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THE t DAILY BEE-THURSDAY JANUARY 4
Omaha Bee
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Orders to bo made pnynblo to the order of
the Ooropany.
TIio BEE PUBLlra 00 , , Props ,
E. ROSEWATER Editor
Ilnnn MOST is moat too freah for
America. ,
haa boon endowed by hia
oonatituonta. The qucaUon la who
will ondorao the conatllnontn.
FBEK whisky nnd tobacco nnd heavy
taxes on clothing nnd iron is a plnnk
which will sink any party platform
with the party too deep for political
resurrection.
IT is staled that several of the sona-
torinl candidates nro rnnning on their
record before the war. The record of
a number oinco the war would mnko
Jlvoly , if not instructive reading.
THE Ravings moro than the oarnlnga
of the people show the prosperity of
the country , Daring the past year
Massachusetts savings banks have in
creased their deposits $10,000,000.
BBS BUTXEK has cocked his eye on
the extravagant official expenditures
of Massachusetts , nnd those who ought
to know say that something will bo
hoard to drop with n heavy thuSSe-
fore the loaves begin to sprout ,
DAVE BUTLER , the awoot singer ,
the South Platte Israel , is raising
dulcet voice In the highest strains t
anti-monopoly minstrelsy. Divid
*
the fiftieth original slmon pnro null
monopolist who haa filed his claim for-j
recognition on the ground of his un
swerving adherence to interests of the
suffering producers.
IF wo are not greatly mistaken the
Douglas county delegation will have
aomethlng to say npon the question of
reforming our disreputable justices
conrta and limiting the courts in cities
of the first class to a number at which
a living can bo made by the justices
without fleecing litigants and defying
every principle of law and equity.
SENATOR LOOAN lias concluded toll
ing what ho doesn't know about the
Fitz John Porter affair , and can now
ait cosily in his chair for the rest of
the session. It is not probable that
the senator's argument has changed n
ainglo vote. The present congress
will miss n great opportunity to do
justice to a cruelly wronged man if
they pass over to their ( successors the
reparation of the Injury done to' Gen
eral Porter over twenty years ago at
Manaesos. )
MONEY in tight and crodita
f being contracted. Many manufaob'
, ing induatrioa have boon atlmu'laf
into overproduction and the cosj
living has boon greatly increased ]
opoculntivo corners engineered bj
scrupulous jobbers nnd mnnlpj
at the oxponio of the food and 1
of the poor. Under such olroum
the trade outlook for the coming
la not ns encouraging as was exacted
and mnch complaint is hoard in com
mercial centers. Economy in expend
itures , nnd a judicious contraction of
credits will still stave off panic for
years to come ,
THE Cleveland Leader baa joined
the caravan of papers that are sing
ing the praisot of the Nebraska high
license law , In the course of an ex
tended editorial it says ; "On the
whole It is a question whether such an
act M this , properly lived up to and
enforced , Is not as bonefioUl as a
prohibitory law , the successful en
forcement of which has always been
questionable and is still Involved in
doubt. The success which has
Attended the experiment of a high
license law in Nebraska is certainly
worthy of thoughtful consideration al
this time , when the dlspoaltior
and regulation of the liquor troffit
is engrossing so mnch attention. Ii
is evident that with the present stati
of pnblio sentiment it cannot bo sup
pretsod , Experience has demon
strated , however , that it can bo ] con
trolled and restricted , and the mos
rational way to do ao Is to itnposi
upon it a tax whereby it will bo madi
tp bear a proper proportion of the ex
peases of the1 loeal government am
Btato institutions , and at the sain
time make the venders responsible fo
damages and violations. " The Cbl
cage Tribune , St. Louis Jlepullican
tmd a score of other prominent paper
are'equally complimentary. Blocumb'
much abused baby has grown to b
quite a famous stripling.
MARE HABTE SLOWI/JT.
The Icgiilatnro having organleod has
settled down to the work of the session
and is preparing to formulate legisla
tion on the Iszuos which are ao vital
to the welfare nnd prosperity of the
producers of the atato. The quostionB
of amending our prctont railroad laws
and of securing the passage of n
now rovonno bill nro of the
highest Importance , Both touch
the pockets , directly or indirectly -
directly of every citizen of Nebraska ,
nnd nffeot the accumulation nnd die-
tribntion of wealth nmong nil
classes cf our people. The possaga of
the Donne law at the lust cession waa
the firat practical slop towards the solution -
lution of ono phase of the railroad
problem. It committed the people of
the state to further legislation , nnd
voiced the strong intonlbn of our
voters to cnrb the discriminntiono nnd
extortions of insolent corporations.
