppqirintedjiy tbojligh-
tecntli i general iiHHemhly 85,000 , making a
total of $ r > , ( i98.30. Tiieru him been ilis-
burned during thu past blunnial period
SHliCI.OI , leuvinif $2,205.21 ! undrawn and to
iivnilublu for Iho pui-pirnes of thu npprnpil- <
utioii.
1
During Hie biennial period largo ( pinnti. .
Liet of Innd-lnekuil salmon. hiku
trout , vvhito fish nud brook trout
havu I'eeii depoHited in thu
teams nnd lakes of thu statu. The com-
miislimor h.m Hiicceeilediii obtaining qulto
lurgu lot of European carp , which have
been dintiilmtul. ( loud und siiflieient
' huyu been constructed ut thu hatch-
ng IIOIIKU for these li-h , und the time in by
near when thu state will leccivu thu ben-
of this chuip and easily raised fish.
I cull yi iir usiiucial utti iitlon to thu rec-
iinimeiidatlon ot thu commiHslonur regard
chapter 123 , acts nf Iho Kightuunth
'oneral usSHinbly , the constitutionality of
which , HO fur us It ro'iilr | H tbu owners of usu
lulus to construct fish ways , him been
juestioued , and , 1 learn , iluniud bv onu of In
district rourts. In oidur that the Llm
iiestlon may bu finally adjudicated , I
lavu ruiiuested thu attorney venural to
jiku to tlio niiiiremo court the first I-UKU of Lo
.vliich hu hus Knowledge , where thu duel- to
of the lower court fls iinfavorublu to -
hiw. 1 also Invite your attention to AH
net , iu order that , if m your judgment
unconstitutional feature iipjHjurs tli ere-
It may ho removed , no that thu heneti-
unt purpbsu of tbo ntututo may not be lie-
'euted.
The liatching house In Dickinson county
bet-ii in slncu Decem-
- operation only - tuis
, 1880. UH openitionM , oven In that bus u
thort jiorlod of tlmu , have given promise u
Bond resultH. The nupply of water is
unlimited , an I the building Until ) adapted tftx
x
tliu purposti designed. Thu uppmprla- r
on of a small amount of money-suy
thousand dollars for the construction n
aitllieial ponds , will oiniblu thu assistant u
oiniiilHsionur t'l do u good work In 10-
docking tbu lakes nrvl rivers of thu state
with native li/di , at u inurely iiiintinnl ciiht.
Tbu lukuH , situiitwlln Diukinsoii and oilier
counties nf Northuin Iowa , nr
leautlfiil hhfcU of wutur , and will , In tbu
near fiituru' bo vlsltud by vust nuinljurs ol
our people for purpose * of health mid ro
creation. Many of thusu Inkun , nt the of
pr'Munt lime , havu an nbuiuhincu of linu
fish , luit they mo rriildly | dUuppunriir/
fortliu reriAdii that tlmu nni no iiiiinns b >
which lha ll h , whim they run down tin
stream in thu spring , can lep.isn thu null
H , situated i u the outlulH , Anothe
u nf tbu rapid de-ieuMi uf fiih In thes
. . .rt is dwlng to the immense annum
which aiu Hpuurcd Ihioiigh tha Ice diiriu
thu winter months nggiegatint ; , i
Lake Okoboji , hundreds of ton
mutually , _ This practice should
bo 1 aummurily stopped by n stringent en
actment , In order th.it these lakes may re
tain I olio of their most attractive feutmoi.
1 am aware that them nre doubts In tlm
m nds of many ns to the utility of Iho fin.li
hatchery 1 for the purpose of propogatlng
fish f nnd re locking the streams of the
x tnt . While it is true that the result * in
this state , owing to thu short time slnco
the foundation of tlio lomndxidoii , have
not as yet been such as to popuUriro thin
work , yet in view of the marked result *
attained In thlrty-thrco states nnd thrco
temto'ies , iiimmiyof whlrh commisslonM
of this chiiraclor have been In operation
for n longer period , 1 am of the opinion
that the day Is not far dint ml when Iho
Iowa 1 li h niimnissliiii will , In the rtMilt *
accomplished , tin found to have met tlm
cxpoctatlom , not only of the public , but of
IN most Miigultifl friends.
