Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1843-12-28
From the Iora Standard.

From the Io,ra Standard.
General Election.--MrB oNNEY, of Van
Rnren. has brought into the House bill to
change the time Of holding General Eec
ton to the Cd Tuesday in August. 1t was
Ia id on the table, and has not, we believe,
been since taken up. 1t will hardly become
a law.
electoral A,nendment.-Mr HAcKLE-
MAN, from Committee appointed upon me
subject has brought in a bill taking away
from the counties Of Johnson and Muscatlne
Their ancient privilege concerning Councii,
men. as conveyed under the law oil July
80, 1910, apportioning the territory mo
Council and Representative districts. mat
law authorized Johnson and Muscatlne 10
elect two members to the Council each.
The object Of the bill reported by Mr TACK
Icman is to take away that privilege.
concerning Roads.-.Mr JoHNsoN, OF
Dcs iIoines, has brought in bill, in the
House, to compel County Commissioners IN
every county, at the time of levying county
and Territorial Tax, to levy 4 per centum
for Road purposes, as provided III the law oil
February I6, 1872 said per centum to be
expended under the direction OF the super
visor. Further, the amount OF PERSONAL Ia
Dor upon the roads that may be demanded
Of any individual is reduced from three
days TO one day.
Militia Laws.-Mr Fay. Of Muscatlne,
has, in accordance with previous notice, IN
troduced bill to repeal the whole militia
laws Of the Territory.
IA READ THIS For the Hatck Eye.
| Dear Sr:-lf you have any desire to wit
ness the indcfatgable exertions OF the mem
| bers, composing the present session OF the
Legislature, you have only to 60 to the
! CITY of Iowa, and | hazard the opinion,
| that you will return perfectly satisfied that
your money and time have been spent adj
vantagtously; in fact, the good people Of
| Iowa, ought TO send committee from each
county in the Territory, to the Seat OF
/ Government, to remain during the session
of the Legislature. Habits OF industry are
better taught by example than by precept;
and the industry OF men in high stations,
has more Influence than the humble iabors
of a private citizen. Hence 1t could hard.
" fail that committees from the counties
would view with deep interest, and ditfuse
with ardent zeal the example Of unceasing
and untiring industry, presented by the
distinguished individuals composing the
two Houses Of the Legislative Assembly,
now in session at Iowa City.
But few Of our citizens have any knoWl-
EDGE of the arduous duties performed by
their Representatives, but if they will eX
anime the volumes Of laws already enac ted.
they can hardly fail to be astonishcd at
what has already been accomplished IN the
way Of Legislation, or to look forward WIN
pride to the period, when, suPPoslng that
our laws increase in reasonable proportion
to the increase Of our population, the
learned of other countries Will be astohi'h-
ed at the magnitude OF our code.
Nothing in the history of modern Legs
lation bears any comparison TO the statute
nv code Of Iowa The last session 81 our
Legislature embracing a period oil only
seventy five days, Sundays included) pro
duced an octave volume OF upwards ol 9Vo
r pages, containing u revision Of pre-c&lsI
ing laws, rendering those plain which were
before ambiguous, amending those that Were
} defective. and making the whole perfect
. such at least are the proper objects OF
revision of the laws and it is to be pr-sum
: ed they have been attained.
Can citizen Of the Territory feel other
wise than delighted in anticipating the
: simplicity and perfection, to walrl our
! system Of laws must attain IN process p
time, allowing every five or SIX years y
: produce such a olume OF revised statutes
TO be regretted that labors Of such nngnI
tude and importance, requiring great reilec
ton and care, should be confined 10 limit
: ed period The parsimony OF Congress u
n limiting the session Of the Territorial Lee II
/. Iatures to seventy FIVE days, and the pay 2
!, their members 10 three dollars per day
was unworthy the representatives oil .
great nation. Why should tie Legislation
$ ola Territory be limited by law, while Con
rress sits for six or seven months al theii
: long sessions. and even at their short scs
: sions fifteen twenty days longer thai
they have allowed for tue Territories; ant
!, then the pitiul per diem or daily pay OF :
: member OF the Legislature, fixed at three
a dollars, not more than five or siN times q
t much as common laborcrs can earn III
summers day, is tax upon the patriotism
of the members, which ought not to be dc
d manded of citizens of new country, 10
n the ungcnerous purpose Of economislng
small sum TO the public treasury.
> 1t may be said in reply to this, that tn
;, Territorial Legislators arc not bound Il
= continue session the whole tenn OF seven
= ty-fve days, and that the Legislatures 9
), some Of the old States Of the Union DO no
II sit more than a third OF that time, but wha
: Of that, our Legislators are too patriotic t
leave their work unfinished, though cor
scious, that they are not to be compensate
for it, and they know that their constitr
ents expect a volume of laws at their hand
!. at every session, such having been tn
&. practice ever since the organization of til
, Territorial Government, The Legislature
: OF some Of the small States of the old COZ
fedcracy, it is true, have not found it n.
cessary TO hold sessions Of more than wv
or three weeks, but that is because the
constituents have not been accustomed I
!, volume Of new laws at every session. an
~ do not expect it. There is an idea prevaler
= among theorists, that the world is govcrne
too much; practical men know better, e
~ they manifest here, and elsewhere: by til
st yearly cnactments Of a volume OF statute
of most remarkable uniform size, exceE
where a revision is to be published, ther
If course, the volume must be somewha
C. enlarged. Some imagine that the yearl
r Legislation Of Iowa, ought to be comprise
y. in as small volume as that, which COZ
lie tains the session acts OF Congress, but thei
r is no occasion for such comparison. Til
in diminutive size of the Congressional volum