After a trial of two years , several
defects which could only have been
made clear by its operation nro found
to exist In the law , and there ia n call
either for ita nmondmont or for tha
pannage of n moro comprehensive
mooauro ,
THE Ben urges upon the legislature
to ' 'mako haste slowly. " Hasty legia
lation is generally not well digested ,
legislation. Laws formulated in a
hurry are apt to bo declared void by
the courts with almost equal rapidity ,
or are found to defeat their end by
their crndonoiB. The pacplo demand
the enactment of measures which will
bo adequate to remedy the evils un
der which they are suffering. They
demand of their representatives lawa
shaped in the light of experience , and
drawa to stand the test of the conrti ,
Such measures cannot bo considered
[ n n single mooting of a committee , or
drafted in half nn hour on'a shoot of
foolaoap. V
There nro enough nblo , honest nnd
willing mon nt Lincoln to frame the
proper kind of bills and to push them
through to a successful passage , What
the anti-monopolists need especially
; o guard against ia the flooding of the
calendar with crude and hastily com
piled measures framed to fall to pieces
on this very ocsount nnd engineered
la the interests of the corporations ,
THE BEE repeats that it will pay to
make haste slowly.
i IT was said that the Roman Augurs
% > nld not pats each other in the street
Without laughing at the gullibility of
lib people who allowed themselves to
bo ? impcsad npon by their religious
pr'tltissionB. Wo do not bollovo thnt
Metfttt. Pendloton nnd Bayard can
look taoh other in the face as they
prate about the now civil sorvlco re
form bill without a similar fooling.
It loading provisions nro already laws
nnd can bo fonnd in the Ravisoc
Statutes of 1853 , $55 nnd 1871.
They have remained a dead lottos
because every senator and congress
man known that they are impractical.
The now additions are prolix , cumbersome
bersomo and mechanical. The entire
measure falls to touch the root of the
evils complained of. It nflbcts enl >
ono-tonth of the officers in the civi
sorvloQiv It aims to accomplish it
o expense of vigor and re
epolity ; , while It cflors no hop
higher claim of appointments
wliloli the majority of the' evil
tho-civil service omnnato
bo relieved by ita operation.
TUB Spanish-American claims com
mission has expired after an oilstone
of eleven yonrs , duriug which its mom
bora worked throe hours n day am
drew their salary with commcndabl
regularity. Tha commission grow ou
bf the Oaban insurrection which too
plnco prior to to 1871 , nnd waa ostab
liahcd to adjudicate tha claims o
American citizens agalnat the Spsnls
authorities for alleged injuries done t
person nnd property. Many of th
claims were put ia by naturalize
Cubans , whose habit it was to spend
part of each year In this country an
the remainder in Cuba. The quostioi
as to whether those mon bocam
American oitizans of good faith led t
the Innumerable discussions and eon
trovcrslor which lengthened out th
life of the commission. Althoug
many of the claims fell through o
account of the prevailing doubts 01
this particular point/ jet it is hoi
that M cltlzans all such persons ar
entitled to the protection of our gov
ornment.
CONSIDERATION of the new gas ordinance
dinanco was again postponed at th
last meeting of the city oounoil fo
another week. We fall to understan
what legitimate causes for delay ex
Ink It is over six weeks since th
proposition of the iiaw company wa
presented to our people and laid before
fore the council. Public policy an
popular sentiment both demand tha
the rights asked on behalf of the me
who desire to give Omaha cheap * an
bettor goa should be granted. If ther
are any good reasons why our peopl
do not want a competing gas coinpan
let them bo produced. Thpy ca
then bo examined and siftec
But this dilly dallying for conaulta
tlon and references and amendment
and now opiulona of the city attorue
upon questions which lean never b
raised la giving rUe to much common
among our people which is far froc
complimentary to the new counol
TUB BEK has no doubt that when th
rdinanco is once equaroly before the
ouncll it will bo promptly p eod
without material opposition. The
nicker this Is done , the better for all
lands round.
The PonHlon Bualnoas.
ew York ICrcnlntf r t.
Every man who has sacrificed hia
apaclty to support himself In the
nllitary service should bo properly
taken ciro of. But no nation in the
rorld has been ao lavish in the per-
irmonco of that dnty a * this Rapub-
o. Never hrt thorn been an example
f bounties EO exorbitant , of n pension
oil BO large , of access to it to ensy ,
ud of pension rates so high. The
generality of thooo who nerved the
ountry in the field nro natufiad with
? hat has been done nnd do not oak
or moro. That the claim agents have
ot the intoreata of the soldiers , but
heir own in view , goes without say-
ng.
