Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1856-12-27
Legislative Proceedings.
SENATE.T
= Ai-o 'Ai DEC. II, 2 p. NJ.


Senate met and resolved itself into n
committee of the whole. for the consider
alton of the bill to equalize the valuation
lof real estate for taxation, and after some
time spent therein, rose, reported progress
and asked leave to sit again. Leave
granted. .na saa4l ~
The President also laid before the
Senate a communication from the Gov
ernor, in relation to certain statements in
the Report of the Superintendent of Pub
lie Instructions, which was read and laid
upon Che table, and 5000 copies ordered
to be printed. ,fsa sesae
A motion made by Mr.. Neal to take
the communication from the Superinten-
dentof Public Instruction from the table,
vas carried, BY a vote of 25 to 8.
On motion OF Mr.. ~Coolbaugh, it was
referred to the Committee on schools.
Adjourned. s. 0E. @rlI
Dec. 18th, 10 A. NJ.
Senate met.
Mr.. Coolbaugh introduced a resolution
providing for the appointment of a joint
committee to consist of three on the part
of the Senate and four on the part of the
House, to examine into andreport the on
dition of the Funds and Securities in the
Office of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, Treasurer of the State Uni
%versity, Treasurer OF State and Auditor
of State.
The Committee to whom was referred
that part part of the Governors Message
relating to the Penitentiary, reported
Senrte File No. 81, a bill to provide for
the appointment of Warden and for other
purposes, which was laid on the table.
Mr.. Brown, from the Committee to
whom was referred the bill in relation to
county seats, reported a substitute, to
which an amendment was offered proyi-
ding that the removal of County seats
could not be petioned for oftener than
once in five years, which was voted down.
Motions to re-commit, refer to a special
committee, and lay on the table were lost,
when a motion wys made to postpone in
definitely, pending which the Senate adj
journed.
DECEMBER IS, 10 A. NJ.
The report of the Commissioners to
revise the the School Laws was taken up,
read, and 200 copies ordered to be print
ed for the use of the Senate.
Mr.. Anderson, from the Judiciary
Committee, reported back Senate file No.
30, to amend Chap. 100 of the Code re-
lating to evidence, with a substitute, and
recommended the passage Of the substi-
tute, when a motion by Mr.. Neal to in
definitely postpone, was lost by a vote of
II to 12. The substitute was adopted by
a vote of 81 to 10.
As this bill makes Indians, Negroes,
and Mulattoes competent witnesses in suits
at law, it elected some interest.
Mr.. kirkwood inquired whether under
the present law by which black persons
were excluded from being witnesses, Chi
namen, Hotentots, Malays, Japanese and
Sandwich Islanders, with some of whom
we have commercial relations, would be
competent witnesses.
Mr.. Jenkins said that now a white
might assault and rob or severely wound
a black person, and unless some other
white person was present, the black could
have no redress, and the guilty 20 upper
secuted and UNPUBLISHED.
DEC. Is, 10 a. M.
The communication from the Secretary
of State, accompanied by the censu re-
turns was taken from the table, and the
Census Board was authorized to procure
the printing of five thousand copies there
of.
Mr.. Brigham introduced a join reso-
luton, ~instructing our Senator's and re-
questing our Representatives in Congress
to procure the location of a Custom
House and Marine Hospital at Keokuk,
and an appropriation for building the
same.
Mr.. Thurston introduced a bill exempt
ing the homestead from taxation, and
assessing lands separate from the i'm
provements thereon, which was laid on.
the table and one hundred copies ordered
to be printed.
Mr.. Brown introduced a bill to locate
a State Road from Clayton city to the
Des Moines river, in Kossuth county,
which was passed.
Dec. 16, 10 A. M.
Mr.. Mcpherson introduced the follow
ing Whereas it appears from the Bien-
NAL Report of the Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction, that he has loaned a con-
siderable portion of the School Fund be-
longing to the State of Iowa, and whereas
there is some question whether or not
there is authority of law for loaning said
School Fund or nay part thereof, there
fore
Resolved, that the Attorney General
of this State give his opinion in writing
to the Senate, respecting the authority
of the Superintendent 10 loan said Fund.
Resolution adopted.
DECEMBER II.
Mr.. Mcpherson introduced the petition
of citizens of Somerset, in Adair coun-
ty, for a change of the name of their
town TO that of Fontanelle. Petition re-
ferred TO the Senator from that district.
Mr.. Kirkwood offered The following
ResOIre1 That thn Rarixtar of tho