Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-04-02
Columbus Correspondence.
COLUMBUS, March 81, 1856.

Aessrs. Editors.-This has been
busy week in the Legislature and d large
amount of business has been transacted
Yesterday a bill CAM up for its "'thirC
reading," which elected a long debate
, The bill proposed to permit the "Cov-
ington and Cincinnati Bridge Company
TO shortenth the span of the proposed bridge
across the Ohio River at Cincinnati,
! from 400 feet as the charter now pro
yides) to 1000 feet. The debate took a
wide range and ran aver and through
the civilized aud uncivilized world, shak-
ing as usual, the Union from centre to
circumference, but at length a palliative
was found or imagined TO be found that
would save the Union" and the bill
passed.
Another bill Of some moment passed
the House to day, it authorizes the State
of Ohio 10 receive as a donation that
part of the Sandy and Beaver Canal
lying between Bolivar on the Ohio
Canal, and ~Sandyville on the Sandy and
Beaver Canal. The portion 10 be ac-
cepted by the State, is about six miles
long and is said TO be valuable as a feed.
er for the Ohio Canal. The canal now
belongs TO a Mr.. Kelly, who, l believe
purchased it at Sheriff's sale a few years
ago, and now, by the assistance of some
who are interested in having it kept up,
agrees to put it in good repair, and give
to the State a clear and undisputable
tile. 1t is also said to be the only out
let for large mines Of coal. iron ore and
limestone.
The Senate a few days ago passed a
Temperance bill, but it has not been
acted on by the House, except having
been read the first time. The bill re-
iains nearly all the principal features of
the old law with the addition of a few
more to make ii more efectual, and
more simple and sure in its operation
What its fate may be in tie House is
hard to tell, for there are many who, If.
no person would know it, would ike to
be good and consistent temperance men,
and there are, also, many who are not
" afraid" and will not hesitate TO pro.
claim their principles and contend for
such a law as in their opinion will best
promote the public good.
The bill for the semi-annual collection
of taxes has passed The Senate and will
be acted upon in the House in a few
days. This bill allows one half of the
taxes to be paid in December and the
other half in June, l think. 1t viii make
an additional amount of work for the
treasurers of counties, but may in other
respects be a public benefit. For when
we consider the immense amount of
money drawn from circulation and locked
up in the treasures of the State We will
not be surprised that money is Fight'
about tax paying time, and afterwards
too, until it finds its way back again to
the people this law proposes to draw
half at a time and by the time the other
half is required the first drawn will have
found its way back whence it came. !
There has been a great many petitions
and circumstances sent in here on the
Of schools and school-laws. The
10 whom they were referred
reported a bill altering some fea-
of the present law, but not mate
1t has been in committee of the
whole 10 day and will probably pass the
House TO morrow. The worthy chair
man of the committee on common
Prof. Monroe, is not in favor of
any material change in the law. he
thinks the opposition the law met with at
first is fast subsidiRg.
There is also a bill before the House
for the Reorganization of the Peniten-
,iary which is a matter that creftes no
small amount of interest.
1t seems very evident that there has
been in former years a great deal of
corruption that has never been thorough
exposed, but it mus. come TO light
soon. More anon.
Yours, Respectfully, T..