There In now a strong effort made
o tocuro legislation putting ou the
pension rolls all the "surviving"
oldiera of the Mexican nnd of Indian
wars , na well ns the widows of those
who are dead , unless they got married
gain. The only condition ia thnt the
pplicant shall provo 30 days' military
orvlco of some sort during such wars.
f such a law is passed , itvlll only bo
ho forerunner of ono to bo passed n
ow yearn hence putting on the pen-
Ion rolls nil the surviving soldiers of
ho war of the rebellion , just as the
aws pensioning nil the ( surviving
evolutionary soldiers nnd thoeo of
ho legislation now proposed.
There is no principle of equity
fhioh entitles a soldier , whose health
as not been Injured in the line of
nty , tp a pension merely for having
orvod in a war. Ho received his
tipulatcd pay just as any other pub
ic servant did for stipulntod work ,
lo received honorable distinction if
10 performed his duty well , There in
no moro reason why ho should rocelvo
pension for having "survived" the
larformnnco of hi * dnlyin n war than
herb is for paying a pension to a man
'surviving" the performance of hia
nty on a Burvoying expedition. The
moro fact that ho haa "survived" the
ar for SO or moro years shows con-
lusivoly that the war did not hurt
im much. Moreover , under the 30
ays' aorvico clause , any man who had
mng about & commissary store or n
ocrniting station for a month , nndhad
good , comfortable , and sometimes
ven profitable time of it , would bo
ntltlod to the same pension with the
nnn who had to sloop in the onowaud
.0 . expose his life In battle. No nation
n the world pays poiuions on so fool-
sh a principle.
Members of congress should by this
mo have learned that they can make
o political of value by favoring such
chemes. When the arrears bill was
msaed many republicans'undoubtedly
taught that their party could not
ffurd to oppose n measure which , na
hey thought , had the "soldier ele
ment" behind it. What haa been the
esulU Haa the nrrears bill in any
way eorvcd to nave the republican
inrty from defeat nt the late oloct'onej
) n the contrary , the arrears bill , for
which the republicans were in a great
measure hold responsible , waa ono of
lie moat prominent items in the cata
logue of republican sins.
TELEGRAPH NOTES.
8iccUl | Dlspatchcu to Tin BBI.
LA OIIUTK , Quebec , January 3. Fred
erick Mann , the murderer of the Cook
family at Little lledeau. yesterday , was
captured. Mann U anJEncllBhmnn only
17 yearn old.
NKW YOUK , Januiry 3. The Nntlona
Olgar Makers' association protests agains
cutting off the ad valorem duty on itn
ported cigars.
GALV.E8TON , Jemmy 3. Tom Seymour
was shot dead iu the hospltil ward to-day
by a patient named Morrison , lent then
deranged a short tlmo ago.
NEW YOUK , Jnnunry 3. Mir. F. A
Schwab leave ) for Chicago ia the morning
to assume the duties of business manager
of Mrs. Lrmgtry.
AuausTA , Me. , January 3. The repub
Hcan CAUCUS nominated United State
Senator Frye , and the fuelonlsts nom !
natod llnrria M. 1'lalstoJ for Unltet
States senator.
The Iron Interott.
Special Dispatch to Tux linn.
PniLAUKU'iiiA , January 3. A cal
for a mooting of all makers of pig iron
for aalo In the open market whoso fur
naooa are located east of Flttsburg wa
issued to-day to bo held in New Yorl
on Friday next. The call la signet
by olghton prominent companies am
produojra of pig iron.
PiTTSituuOj January 1) . The Weat
ern Iron nnsoclation mot to-day am
roafirraed tbo 2 | soiling rate of iron
They also adopted a memorial to bo
presented to congrosB protostiuj
against a reduction of the tariff on til
plates. In the memorial it ia olaimoi
that the tin plato industry is lost to
this country by the misconstruction
of the law of 1804. which originally
iixod the duty nt 2i cents per poum
and that it lies in the power of eon
gross to provide n livelihood for 100 ,
000 people of the United states by
affording the tin plate industry pro
teotlon.
Tito Sandwich Apoitle ,
Special Dispatch to Tin Bit
DETROIT , Mich. , Jonuary 3. A letter
ter juat received at Niles , this state
by relatives , announce the death o
Rev. Titus Ooan at Hllo , Sandwlo
Islands , December 2d , aged 82. Dr
Ooan was a well known missionary o
the American board and had bee
known for years as the apostle of th
B&ndwioh Islands.
Tbo Tabor Divorce-
Special Dlip tch to TUB UKI.