TIIK iiouili w mut.Tll.
The bonrd was eslnbliiihcd and Its IHIVV-
orn and duties delhied by chapter 151 , act )
ol tlm eighteenth general assembly , lly
the \ terms of the act thu attorney general
of tlio state , n civil engineer , nnd seven
> : ihysicinns i-nmpnsu Us ineml erchlp' The >
| Hoard wnH orguul/ed In May. 1880. The
vet rcfened lo nppiopiinted ? 5,000 a year ,
or so much thereof im vvivs necessary , ti >
rany on tlio work of the hoard.
Of this amount there haw
been expended the mini of
$3.I5.75. ! ) The intention , ol tlio genornl
uPseiuldy In creating this bonril WAS to
"provido for the collection of vital statis
tics , nnd to assign cuituin duties to local
boards , ' ' etc. The report of the hoard
covers n vast amount of valuable informa
tion regnrdini ; the diseases Incident to our
pipulution , and also to tlio llvo stuck of
Ihu Stale. It embraces essays on many
Nuhjtcts lolntlng to infectious disease * nnd
matter * peilaiiiiug lo sanitary science ,
vvhi h have been contributed by the mem
bers of tlio board nnd the loading scientist *
and physicians of the state. Thu Infuriun.
lion contained tn Ilia report will bu of
grent vnluo to our people. The obtaining
of correct vital statistics is vvortti much
morn to the state tlmu is expended In
maintaining lids board , 1 onineslly call
your attention to thu recommendations of
the board regarding the legl-lntion needed
to perfect Iho sy-tem. The statute should
bo amended iu order that tliu highest de-
grvo of honolit limy bo derived from the
InborH of thu board.
IMI.VUM VC'V , -
Thu eighteenth general assembly en
acted a law "to icgulute the mile of mo.H-
i-.lnes nnd poisons. lly the prnvMon * of
tlm net the executive xvns reiiuircd to ap
point , "with the advice of tlio executive
council , " "thrco comiiUMdoucrs of phar
macy. " Said comminslonern were to linvu
power to mak i the necessary regulatinnH
to citvry out tbo provisions of the net. The
board WON organized April 2(1 ( , 1880. Kiom
the report it will be seen that thcro are
2,211 registered pharmacist * in thn ntnto.
Your attention i.s called to thu suggestion
of thu commissioners that the law bo
amended so ns to enable them to enforce
penalties. It Is n general rule of law that
tbu less iseiul'i-nced ' in the greater , heiico
if the law creating thin board of cummin-
idonors empowers it to make by-lawn nnd
nil iiei-uiwaiy regulations , nnd to license
mid rogulatu under tbo-io by-laws Mid reg-
ulntioiiH nil phnrmnclsts , thu bonrd , when
a pharmacist is onnvictcd of u violation of
Its ruliH , has the power to revoke tin li-
eenso of tha ufrcndiir. As tn the right of
tbo board to do this there seems to he a
doubt , nud in fact this right ii now being
contested In Iho courts. 1 nuvgest tint
thn law tic NO omen led as to romoyo
nil ambiguity in this respect.
MINE INHI'KOTIO.V.
The cilice of mine Inspector was created
by chapter 202 , nets of the eighteenth
general assembly. The law went Into
operation on .Tuly 4,1880. On the 28tU
of that month I nppointfld Parljir C"W1- , !
so'n , of Muhaska county , inspector ltd in-
toilm , Hisroportshows thenuaib r of mines ,
in operation in tha state July 1 , 1881 , to bo
IH7 , In which there worn employed G.17 ( !
men and boys. Tlio product of the nilnod
during the yen' for which the report is
mndu IK , ns nearly ns can be determined , a
little over 3,500,000 tons. During bin
term of ollico the inspector hn visited alL
thn mines of the state , and most uf them
twice ,
The production of coal Is constantly in-
oruuslng , nnd the mines aru taxed to their
utmost.cnpatity to meet the demand for
coal for heating and manufacturing pur
poses , Co a' ' is being mined In twenty-nix
counties of tlio state , nnd is now found in
iiimo localities whcrn it was not before .
supposed to exi-t.
