Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-20
CAPITAL COHskESPOHDE
Dies MONIES. March IA. 1S

DEs MONIES, March 10, 1858.
EDITOR JOURNAL Il desire to call your
attention to bill which has this day become
law, and which takes effect from its publ
cation in the newspapers of this city, pro-
vidng for the "public instruction of the
State" which law very materially changes
our entire school system. 1t provides for
the election of a County Superintendent"
at the election to be held on the first Monday
in April next. This is the most important
| office connected with the organization and
practical working Of the new system. !
| trust the friends of education in the different
counties Of the State will not fail to select
a suitable educational man for that impor-
tant and responsible office. Would it not
be we'll to notify each township of the exist
ence of the "e,o lao, urging the attention of
the citizens to the necessity and importance
of electing the officer referred to? Each
paper publishing the law, and sending a
copy to the Auditor of State, will be entitled
to five dollars. q will send you copy as
soon as publishcd.)
The State Bank bill has passed the House
with some amendments, which amendments
will be concurrcd in by the Senate The
Free Bank bill is still in the hands Of the
! Senate Committee.
Mr.. Mahoney's Court of Quarter Session
bill has passed the House, and will probably
pass the Senate
A bill requiring candidates for admission
to practice law in the courts of this State to
be examined in open court has also become
a law.
A bill has passed both Houses and become
law requiring the Codifying Commissioners
to complete their work and report the same
to the Secretary of State by the first day of
September next. The Secretary is required
to have 500 copies Of said report printed
and copy forwarded to each member of the
next General Assembly whether regular
or special one--one month previous to its
meeting.
The House has passed bill locating the
Blind Asylum at the town of Vinton, in Ben.
ton county, which bill will be likely to pass
the Senate.
The Senate Apportionmcnt bill reported
by the able and efficient Senator from Wash
. ington county, Mr.. Foster, produces some
dissatisfaction in the ranks of the Democ-
racy. In his bill. Mr.. c. has adopted the
principle contemplated in the constitution
and which is absolute with regard to the
Representative apportionment, giving nc
county the advantage of fractional mum bers
when the population is less than half the
ratio fixed for a Senator. TO fix the ratio
high enough to give Dubuque and Lee coun-
ties each two Senators would increase the
number too higa, and to put the ratio down
so as to give US about the proper number of
Senators, no county will be entitled to more
than one Senator, and that of course dis
pleases the Democracy, as that would effect
the counties in which they have the greatest
strength, Dubuque and Lee. l cannot see
any way of adopting more just apportion-
ment, inasmuch as it operates in favor Of
the new and rapidly growing counties.
The two Houses are working industriously
to complete the necessary legislation before
the adjournment. 1t will be almost impos-
sibe to keep quorum together longer than
next week, and the session must necessarily
close the first Of the week after.
Yours, DESMOINES.