DKNVEH , January 3. By mutua
agreement , Mrs , Augusta L. Tabo
obtained a divorce from her husbanc
Governor Tabor , the alimony beiu
82,500,000. She asked for ono mi
lion , but sooinod catiaQod with th
compromise. She withdrew all offensive
sivo charges , and previous anils lapse
Tfao r.llnren of 1882
Special Dltpatch to Tuiliii.
NEW YOUK , January 2. The mor
cautlld failures of the year juat closet
are for the United States , 073
iu number aa against 6,582 In 1881
The liabilltieo m the United State
are for the last year $101,000,000 a
compared with $81,000,000 in 1831.
A. Murdered Muipoot.
Bptclal Dlipttch to Tui U t
JJiLUNAMOKE , January 3 , John
Sheridan , Jr. , an ex-suspect , was fount
murdered near this lilaco. He ha
been recently evicted. Tvo nrrcsU
have been made ,
OBLIVION'S ' ECHO.
IContintifdfrom I'M Page. ]
rolorred for add !
) which you are '
onal information.
8KCRBTAKY OF STATE.
The report of the secretary of state
mbodies important details concerning
ho business of that department , nnd
onUins recommendations which are
lie results of long oxporimonco in
onnectlon with state _ afUlra. n
ilaborato plan for letting state print-
ng contracts , covering all kinds cf
work of this character , is submitted
> y the secretary and is worthy of con-
[ deration.
It is recommended by the secretary
liat the present limitation upon the
lumber of notaries public for each
onnty bo removed. In view of the
act that the quota is ample for uorao
ountles and not sufliclmit for others ,
ho law should bo amended no as to
illow n larger number to bo appointed
i each county , or the limitation
honld bu wholly removed. The basis
pen which the quota is fixed under
ho existing law is variably and un-
atlsfactory. Thovoto in eomo of the
onntica was lighter at the late elco-
Ihn than at the election of 1880 , nnd
lie quota of notaries is decreased ,
,1 though the population is undoubted-
y creator than It was at that tlmo.
The secretary recommends the re-
ioal of the not of 18GU , providing for
in nnuukl state census , na the law is
noporativo in aotnp counties , the re-
, urna therefore bain ? of little value ,
nstoad of an annual oansus it it
ocommoaiod that a state conana bo
akon taken in * ho year 1885 , and
very ton years thereafter , tbua alter-
tiling with the United States consas.
STATE LIBRAllY.
The report of the state librarian
ows 21,487 volnmoi now on the
helves of the library. It has been
ocontly arranged in moro comma-
lous quarters on the gronnd floor of
10 oaat wing , and coraprlsea a largo
umber of very valuable and Ira-
ortant works. I heartily ondorao the
ccommondatlona of the librarian rol-
tivo to the building up of its No-
raska department of history , and
rust that the citizans of the state
Till add thereto by voluntary contri-
ations of reliable data covoirng 1m-
ortant events in the history of the
tate ,
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
The management of the charitable ,
iformatory nnd penal institntlona of
10 ' .ate during the past two years ,
as been without oxtoption eminently
atiafactory.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
The biennial report of the suporin ;
ondpnt of the hospital for the Insane
trill inform yon in regard to the man-
foment and wants of that institu-
on. On the 30th of November ,
880 , there wore 10 ! ) patients. During
10 two years following , 238 were re-
elvod , 1C5 discharged , 1 escaped and
42 died , leaving 273 in the hospital ,
November 30 , 1882. The suporin-
ondont haa been able to receive all
nsano persons whom ho has been ask-
id to admit. The hospital tarm has
icon very productive during the past
'oar ' and the crops produced have ma-
erinlly decreased the average cost of
maintaining the inmates.
I invite special attention to the roc-
tmmendatlona of the superintendent
n relation to building an engine
louse and providing an amply supply
of watorr Those recommendations
arc ccuiaidcrod very important , as c
'
disastrous 'conflagration is liable * tc
originate in the boiler room , which ii
now in the center of the basement ol
: ho main building.
The cow wings of the hospital pro
vlded for by the legislature at ita las !
regular session are rapidly approach
ng completion. It will bo your dutj
; o make suitable provision for fur
nlahlng and preparing them for occu <
patlon.
The superintendent's report showi
that there has boon considerable dlfli
culty and mnch irregularity in making
colleoticns from the several counties o :
amounta duo the atato for the suppori
of their insane. Some of the moa
populous and wealthy counties , having
the largest nnmber of inmates , v\\ \
the smallcat amounts for that purpose
This evil should bo promptly cor
reeled.
