Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1879 — SOVEREIGN STATES. [ARTICLE]

SOVEREIGN STATES.

Meeting and Organization of State Legislature*, and the Condition of the State Finances, ’ North Carolina— Jolm M. Moving (Democrat) was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on the 9th inst Arizona— The Legislature organized Jan. 7. The Council stands 5 Republicans, 4 Democrats; House, 10 Democrats, 8 Republicans. West Virginia—D. D. Johnson was elected President of the Senate, and G. H. Moffatt Speaker of the , House, on the Bth inst, both Democrats. . Nevada —On the Oth inst. the Legislature elected Republican officers, as follows: President protein of the Senate, W. R. King; Speaker of the House, H. A. Gastom Gov. Kinkead was inaugurated on the 7th. Illinois— The Senate elected J. H. Paddock Secretary, and the House chose W. A. James Speaker. The Legislature met Jan 8, and is Republican in both branches. The Governor's message ’sho ws ffie State “bonded debt to be $552,742.06. Louisiana— The Governor's message was received on the 7th inst., no new organization being necessary. The Legislature is strongly Democratic. Gov. Nicholls’ message details a't length the State default on the January interest, and recommends an equalization of assessments. Indiana— The Democrats elected their Legislative officers—in the Senate, by the casting vote of the Lieutenant Governor—as follows: D. D. Dale, Secretary of the Senate; H. 8. Cauthorne, Speaker of the House. Gov. Williams’ message shows the State debt to be 94,998,178.34. Connecticut— The Connecticut Legislature met in joint convention on the 9th and elected the Republican State ticket. Gov. Andrews was escorted to the Capitol and installed as Governor. His messa e opens with congratulations upon specie resumption and the hope of the return of prosperity. hichigan— The Michigan Legislature met on New Years, and took possession of the new Capitol, and organized by electing E. S. Hopkins Secretary of the Senate, and John T. Rich Speaker of the House, both Republicans. Only a small aggregate of bonded debt remains outstanding, and Michigan’s finances are in a flourishing condition. Maine— The Legislature met on the 2d inst., and organized with a Republican Senate, and ’National and Democratic House. In the convention of both branches of the Legislature, Alonzo Garcelon (Democrat), Governor-elect, took the oath of office. The Governor, in his message, congratulates the nation upon the return or resumption. Minnesota —C A Gilman, of St. Cloud, was elected Speafier of the House, and C. W. Johnson, of Minneapolis, Secretary of the Senate— Republicans. The part of Gov. Pillsbury’s message relating to State finances shows receipts for the year $1,010,909; disbursements, $1,562,409; balance in the treasury, $48,499; subject to credits of $73,007, making an actual deficit of $24,508. The floating debt amounts to $122,001.

Wisconsin— The General Assembly met Jan. 8, and elected officers as follows : W. F. Price, President pro tern, of the Senate, and D. M. Kelly Speaker of the Assembly. These gentlemen" are both Republicans. The indebtedness of the State is $2,252,057. The indebtedness of the counties, cities, towns, villages and school districts in the State amounts to $9,831,158.50. Tho values of all property in the State, subject to taxation, are $400,34f>,582.32. Pennsylvania— The Legislature, on the 7th, chose Thomas B Cochran Chief Clerk of the Senate, and the House elected H. M. Long (Republican) Speaker. Gov. Hartranft’s message shows that the estimated deficiency in the general fund at the close of tbe present fiscal year will be $2,173,060. A falling off in the revenues of $1,500,000 has occurred m the last two years. Tbe public debt Dec. 1, 1878, was $21,586,200. The sinking fund amounts to $8,504,899. Afissowr*—The Missouri Legislature organized Jan. 9, by the election of the Demo era tic caucus nominees, as follows: Speaker of tbe House, J. Ei Belch; President of the Senate, W. H. Phelan. Gov. Phelps’ message treats of a number of subjects in an exhaustive manner. It reviews the condition of the treasury, the relations of the Governor with the State treasury, and the connection of the latter officer with the defunct Mastin Bank, Which was one of the State depositories. Tennessee— The Forty-first General Assemblj of Tennessee organized Jan. 6, by the election of John R Neal, President of the Senate, and H. P. Fowlkes, Speaker of the House. They are both Democrats. Gov. Porter’s message reports a balance in the State treasury of $291,103.95. The total value of property assessed for taxation for 1878 shows a decrease from 1877 of $13,696,695. The outstanding bonded indebtedness of the State is $20,221,300; unpaid interest, $4,052,717. .. Ohio— The General Ansemblyanet on tho 7th. No new organization. By Gov. Bishop’s message we learn that the total funded debt of Ohio is $6,476,8(5. The total local debt is $41,205,840; to which, adding the irreducible debt, composed of school and other trust funds —540,260,984 —makes the aggregate public debt of the The receipts of the State treasury for the year were $5,581,538. At the - close of the year a balance of $918,694 remained in the treasury. Neio York— The Legislature took possession of their new State House on the 7th, and organized on the 9th with Thomas G. Alvord (Republican) as Speaker of the Assembly. Gov. Robinson, in his message, calls attention to the new Capitol, which, he says, was to cost no more than $4,000,000, but which has already cost o'er $9,000,000, and is yet far from completion. To finish it on the present plan would cost $8,000,000 or $10,000,000 more. The State tax wa i $7,941,297 in 1878. The total funded debt on the 30th of September, 1878, was $9,754,054. The actual reduction of the debt for the past fiscal year was $1,803,060. Nebraska— The eighteenth session of tho Legislature convened Jan. 7. The Senate elected Col. William Marshall President. Tim House elected C. P. Matthewson Speaker. They are both Republicans. Gov. Garber’s message congratulates the people on the prosperous condition of the State. Taxes have steadily been reduced, the levy for State purposes being last year but $6,000,000. The value of taxable property in the State is $75,000,000. The current expenses of the State are $500,000 per annum. The public debt is less than $600,000, and the State Treasurer reports $460,000 on hand