The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-04-08
Correspondence Of the Daily Chicago Press.
Iowa legislature.
DEs MONIES, March 22d.

The last hours Of the session approach. -
All is hustle, haste, excitement. Important
measures are urged forward with impetuosity |
that they may not die on the table, sleep in the
pockets of committees, or fall between the two
Houses.
The lobbies are filled. All available room
within the bar is occupied by seats, and every
inch of extra seat monopollzed by crinolned
humanity.
TIE Democracy came in this morning docile
and with no disposition to Jump the rail in the
vain attempt to defeat the bill for the protec-
tioH OF the ballot-box against frauds anu lille
gal voting. After brief exhibition of the
embers of spunk by single bsardIess member
Of the minority, the bill passed by strict
party vote. s a
bill fixing the times for holding sessions
of the Dristrict Court in the various counties
in the State has passed.
A general law for the Incorporation of
Cities and Towns has Just been enacted II
does not abrogate all existing city charters, as
has been intmated, but only applies 70 cities
hereafter to be incorporated. Ii is 4 long and
we'll matnred BILL
A memorial has also passed asking Con-
gress to give the Des MONIES River Land
Grant to the Keokuk. Port Des Moines and
Minnesota Railroad Comany. 1t has passed
bill directing fhe Attorney General to enioin
the Navigation Company from proceeding FUR
ther in the Improvement of the river. if the
settlement proposed by tie State be not ac-
cepted.
A bill has passed both Houses which, in
different forms. has heen several times voted
down in both Honses prior to this. II is to
allow the sale Of beer, wine and cider made
from fruit grown within the State. The bill
passed by thirty-seven, the requisite consti'u-
tional majority. II may fairly be considered
an experiment. It cosld not have passed had
it not been for the opinion thatits effect would
prove beneficial To the prohibitory law itself.
The danger is that alcoholic liquors and adul-
terated poisons will be sold under the name of
domestic wines or beer. The bill passed pro-
| vides punishment for the sale Of liquors un-
der false names. This good it does There
are very many German lager beer halls where
no other beverage is vendad, and where many
Of the most respectable citizens congregate,
and it takes from these halls and from their
| frequenters the criminal character which the
| prohibitory law gives them, but which the
customs and usages of the time do not substan-
tiate.
MIp-NIGHr. the most persistent en-
ergy the House has worked off great number
of its bills. The more important is the Gen.
eral Revenue Law, which is entirely re-
modelling Of the old system
An act providing for The publication of the
banking laws has passed. A special election
| for the confirmation or rejection of these laws
is ordered TO be held on the 4th Monday of
June. The Democrats fought this, endeayor-
ing 10 put off the election till fall.
The General Appropriation is now before
the House.
Mr.. Wilson, the chairman of the Commit
tee on Wavs and Means, has brought every
| item at the lowest figure consonant with ms
| tice TO individuals. The more important parts
| Of the bill have been under consideration
large part of the session.
The salaries of the several officers were
raised; but let it be fairly understood that in
every case the PROPOSE ion TO raise the salary
came from the Democratic side Of the house.
! II will be ronniv asserted in the coming cam
paign for the election Of State officers, that the
Republican Legislature has raised the salaries
of the State officers and recklessly used the
power within their hands to fatten the purses
of Republican officials. Let this be met with
the recorded fact that the Democrats demand
ed every Increase made.
O'CLOCK TUESDAY MoRNING.-The House
has got through with the Appropriation bill
and sent II to the Senate. and has Just assem-
bled after half hours recess.
Modest hints and quiet invitations circulated
the information an hour since, that refresh
ments might be found in the Supreme Court
room below.
Arrived below, and in the centre of the room
mounted on brace Of a saw horse, was a keg
OF beer. Along the ides ran rough tables on
which We're sardines, coffee, crackers, &c.,
and upon the Clerks desk stood formidable
array OF demjosns and decanters, intented, it
was intimated. to .scarry the war into Africa"
on certain clause in the Appropriation bill.
Be that as it may, the item to Mr.. w. A.
Scott, for services in removing goods from
Iowa City to this place, rose from 500, as re-
ported, TO 81, 400 by tn. House. The Senate
reduced the amount to s7o0 again, and com.
mittee OF conference compromised it at 81 200
At this il passed. But in the enrolled bill the
cid figures reappear! The Auditor refuses the
warrants So the ''liqnor sass" may yet prove
one OF the ''vanity of vanties"
There are suspicious circumstances attend
ing one or two other bills, which if not soon
explained will open public inquiry in certain
objections.
TUESDAY, 23d-P. M. The General As
sembly has adjourned.
The bill for preserving the purity of elec-
tions lies on the table.
Republican Senator's failed to do their duty
upon this question. Illegal voting is one of
the wors. foes Republicanism has to contend
against The bill upon .ne Senate table is the
corpse Of pure election franchise. We want
lpo | 3,ah ~ Thn 4 L.