The generous policy heretofore pur
sued by the state for the pnrpoeo o
ameliorating the condition of the in
sana haa been highly creditable , and . '
trust that the same fostering care wil
continue to bo exercised ( n providlnj
for the wants of this institution
Much Important information concern
ing the business management of th
hospital , including n detailed statement
mont showing the crop yield of th
farm connected therowlth , will b
found in the steward's report ,
The average coat porcapltaperweel
of maintaining the inmates of the asy
lum , including salaries nnd expense
of every kind , durlntr the post tw
years , haa boon $3.24 } ,
INSTITUTE FOK THE DKAV AND DUMI
At the regular session of 1881 , th
legislature provided for the construe
tlon of an additional building in con
neotlon with the Institute for the doa
and dumb. The building haa bee
erected and completed by oontrac
under the general supervision of th
board of public Undi and bnlldingi
and ia now partly occupied. It ia
brick structure forty-two feet (42) ( ) b
sixty-six ( CO ) , with basement andthre
atones. An appropriation for th
purpose of furnishing the new builc
Ing ii needed , Other valuable ia
provemonta have been made , and th
Institute la generally in a very satii
factory condition. It la reoommende
by the principal that an addition )
amount of land contiguous to the in
etituto bo purchased for iU benefit. .
number of interesting features hav
boon added to the methods of iustrui
tlon. The USB of the vccil organs he
boon taught with the aid of the and
phone , and the experiment haa boo
remarkably suoooisful.
A printing office is successful !
operated by the pupils uud they ai
Issuing a semi-monthly journal whlc
la very creditably conducted , and a
expenses connected with Its publici
tlon are mot by subscriptions and at
vertieing patronage. The total nun
bor of puplla in attendance is , a
increase of over the number roper
ed two years ago. The Average co
per capita per week of maintenance <
Inmates haa been { 3.21 ,
Applications have been made to B <
cure the admission of fooblo-mlndt
children and I earnestly endorse tl
opinion expressed by the principal
that the time has arrived when an Institution -
stitution for this class of unf artunatos
should bo organized either on an in
dependent buis or in connection with
some other atato charitable institu
tions.
issriTUTE ron THE ILINU.
The educational and industrial de
partments of the institute for the
blind have been conducted with grati
fying success. In addition to obtain
ing n thorough education the pupila
nro becoming proficient in vntlous
brnnchea of Industry , and a majority
of them will become Belt-supporting
The number enrolled at the present
time ia twenty-five. The principal
aska that an appropriation of $3,000
be made for the purpose of providing
the building with atenm apparatus
The average cost pnr ciplta per week
of maintaining the inmates duriug the
past two years has been $5.33.
STATE UEFJKM HCUOOL
In accordance with the not of the
legislature of 1881 , providing for the
organisation of a atnto raform.achool
at Kearney , the board of public
lands and buildings on the 20th of
.April of that year , appointed Hon.
Geo. W. Collins , superintendent , and
also appolntod the subordinate oflicore
authorized fcy aaid act. The school
was formally opened in Juno , 1881 ,
and haa boon successfully operate ci
since that time. There are now thirty
seven inmates , and the cepacity of the
building la only sufficient to comfort
ably accommodate thirty. The con
structlon of a building or building !
sufficient for ouo hundred and fifty in
mates is 'recommended by the boarc
of public lands nnd buildings and alec
by the superintendent. The tendency
oncy of the reform school t <
ropreai nnd prevent the con :
mission of orlmo la Indisputable ,
and If supported on a liberal scale i
will prevent largo expenditures for the
punishment of hardened criminals. II
viewed only from a humane stand'
point the school should have every encouragement -
couragoment , aa it enables the atato tc
reacu'o a largo number of childsot
from vicious surroundings and givei
them the advantages of a good oduca
tlon together with well established
habits of industry.
Your attention is directed to iht
fact that while the law provides tha' '
the ntalo ahull pay all necessary ex
ponsea conneotod with the transpor
tation of juvenile offenders sent t <
the reform school , no appropriatior
hai been made for that purpose.
PENITENTIARY.
Under the effective management o
ho warden of the penitentiary the af
! aira of that institution have boon con
uctod in 'a very satisfactory manne :
uring the past two yeuro. '
Your attention ia especially callee
o the recommendation of the wnrdei
, hat a'n appropriation bo made for thi
mrposo of providing an abundau
iupply of water. Whether this can bi
> oat accomplished by moans of an ar
eslan well , or otherwise , is a quostioi
fhich you will be nblo to dotermlm
, ftor obtaining accurate knowledge o
; he situation. It is nnquoationabl ;
.he . duty of the state to inrnish thi
; upply of 'water required , and thi
luty shoulcVj'rib longer bo neglected
In connection with this improvement
thorough system ef sewerage ahonli
o provided. Other Important roc
immendatlona aro' made in the war
don's report , to which I also refer yoi
'or statements In detail concerning
.ho wants of the prison.
