The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-02-26
Interesting Letter From Our Rep
resentativc.
HOUSE OF KEPRESENTATIVES,
COLUMBUS, Feb. 2l. ,

! FCoLUMDUS, req Zb. a
DEAR SrR:--A week of unusual dullness in
the way of Legislation has passed away. IL
is only occasionally, that anything of suffi-
cient interest comes up to engage the atten-
ton of the House. The usual routine Of bu-
siness is gone through with every morning
namely: reading the Journal, Presentations
of petitions and Memorials, Bills for their
second and third Reading, Introduction of
Bills and Reports of committee, often occu-
pying the whole day. When through with
the House is ready to go into committee ofthe
whole on the orders of the day. 1t is in COM
mittees Of the whole where all Bills are
amended, perfected or stricken out, and ev-
cry member is expected to defend his own
bill. It's there nearly all the speeches are
made, and often whole day is used up on a
single order. The Senate Bill to authorise
Mayors and Justices OF the Peace to purchase
Warrne's Criminal Law and Forms, was read
the third time and passed by large majority
The passage of the bill will put very hand
some sum into the pocket of Mr.. Warren
1t may be good law. The Book is highly
recommended by some of the best judges
and lawyers in the State. 1 am opposed to
any single individual monopolizing the
whole of any particular branch of business
and therefore voted against it. A bill to sub
stitute imprisonment for life, in the place of
Capital Punishment was in committee Of
the whole, one day during the week. Mr.
McCurdy of Jefferson made a long speech
in favor of the bill, evidently prepared with a
great deal Of care for the occasion. He ap-
peaed to the sympathies of the members,
and recited many affecting scenes, that he
had read off and witnessed, and, closed after
speaking two hours or more to inattentive
listeners. Mr.. Mills replied in a short speech
and to the purpose, when the sympathies Of
the memb ,rs took another direction and the
bill was indefinitely postponed. A Bill for
the protection Of Fish occupied considerable
time md caused quite debate. The COM
mite to whom it was referred, made very
nice report quoting old Isaac Walton as one
of the greatest men of his day, and recon-
mending that the old fashioned rod and line,
be resorted to in all our inland waters, and
prohibiting the use of drag nets, gill nets,
drift nets, seines, fish pots, weir pounds &c.
waters of Lake Erie or the streams entering
therein. The bill was ably defended, but il
was no go, receiving but forty-three votes in
its favor. A motion to lay on the table pre-.
vailed.
Mr.. Monroe's bill 10 amend the act for the
organization, supervision and maintenance q
, Common Schools, was made a special orde,
Yesterday. The amendments affect Secs. 8
A, IL, II, 10, 22, "a, 81, 6l and 62, and
are substantially as follows: When vacancy
occurs in the office of School Director, tn,
Township Clerk is empowered to fill the va
cancy until the next election in April follow
ing, when one is to be elected by the people
The time for the second session Of the Town
ship Board, and the time when the Board are
required TO make their statistical report il
: changed in conformity with the law of las
winter, regulating printing of Public Docu
ments.
The Library provision is amended, so as tc
empower the Board of Education to deposi
all the Books sent to their charge at one
place and to distribute them in the diferen
districts as the wants of the youth may re-
quire. Township Boards are limited 10 two
mills on the dollar for building purposes
Discretionary powers are given to Township
Boards in distributing the funds, owing tc
the amount of population, and the time is re
duced to six months. Mr.. Hume has Offered
an amendment in regard to the distrib
uting of the funds. but am unable to state
accurately its provisions and will not attemp
it. The bill comes up again on Tuesdey
when it will he either engrossed or rejected
A bill making Hamilton County separ
ate Lunatic District was read the third tim,
and passed A bill to provide for the cree
ton Of new building for the Deaf anC
Dumb, was also before the House. 1t pro
yides that the cost OF the building when com
pleted, shall not exceed one hundred ant
seventy five thousand dollars. One half t.
be drawn this year out Of the general reve
nue., to be replaced by a tax of one tenth o
a mill on all the taxable property in the state
making ten cents On every one thousand dol
lars valuation. The building now used il
old and dilapidated and is not of suGicien
capacity to accommodate half of the dea
and dumb in the state. Though have SOM
doubts about its feasibility and would no
willingly vote one cent to our taxes alread,
too grievious 10 be borne, still l think tn
liberalty of nv constituents will warran