The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-11-12
voaK FOR THE LEGISLArURE.

WORK FOR THE LEGISLATURE.
The Republicans have majority in both
branches Of the Legislature, which convenes
at the Capital in January pext. That party
will and should be held responsible for all
acts committed or omitted by that Legisla-
ture. Hence it is not too soon to take into
consideration the proper course to be pur'
sued in order to obtain the sanction OF the
sovereign people-,he source from which
all delegate power is obtained-and we are
therefore, pleased to note already many
Republican journals setting forth some OF
the principles which they opine should gov
ern the legislators in the discharge of the
duties which have been reposed in them by
their constituents.
There seems to be great unanimity pre-
vailing, that the following subjects demand
the early, careful, and, above all, Jaroro5le
consideration of the incoming legislature
to wit:
lst. Some sort Of reform in the admin
istra,ion of County affairs. The Republican
porty is pledged, by its platform, to reform
in this mattsr. The non.fulflment Of that
pledge will, and ought of right to, cause the
party to be visited with centumely and re-
proach-if not defeat. in this State.
End. The general election law should be
so amended as to provide for making COM
plete registration of all the legal voters in
this State. There can be no sound, reason-
able objections urged against an enactment
of this kind. We agree in sentiment with
the language used by Governor GRIMES, in
his last annual message to the Legislature,
upon this point" In no other way can the
ballot boxes be protected against fraud, and
the elective franchise preserved in its purity.
Such laws have been in operation in several
of the States ever since the foundation Of
the Government, and have met the approval
of all classes of citizens. With such a law,
and with the strict and honest enforcement
of the naturalization laws, We shall cease
to see parties arrayed against each other on
account of the birth place of those who
compose them, and every bona tde citizen
will be secure In his just weight in the affairs
of the State. Without such a law, judging
from recent events, it is feared that pop ular
elections will become reproach."
Sd. The speedy completion and occu-
pancy Of the Humane Institutions of the
State. No one can, certainly, object to
this, now that the people have again,
through the ballot box, declared their &C.
quiescence in the policy that dictated pre-
vious appropriations to this same object.
4th. The Revision and simpliication of
the School Law. For our part, we hope
the present School Law will not be tinkesed
with to any great extent. We do not deny
but that the present system is somewhat
defective, and that it requires amendment
and modification in some important partic-
ulars, yet the evils inflicted upon the cause
of education by the Inauguration Of a new
system, we think, would more than over
balance the advantages that might be derived
from such 4 change. We believe the present
system, if practically carried out, would
suhserve all the ends for which it was in
tended. We are totally opposed to these
frequent material changes in the Common
School System-a system which requires
settled lars for its usefulness and prosperity
more than anything else.
5,h. Revenue Law - amended rs 70
place the property of non. residents on the
same footing as that of residents, in the
Collection of taxes. We support this prop
osition, most heartily. Non.residents are
entitled to no more consideration than resi-
dents, and should be made to pay their just
proportion of the revenue for State, County
and other purposes.
9th. A law for tho apprasemen. of
property taken on executions, and provision
for a years redemption under mortgage
sales. The great mass of the people want
just such laws. We consider them Just to
both creditor and debtor, though We sup
pose the attempt to pass such laws would
meet with concerted and strong opposition
from the bankers and money lenders. Such
laws. we believe would have sautary
effect on the future progress Of our State,
and we hope to see Republican Legislature
place them upon the statute books of Iowa,
at an early day.
Other matters requiring the attention of
the Legislature, will doubtless suggest
themselves in the interval yet to e!apsc be-
fore the converting of tina: body, and be
discussed by the public press. In conclu-
sion, we bespeak. with the Burlington
Ha,rkeye, "for a short session and the
smallest appropriations consistent with the
public ooodD