The act approved February 2Gth
1870 , extending the contract fo
eoso of penitentiary and of the labo
1st , 1884 , Nebraska prisoners aril ;
ehall bo kept in aaid penitentiary. A
that time the prison mil contain i
number of United States , New Mexico
co and Wyoming prisoners , sentence' '
'or a period extending beyond tha
: imo , while the not of our own logisla
; uro makes It the duty of the wnrdoi
to exclude them from the prison. Th
complications that may ariao in oonso
quonco of thla state of nflalra ahouli
bo avoided by proper legislation.
The etato of discipline in the priaoi
haa been all that could bo doaired an
the health of the convicts nnder th
excellent medical supervision of th
prison physician has boon exception
ally good , only ono death having occurred
currod in the last two years. Th
number of priaonora reported by th
warden on the 30th of Novomboi
1882 , waa 2G1. Of these , 3 ni
United States prisoners , 7 are froi
New Mexico and 39 from Wyoming-
leaving 212 that nro elateconvicta -
nn increase of only six over the number
bor reported two years ago.
MIUTAKY AFFAIRS.
An elaborate report of the mllitar
affairs of the state ia made by the ac
jutant general covering the perib
that hue elapsed alnco the oreamzitio
of the National Guard in 1891. Yo
will find therein a carefully prepare
history of the organization of tt
First regiment N. N. G. and of tl
Blue Springs light artillery ; also
multitude of details concerning the
eqalpmont.
The operations of the military i
connection with the' suppression i
the riots at Omaha having been full
aot forth In my message to the legl
lature at the special aeision in Ma }
1882 , it la not necessary to enlarj ,
upon the subject at thia time , but
take pleasure In again testifying I
the efficiency of the state troops c
that occasion , and repeat the"atat
ment then made that the results ju
tified the wladom of the legislature :
providing for a moro thorough ml !
tary organization.
Thn recommendation of the adjo
ant general that an appropriation I
made BU detent to enable the nation
guard to hold an encampment a
nually has my earnest approval , as
is impossible to maintain an effect !
military organization of this chara
tor without affording proper faoillti
for Instruction and drill.
The very thorough and critical r
port of the inspector goneaal will on
bio you to arrive at proper concluoio
concerning the state of discipline tin
prevails and the legislation that ii n
ceseaary to give greater efficiently
the service , The principal causes
dissatisfaction mentioned by the i
sptctor general have recently been i
moved. Until the beginning of N
verabor , 1882 , the companies had pi
vided their own uniform , aa it waa n
considered advisable to use any pc
tlon of the military appropriation f
that purpose. Within the last six
days BO von companies of the qua
have been provided with Unit
States regulation fatigue uniform
end ar now in all rwp&cts W
equipped. The payment of armory
tent for the regiment and the expense
of providing uniforms as above stated
wholly exhausted the military appro
priation. The remaining companies
should bo nniformed in like manner
as aoon na practicable I concur in
the recommendation made by the nd *
jntnnt general that on appropriation
of § 5,000 per-annum bo made for the
purpose of defraying the necessary
cxpeiweo of thpmilitary organizUlon
of the atato during the next two
years ,
I refer yon to the carof Uy prepared -
pared report of the quartermaster
general for details concerning the
military property of the atnto , dlatri-
bation of ordnance stores , receipts
and disbursements of moneyand other
matters connected with hia depart
ment.
In taking leave of thin nubjfct my
connection with the military off lira of
the atato ia brought to n oloio , and I
avail myself of the opportunity to
oxprois my gratitude to the olEjors of
mv personal atnfT ns well na to the
clti : era nnd onlia'od mon of the guard
for their fidelity to duty nnd earnest
co-oporation in every eilorl to increase
the efficiency of our military service.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
Important questions of state policy ,
involving the regulation ot rales of
transportation over railroads , require
your careful consideration. The prob
lem ia comparatively a now ono in
state and national affairs , and ita so
lution ia attended with difficulties of a
complicated character. To determine
what legislation is necoaaary for the
purpose of subjecting railroad
corporation proper legal control
without inj o to the people or the
railroads n very thorough
knowledge ilrond construction
and manngopj nlao n clear un-
deratandlng > pa complained
of by the pu cioua leglala-
tion , to nocom ] object , ia do-
mandod by t" .ntlal . bualnera
mon and fnri o stnto , The
clamor of thi nro conducting
an indiscrlmi ' upon railroads
for the obviou of advancing
their own political inter-
osia should bo [ ly ignored. It
ia na much you : a prevent rais
chlevons logiala in thia subject ,
aa it ia to provii which is based
upon exaot prln justice.
