Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-01-30

passed through the world a. hohtst anu
worthy members Of society, to be guilty OF
uncaled for carslessness and trickery.-
Persons we'll informed assert that this fund
must sustain loss by this unprecedented
The expenditures of the recent Lesisla'
turc exceed, that Of any former session.
disposition was manifested throughout the
session to vote for an extraordinary amount
Of printing, and many old claims that had
been rejected by former Legislatures were
introduced by both parties and comblna-
ton was generally formed sufficient to car
~ them. The pay of the officers OF both
branches was increased, and claim that
had been rejected by a former Legislature,
amounting to over two hundred dollars, WAS
allowed TO one OF the Commissioners ap-
pointed to relocate the Capitol some years
since. This claim was supported by testi-
mony that appeared unquestonabie, yet
many members asserted that the claim was
unjust and the amount was not due the
claimant. Wings united with the Demo-
Gratis in allowing ths bill.
A most outrageous act of wrong and rob-
berry was committed by and through the IN
tlucnce of Mr. Shields, of Dubuque, sup
ported by Mr.. Love, of Lee county. NJ.
Shields presented and forced through after
Il o'clk. at night, ana at tht last moment Of
the session, By vote of the entire Demo-
cratic side of the Senate, with the exeep-
ton of Mr. Coolbaugh, of Des Moines, and
with the aid of one or two Wing votes, an act
awarding Seen Hundred and Fifty Dollars
to a small company of Dubuque guards for
military services in defending the Western
fontier against the Indians. Evidence was
produced showing that those guards never
LEFT Dubuque at all. In the bill of items
there were two hundred dollars charged Tor
wagons for transporting military stores to
the seat of war, and large amount for
powder and carpet bags. Evidence was
niyen in the House that those wagons never
had one pound OF ammunition aboard OF
them, never left Dubuque, or never even
appeared on parade. The carpet bags Mr.
Shields admitted to be now the private prop
ertv of the company, and a member Of the
House declared in his seat that the powder
was burnt firing political salutes last August
in honor of Mr.. Hempstead's victory over
Mr.. Grimes!. Yet the Seven Hundred and
Fifty Dollars was voted from the peoples
pocket to the Dubuque guards, despite the
evidence at the same time furnished, that
the citizens of the NORTHWESTERN part of
the State assembled and drove back the
Indians without pay or charge, while the
aforesaid guards were attending to their va
rous occupations at home. After the
swiDdIe was effected, General Shields ad-
mifteI the claim to be unreasonable, and
this acknowledging is we'll known to the
Des Moines members and others.
The Democratic Convention assembled
here on the oath and made the following
noGlnations:-O. D. Tisdale, of Davis
county, Commissioner, and VIM. Dewey, of
Fremont county, Register ofthe Des Moines
river Improvement, Stark II. Samuels, OF
Clinton county, Register of the State Land
Office.
4 Who Convention was held on the
25th, composed principally Of the members
Of the Legislature, who nominated the fol,
lowing pcrsons:-Judge Mckay, of Fort
Des Moines, for Commissioner, and J. G..
Lockwood, Of Louisa co., as Register of the
Des Moines river Improvement. Mr. Lock
wood is member Of the present House Of
Representatives. Arson Hart, Of Johnson
county, was nominated Register of the Land
Office at Iowa City, DR.. w. II. White OF
that city, first nominated, having declined,
The Legislators generally have departed
for their homes. The Scott county mem
ber5 left yesterday. The little boys are
now busily engaged pilfering the desks Of
OLD pens, waste paper ana other small ar
tclcs that the members considered too tri
fling to carry with them. The hotel tables
have been curtailed and the throng thai
crowded their halls, waiting the sound Of
the gong, have disappeared. The Stnte
House seems quite desolate and the voice or
creates sound which the high
ceilings of the vacant chambers rcyerber
stes upon the ear. The Presidents and
Speakers elevated stands, like topless
trees, look desolate without the busts of
their late and worthy occupants appearing
above their Doric cornces. The landlords |
are engaged arranging their books and
counting their cash with unusual precision,
whileI am writing my farewell letter to the