Your attention in callud to thu sugges
tion of thu Inspector lognrding amend
ment * to Iho law which nro desirable in.
order to muku Its workings more harmoni
ous. Thu law should bu amended so as to
rftiuirttiuino owners to report serious acci-
ilinlH of ov iy des riptlon to pursoiiH em
ployed In the mines , and the provision rc-
giiiillng ventilation i.f thu mines should be
un plilie.il so us t' ' hi'iiro n greater degree
of siifety to thu miners. Soition 13 of tlio ,
law foi bids thu employment of hoys under
twelvu yeurs of ugu iu the mines , a. pro
vision wh eh 1 regret to say I * being con
stant y violated. In my judgment tha
employment of hoys under fifteen yon m of
ngu In tliR mliicH sliuiiM bo strictly forbid
den , and the sumo provision should nuply
nil li'iys ' vvhutuvcr who aru unable tu >
iiud and wiilu. As it in now , boys are
lucd : in thu milieu ut u very cailyngo.
mid aru deprived of thu opportunity of ac
quit Inir any education whatever. The re
sult IH that they grow up in absolute ! / -
noruncu.
The law leimhiit ) thu Inspector to visit
mill oMitiiliiu nil thu mines in the state anil
icpoit on thulrcondition. No provision U
made for his traveling cxpeiicea. Thews
expenses , in my opinion , Hlimild bo paid
thu state.
IMMKIIIATIOS COIIMI&4IO.V ,
Thu ciglituiuith general assembly by
chapter 108 , created the ollico of comiiiin-
Nioncr of Immigration , nnd among Its pro
visions mndu it the duty of that oflicor to
his efforts "to induce capital and Wi-
iliistry to seelc investment and umploymtnt
the ilevulopmunt und Improvement of
ugiiculturiil , mnnufucturliig and
mining reHUurcon of the statu , " Tlio act
ippioprlatud 5flOO per year f r two yearn
pay the salary of the commission/ ) * and
defray the expenses neceasury V ) bo iu-
-Urred to curry out the Intent of the act.
milhorUedby the law , I , In May , 188 ,
ippolntud lion , George D. 1'crkinrt Immi
gration commimionw. Of tlie fuidn ap
propriated there lias been expended up ti >
Novoml > or 1 , 1881 , the Hum of $5,372.25.
For . Uiu details of the work done you are
rwferred to the roport.
1 am HaUslietlthat the information whioa-
been disseminated through this agency *
diMMunuuh to draw attention to the re
sources of tli state , and ait met hlthur-
wiiril a good clasa ol Immiuratioii , Tlio.
expenses til tbu coiiiiuissIiM are a inero
trillu , and I trust the work HO vli'OTously
inuiigur.vtod by Uiu coimnLisioiiur may
mcot witli ticnrty HiipiMitt at your bands.
IIOI'SKIIOLD FUltNITURB AT
AUCTION.
TJiursdiiy , .lanuuiy 12h , at 1ft
o'clock . m. , t 812 South ! MK
tuunth Btroot , iioar Leiivcuworlh , mjr
entire liousoholil furniture , oons'atimc '
parlor and bed room auitu , cajjjota ,
inirrurs , pictures , side board , exten.
aioii Inblea , book ciwea , utliou deaV ,
lint rnck I'.itchcii utouails , atovos , etc.
Also carriage nnd double end aiuglu
Imrnu'.H ,
t D. COOKK.
"WINE oF OARDUI" m kea rosy
iln-eka and clear compluxtons. -