The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-12-02
An Extra session.


We have had little to say in regard to the
proposition FOR IN extra session, for the rea-
son thAs the measure 10 one which has moth
ing 70 commend il to the favorable conside-
faaien OF the Governor, or Of the people Of
Iowa.
There il no change in the condition OF A.
fain In our State since the last session OF
the General Assembly. Individual embar-
fassnsnts ware just ~ great and ~ pressing
th0 - now, and our railroads needed aid then
- nsch - now. The subject Of relief, stay
and valuation laws was before the General
Assembly, and both branches, by large ma
jority, decided against the policy As we'll -
against the constitusonality Of any laws OPP
Grating on existing indebtedness. We have
heard Of no change in the sentiments of mem
bers Of the Legislature on this subject, and
have seen no considerable manifestation Of .
desire BY the people for an extra session
IN this behalf. Tho project for furnishing
0taes Did to Railroads 10 scarcely month
old, y not yet perfected, and has been re-
esived with very little favor, - far a. We are
able 70 Judge Of public sentiment. II any
constitutional, safe and feasible plan can be
adopted to accomplish that end, which We
dssn sxeesdisgly doubtful, the interests Of
the Railroads - we'll ~ the interests Of the
6sass would sesm to require that it's consid-
sration should be deferred to the regular ses-
sion Of the General Assembly.
The expense Of an extra session OF the
General Assembly is far more than most per.
sons ssea 10 have any idea Of, and many Of
Our own readers. whom We presume to bs
well informed, will be astonished to hear
that - extra session will cost the people OF
thssssts about el0O, 900. But il they will take
the paine TO consult the public documents
OF the State, they will And that il 10 even 10.
We have not the documents at hand to show
the expenses-of the last session, but the Au-
ditor estimated that expense, in advance, ..
100000, and be estimates the expense Of
printing and binding, publication Of laws in
newspapers and stationery for the State q
@7l,O00. Wspresume that at least 500 900
Of this sum is applicable to the printing Of
Journals. laws, documents, reports, &c., land
the paper used for them resulting from the
sitting Of tho Legislature. 1t would seem
then that regular session Of the Legislature
costs the State about $4,000. We pro-
sunsthat $4,000 would be liberal allow
anss Tor the difference between a regular and
IN extra session, leaving 100000 as the
probable cost Of calling the Legislature TO-.
gether in extra session this winter.
There 10 no money in the Treasury because
the people are 30 hard up that they do not
pay their taxes, and it will be remembered
that the Legislature, at its las. session, was
compelled to borrow two hundred thousand
dollars for the same reason.
Nov We ask, in view Of the two or three
considerations glanced at above, il any hon.
sst and candid man can press Governor Low,
& TO call IN extra session Of the Legislator,
this winter. Recall the facts. The Govern
or called the attention Of the Legislature 4
the subject OF relief laws last winter, an
both branches Of that body decided agains
the expectancy and consttutioaality Of sue
legislation, and there 10 no evidence that tn
mssbsrs have changed their views. Tn
Railroad project 10 new one, just sprun
upon the people, and not At allperfectsd, an
10 resolved with almost universal dstrust an
disfsvof, and can we'll await the regular 90.
sion for better understanding Of its merit
And, anAlly, the expense Of an extra sessio
will amount to near hundred thousand do
lars, and there is no money in the Treasur,
beoanse the people are 30 hard up that the
can't pay their taxes.