In the state ol i every phase
of the queatlon i under eon-
aideration during" past twelve
years , and by v , of n board oi
railroad comnfiBs rjuitablo ratoa
of transportation 'ion established
and many of tl a complained
of earroctod. inatlon of the
lawa of that stnt ihow that the
commissioners lower to fix
maximum rate : anaporlatlon
which shall bo p lo evidence of
reasonableness , the burden of
the proof ia on [ iroad corpora-
tions whenever & pt ia made by
them to establls reasonableness
of higher rates iult ia that the
schedules > y the lommia-
sionora a : oooptod by the
railroid , 'as conclusive ,
The law , a not prevent
them from a higher ratec
by going i and demon-
strating t lenesa before a
jury of t ! the report ol
the conn : 881 , page 20 ,
the state , at "tho righl
to iix mum rates foi
'eight ' and pas
ther by direct
created by law ,
ly questioned. '
.0 Illinola act oi
and unjual
of
1 rates and rebates haa beer
with' great difficulties , bu !
commissioners have made verj
Batilifattory progress in that direction ,
I also invite yonr attention to thi
InwcL of Iowa , providing fur the or
gani tlon of aboard of railway coin
re , and to their subsequent
repi nnd proceedings. The gen
eral hat state have justified
the legislature creating the
board.O eport of the commis
aionoraj of Illinois and Iowa ,
contain of valuable informa
tion b < ipon every feature ol
the questi1 " may bo studied will
profit by are int ores ted in BO-
curing ii legislation upon thit
in our own
While I tot _ assume that the
commission m IB the oniy prao-
ticablo i ) ' /I dealing with the
problem , i it aa the boat thai
has yet boon di od. My opinion IE
strengthened 1 fact that during
the paat lit teen , t haa boon stead
ily gaining in favor and hai
beenfadoptod b X tf ( Vonty statea ,
Believing th t will bo culdec
by wiae /whatever actioi
yon may ivn this important
subject , I pass toVUo consideration o :
other topics. V
STATE BOAIID ol EQUALIZATION.
A common mhfJjprehenBlon oxisti
concerning the duties and powers ol
the state board of equalization In con
nectlon with the assessment of rail
road property , and I therotore invite
yonr attention to the act of 1881 on
this subject , whereiu It it provided
that the president , eecretary , super ,
intendent or other/principal officers
within this state , of every railroad and
telegraph company shall list and re
turn to the nridltor of public acconnti
for assessment and taxation , "the
number of wiles of such railroad nd
telegraph line In each organized couu.
ty in the state , and the total numbei
of miles in the state , including thi
1- roadbed right of
, way , and super
Btruotures thereon , main and side
tracks , depot buildings and depot
grounds , Bootion and tool houses , roll
ing stock and
personal property neo
essary for the construction , repMre ,
or successful operation of such rail'
road and telegraph linea. "
The tangible property above described
scribed Is the only railroad propertj
that is subject to assessment by th <
board.
Section L article IX of the constilu
tion makes it the duty of the leglala
ture to provide for the aaaeument o
the property and fronchleea of indl
viduala and corporations , but ther
has been no legialation to give effec
to that put of thoconatltutionrolatlni
to francnises , and the board has n !
authority to assess this species o
property.
No official duty which the severe
elate ofllcora comprising the board ar
called upon to perform ia so Habla t
misconstruction and censure as that c
nasesaing railroad property. Th
problem b complex in itself and I
made more difficult bythe looae man
11 ner in which all property la aasease
for taxation. It would doubtless be
ngrooablo to the board to bo relieved
of thla duty if It could ba done in n
manner not prejudicial to the best in
terests of the state.
Railroad property has boon listed
for taxation by the various companies
under oath as provided by law , nnd
every means within the power of the
board haa boon employed to obtain a
fair and juat valuatlonof the property
o listed. In the judgment uf the
board anch property haa been attested
at n valuation corresponding with that
of other property throughout the
state. In fact , ii a comparison with
nssosamonta of railroad property , nnd
of other property , made in other
states may bo taken aa n guide , it will
bo found that under the present law
the taxation of railroad property haa
been higher , comparatively , in thla
atato than in moat othora.
