Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-01-18
IOWA LEGISLATURE.

IOWA LEGISLATURE.
| This body adjourned on Monday last. Messr.
FEAR and CoRsI left Iowa City on Saturday morning
before either the school Bill the Dcs Mones Rive
Improvement Bill was finally disposed Of We learn
however, from the former gentleman, that the Schoo
| Bill in somewhat desirable shape, would become
alsw. The County Fund Commissioners are re
| tanned instead Of adopting the recommends.
ton Of Mr. benton in dispensing with these Of
fcers, and appointing agrand State Commissioner "a
superintcnd their business at an enormous salary
The power to levy adequate tax to build suitable
School houses in large towns has also been granted
| in the law. This we are glad Of.
There has been much log roling on the part of the
Contractors on the Dcs Moines River improvement,
to prevail upon the legislature to engra in the new
law feature in their favor which we understand
it, would virtually involve the State in debt far be-
yond the Constitutional limit Of 100000, to say
nothing of its liabilities which nearly reach
that point already. The proposition, as we have
been informed, for the State to issue bonds, to
the amount ofthe estimated value Of the lands ofthc
grant remaining unsold, with the faith Of the State
pledged to redeem the same. We are very glad to
learn that this proposition was rejected By the legis
lature. If it had passed, there is hardly citizen in
Iowa who would not have repudiated q debt so con-
tracted. We understand that some Of the contrac-
tors had from certain Banks in Ohio, that
bonds thus issued would be cashcd by them. We
have no doubt oft, and congratulate the people
that the Legislature very properly declined morgas-
ing the State in this way to please these very modest
contractors. This, with the reduction Of the price
the land to 81 ~ cents an acre wi,we inclined
~. -p.p~ 49, -. AA-1,.,
their contracts and thus jeopardizc the completion
ofths-to the people Of the Des Moines Valley
important and desirable improvement.
On Wednesday oflast week, the Legislature met
in joint ballot for the purpose Of re-electng Gen.
DoDoE to the U. s. Senate for six years from the
4th of March next. The election passed off few
hours before the arrival of Gen. VAN ANTWERP.
It was thought that if he had been there some seri-
Gus opposition to Dodge in his favor might have
been the consequence. But he came too late, and
the election of Gen. Dodge was contaminated very
quietly.
We understand that law has pa ssed changing
the time of our city election, that it is hereafter
to take place on the first Monday in April, in con-
necion with the Spring township elections instead
Of being held as heretofore in February. How this
change effected and whether it will meet the ap-
probation of our citizens generally we do not know.
lis said the law was changed in answer to petit
tion. AS we have heard Of none who signed it. we
are inclined to think it was in TO- some clos
ct prayer. Weare not certain but both our worthy
Mayor and ourselves should be very thankful as the
change gives him cs Mayor, and IS City Printers,
two months longer in which to rcvel in official sta
ton, than we should have had without it.
law granting the right Of way for Plank Road
between here and Mount also pas the
Legislature. What other benefit this will confer,
other than showing the countenance of the Legisla-
ture in the prosecution Of such work, we cannot
see.
On Friday evening last, the friends of Gen. Dodge
testified their gratitude at his expense, by giving
Ball to the members Of the Legislature. This was
done in preference Of giving three hundred dollar
treat at the grocery, was done when he was first
elected at the commencement Of the session. That
affair was so disgraceful and so expensive that Mr.
Dodge's friends dislike to have alusion made to it.
1t is little funny to the names Of DAWSON and
PEsSy-members of the Methodist Church--among
the list Of managers, to the Dodge Ball. But it
was. To stop scandal, however, loco focos though
they are, we feel disposed to throw the mantle Of
charity over this apparent love Of worldly amuse-
ments, by stating that the names Of Messrs Penny
and DAWSON were inserted on the ticket as mana.
gers Is compliment without any consultation with
them or knowledge on their part. They didn't 20
to the ball.
A law has likewise been passed requiring the
people Of Des Moines County to express at the bal
lot box, on the first Monday in April next, their
wishes in relation to taxing themselves per cent?
for the special purpose Of building suitable Court
House. All will agree that such building is ne
cessary. That the ordinary revenues of the county
should have been so husbanded as to have effected
this object years ago is very plan but as there is
no remedy for the squanderng delinquencies Of
former Boards of County mmissioners, we see no
better course than the one suggested to effect the
object. Although our taxes heavy, we think,
for the sake ofhaving good building, one that will
be credit to our county, there will be large ma
jority in favor Of the additional tax. Burlington
should give the project her unanimous vote.