Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/43

 said: “The Agricultural College building is nearly completed. This structure, in its architectural design and mechanical execution, is one of the most imposing and substantial in the State.” He recommended a liberal appropriation for its completion and equipment. He urged the prompt ratification of the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States and the necessary legislation to submit to a vote of the people the amendment to our State Constitution already approved by the last Legislature. He recommended the creation of the office of county auditor and the establishment of inferior courts to relieve the District Courts in the most populous counties.

On the 16th of January the two houses assembled in joint convention in the presence of which Samuel Merrill was sworn in as Governor and John Scott as Lieutenant-Governor; after which Governor Merrill delivered his inaugural address.

The most important acts of the General Assembly were the ratification of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States and ratifying and confirming the amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa, heretofore mentioned. Acts were passed providing for the establishment of a State Reform School, creating the office of county auditor, providing for an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and for an additional institution for the insane; resuming the grants of lands to the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad Company; and regranting to the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Company; also resuming the grant to the McGregor Western Railroad Company and granting the same to the McGregor and Sioux City Railway Company; establishing a system of Circuit Courts; requiring a registry of voters and providing for the taxation of shares in National Banks. An act to encourage fruit growing and timber planting by exempting land thus planted from taxation for a term of years was also passed. Resolutions were passed in each house, by a strict party vote, in favor