Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1871 — Governor’s Message. [ARTICLE]

Governor’s Message.

On last Friday afternoon Governor Baker read his message to the joint convention of the Indiana General Assembly convened to hear him. The message is very lengthy indeed* and we think, abounds with, much good ‘sense. Our limited space forbids the publication of more than a condensed synopsis of the text: L* He opens with a statement “that the financial condition of .the State, so far as the liquidation of foreign ..ihdebtedness is concerned, is most satisfactory.” All the foreign debt of the State, except $178,000 of the war loan bonds issued under the legislation of 18G1, has been practically redeemed. The total indebtedness of the State on the sth day of January, 1871, amounted to but 83,970,001.15. He recommends the abolition of the office of State Agent and also the Board of State Debt Sinking Fund Commissioners. Not included in the above section respecting the State debt are® 191 old internal improvement bonds, of SI,OOO each, issued prior to 1841, except 09 of them,* which are Wabash and Erie Canal bonds, held by the United States. A part of-these 191 bonds are dollar bonds payable in New York City and part are sterling bonds,, payable in London, Eng. The Governor is of the opinion that these bonds must be paid by the State, as they do not come within the provisions of ‘ the Butler bill. lie is sustained in his opinion by Messrs. Hendricks, Ilord <fc Hendricks, who are acknowledged to be at the head of the legal fraternity of Indiana. In respect to the Canal Debt, Governor Baker takes decided grounds. Nearly or quits onethird of the message is taken up in discussing its phases and the arguments of those who advocate its assumptionjhy thipState, tad he concludes hi? argument wit}i the recommendation that a joint resolution: be passed by the legislature “proposing an amendment to the constitution so as to declare that no act of legislation.shall ever take effect or become a law of this State whereby said canal stocks; or any part thereof, shall be recognized as a debt of the State or charged upon

the treasury thereof by way of redeeming said Canal or. otherwise, until sucli aot of legislatioit shall have been submitted to, and ratified by, the qualified electors of the State at a special election to be held for that .purpose in pursuance of law, a majority of the votes cast at such election to be necessary to effect the ratification.” Recommends that the moneys of the sinking fund be invested in United States securities and the income therefrom be appropriated to the school fund. Wanti the General Assembly to investigate the claims of Indiana against the United States government and to relievo the executive from responsibility in this matter. Renews tho recommendation of his previous message upon the glaring defects of the present law for the assessment and taxation of railroads. They do not now pay a -just proportion ot taxes, and lie wants the law modified so that they shall be compelled to. Also wants bank stock taxed for municipal purposes the same as other personal property is. He recommends that the assessment of personal property be regulated by statute so that it may be listed for taxation at its “usual selling price at Hhc place where the property is at the time of assessment, not at a forced sale, but at private sale,” so as “to prevent the demoralizing practice of counties and individuals competing with each other in the valuation of their taxables at rates grossly disproportioned to their real value.” Also recommends that a committoe be appointed to revise the proceedings of the State Board of Equalization of appraisement of real estate and that its proceedings be made effectual by proper enactments. And “that future appraisements of real estate for taxation shall not become effectual until they are submitted to, and revised and affirmed by the General Assembly.” In the matter of public schools, for the purpose of a fair enumeration of the children and an equal distribution of tlie public funds he thinks that tfte school law should be amended so that not only the names of the parents and guardians but also tho name of each child enumerated shall be upon the list, and that the original list be filed with the auditor of the county wherein the list is made, as public record. Aud that severe penalties be attached to false enumerations. Would prohibit township trustee® from keeping their school money with other funds.— Recommends an additional trustee be appointed for Purdue University and that the Governor of the State be relieved from serving in that capacity- Thinks an appropriation should be made for the State Normal School. Recommends the extension of the capacity of the Blind Asylum and an appropriation for this purpose of $05,000. Recommends tho construction of another Insane Ilospias soon as the finances of the State will justify tho expenditure, Asks for an appropriation of $7,000 to mako up deficit in expenditures for Deaf and Dumb Asylum. Also $5,000. for the Soldiers’ Home at Knightstown. Also an increased appropriation to the State Board of Agriculture and State Geologist in order that the natural resources of the Slate may be more thoroughly developed. Thinks a fifth judge should be added to the Supreme court. That judges and prosecuting attorneys of criminal courts should be paid by tlie State. Additional legislation is necessary in relation to decedent’s estates:

“Ist. To prevent small estates from being absorbed by the costs of administration. 2nd. To enlarge the amount allowed to widows out of the estates of their deceased husbands free from" the claims of creditors. 3d. To make a similar exemption in favor of the decedent's infant children of tender years left unprovided for by his or her death.” Believes it would be proper to dispense with administration in all cases where those interested in the estate shall give sufficient security for the payment of all debts of the estate within a reasonable time provided by law. Wants an amendment of the criminal code. Wants prize fights ing made a felony. Wants the salaries and fees of county offices graduated according to population. Wants preparation made for building a new State House. Argues at length upon the divorce law r and thinks it should be amended by repealing that clause of the statute xvhicli authorizes divorces for any- cause the court may deem jsufficient, and further amended to embrace these provisions: “Ist Requiring the defendant, when a|reeident of the State, to be sued in

tbe county of hit* or litr residence. 2d. Requiring the’ plaintiff not otoly to have been a resident of tho fclalo for one year prior to the filing of hit* petition, but that he should continue to reside in tliu State during the pendenuy of the ault and until the cuae in tried. &1. Venting in tho Circuit Courts exclusive jurisdiction of applications for divorce. 4th. Inquiring the petition in every divorce case to show whejfC tile causes of divorce relied on happened or accrued, and where the applicant resided at the time, and if they happened or accrued elsewhere than in this State, and at a time when the plaintiff was not a resident of this State, that no divorce shall be grunted unless it be alleged in the petition und proved on the trial that the matters so relied upon would be a good cause of divorce hy the laws of the State, place or jurisdiction within which the Sinn* 1 happened or accrued. 1 sth. Requiring the allegations ns to the place where the cause or cuuscs of divorce relict! upon accrued, ami the place of residence of th<3 plaintiff at the time of their accruing to be verified by affidavit appended to the petition, and also to be proved on the trial. Thinks tho Southern ' Prison should be abandoned and in lieu thoreof recommends that a prison intermediate between the House of* Refuge and Penitentiary, be established at some central point in the State. Earnestly fecommcnds that a supervisory board be established having jurisdiction over all the State institutions, benevolent, penal and reformatory, and thinks it highly important that the board should be composed in part of women. A young married man in the third ward made two unsuccessful attempts last week to commit suicide. —South Bend Register. llow very terrible had both attempts been successful. A muley cow makes the best butter.