The eoctionof the constitution cited
nbovo declares that the legislature
"shall provide such revenue na mny
bo needful , by levying n tax > by valua
tion , ao that every person and corpo
ration shall pay n tax in proportion to
the valuation of his , her or its prop
erty nnd franchises , " nnd the present
rovonno law provides for the valua
tion of porsoual property "at its fair
cash value , " and realty "at ita fair
value estimated at the price it would
bring at n voluntary sale thereof. " '
but through the influence of public
opinion and an 'established custom
moro potent than law , those provia-
"ons have boon universally ignored ,
and all property haa boon valued for
axation at loss thnn hnlf Ita real
value The embarrassing position in
which the state board ( equalization
aa well ns all connty boarda and pro-
mot nesossora nro plncod by this de
moralizing custom is obvious to nil.
I trust that this subject , in all of
IB bearings , may rocelvo the consid
eration that its importance demands ,
and that you will deviao a method by
which the difficulties encountered in
endeavoring to fix a correct and uni
form valuation upon nil property list
ed for taxation may bo entirely re
moved.
STATE LITIGATION.
The oovoral casoa in which the atato
is interested now pending or recently
decided , are reported by the attorney
general and published in the appen
dix hereto attached. The largo amount
of legal business of this character
transacted during the paat two years ,
has imposed no charges upon the state
for counsel fees , and 1 call attention
to this fact na a tribute to the fidelity
nnd efficiency of the attorney general ,
to whom I am also nnder many obli
gations for the valuable aid that ho
has rendered mo in the discharge of
my official duties.
FISH COMMISSION.
The work of the board of fish com-
misrioners waa seriously retarded in
the early part of 1881 , by the death of
Hon. H. S. Kaloy , who was a member
of tbo board. In September of that
year Hon. B. E. B. Kennedy waa ap
pointed to fill the vacancy , and nogo-
tiationa were soon after commenced
for the purchase of the hatchery of
Messrs. Itomaine & Dicker in Sttrpy
connty , nnd in March , 1883 , the pur
chase was consummated. This prop
erty embraces 52 acres of land upon
which la situated a water supply
which IB considered the finest in the
atato for a hatchery. In October ,
1881 , the commissioners received from
the United Statea commiaaicuer of
fisheries 500,000 salmon eggs , which
wore immediately hatched , and the
young fish distributed In the streams
of the state. In November of that
yfoar the commission obtained a sup-
lily of Gorcnau carp , a very valuable
'sh , which''may bo readily propagated
! > r food by every farmer who will
provide himself with proper facllitlpfl.
The commiaalonors have also obtain , d
and distributed a considerable nu.u-
ber of brook and California trout.
Substantial improvements were
made in connection with the hatchery
during the fall and summer cf 1882.
The zeal and energy of the board In
prosecuting its work ia worthy of
special commendation. I again call
attention to the fact that the legisla
ture has provided no compensation
for Borvicos performed by the commis
sioners , nor for the payment of actual
cxponoos incurred by them while em
ployed In their official capacity. I
refer you to their report for further /
details in regard to the work accom
plished , and the appropriation that
will bo necessary to continue their
operations during the ensuing two
years.
NEW COUNTIES.
It will bo your duty to fix the
boundaries of ono or moro new coun
ties , to Include portions of unorgan
ized territory in the western part of
the state. The rapid extension of
railroads in that direction and corresponding
pending increase of population , has
created a necessity for immediate leg
islation upon thia subject. I recom
mend that the aot bo framed BO that
it will clearly designate the judicial
district to which anch now county or
oonntiea will become attached when
fully organized ,
JUDICIAL DIBTIUCTfl )
The ndrainistratiom of justice has
been seriously retarded In n number
of the judicial districts of the state
by the largo increase of business in
the diatrict courts. Legialation for " *
the purpose of Increasing the number
of jndgea and judicial dlatricta is la
my judgment imperatively demanded
TARDONS.
Executive clemency haa been ex
ercised in ono caae during the paat
two yean , the re'aapna for which will
be found in the appendix published
herewith ,
CLAIU3 AGAINST THE STATE.
The legislature of 1873 , by joint re
solution , authorized the governor "to
appoint an agent or agents to prose
cute to a final decision before congress
or In the court of claims the
claim of this state for the five
per cent due from the United
States upon the lands of this
state disposed of by Indian reserva
tions , and by riio location of military
land warrants and land scrip issued
for military service in the ware ot the
United States nud for agricultural
college scrip tnd railroad landa , " The
compensation to be such as may be
agreed upon ty the governor and
agent or agents BO appointed , payable
after the collection of aald claims m
whole or In part. In pursuance of
the authority so confirmed , Gov. Vur-
naa entered into a contract withThos.
P. Kennard , under which said Ken-
nard agreed to prosecute aald claims , /
and receive as compensation for W \
