The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-01-19
Columbus Correspondence.

Columbus Correspondence.
Hall ofthe House Of Reps,
COLUMBUS. Jan. Z, S9.
DEAR SprRIT.-I wrote you Q commu.
nication on Tuesday evening, and thought
that l would not write again till Monday,
but such is my anxiety to keep my con.
stituents posted on the passing events of
the day, that hope you will excuse me
for crowding another upon yoD 80 soon
The legislature is busily engaged in
transacting the business, that couli not be
completed last session, and there appears
to exist desire to transact but little new
business. One remarkable fact has slrea-
dy developed ITSELF and that il, that the
very persons, who were most clamorous
against an adjourned session, are the per.
sons who are crowd,ng in the most new
matter, evidently for the purpose Of pro.
longing the session, but in this they will
find themselves, not capable ofaccomplish.
ing their object. On Wednesday 1 gave
notice of intention to introduce "a bill to
allow justices Of the peace certain per
cent on all monies by them collected with
out judgement having to be rendered
thereon" and on yesterday I introduce
the bill, l am glad to sey that it meets with
general favor. 1t proposes that the JUS
tice shall be entitled to receive from the
creditor certain per cent on all monies
by him collecteted without suit having to
be brought thereon, ss follows, to wit: on
all amounts not exceeding ten dollars, five
per cent on all amounts not exceeding
thirty dollars four per cent--on all amounts
not exceeding fifty dollars, three per cent,
and on all amounts exceeding tifty dollars
two per cent. 1t does seem to me that the
proposition is reasonable and just one
Under the existing laws, if claim Is left
with the justice for collection, all the jus.
tice gets is what costs he can make OIL the
case and the result, frequently, is that jus.
tices issue summons and render judgement
and issue execution, Immediately, thereby
running up heavy cost bill upon the
debtor which the creditor is also bound for
Again, if a justice "sends word" to the
debtor and he comes up and pays the claim
the justice is responsible for the money
but gets not one mill for his services il
collecting, however much he may be both
cred in adjusting the matter again. Again
there is no creditor but what would b,
very willing to give the per cent for promp
payment, rather than be subjected to tn,
slow and uncertain proceeds of collecting
by judgement and execution, and be him
self liable for costs, SO you see at once tha
the proposition is benefit to the creditor
favorable to the debtor, and allows th
justice reasonable compensation, for hi
services in collecting.
This afternoon. (Fridsy,) Mr.. Harriso
introduced resolution instructing tn
Standing Committee on Common School
to enquire into the expediency Of SO amen
ding the school law, that each count
should divide among the townships th
: school funds collected in her own county
Many Of the members could not, or di
not see the force and effect of this move
and voted for the resolution, demande
the yeas and nays and while they were bt
ing called I went to different members wh
) l knew ought not to support that propo
sition, and prevailed on many Of thel
even after they voted in its favor to chang
their votes, but the resolution was carrie
by vote of ~ to ~. So the matter
I in the hands Of the standing committe
D and l shall spare no stratagem or consis
ent device to get report adverse to Il
, proposition. In good old Monroe au
q many other Of the laboring and populo'
! counties of Ohio we get far more scho
money out Of the State Treasury than v
pay in, while other of the aristocrati
+ wealthy and favored counties do n.
). draw out as much as they pay in
This proposition, then, you see. is an +
. tempt to enrich the rich counties and NAL
the poor ones poorer. If the vote was
I be taken think it would fail. / will &
4 some of my friends, who voted in the q
irmative, to move reconsideration of Il
/ vote by which the House agreed to Il
) Resolution.
a On yesterday (Thursday) public worl
! convention was held here. 1t is not
little amusing to see the buzzing ar
:. humming in the hive of aristocratic off,
e holders and Spectators on the publ
" works Of the State. They begin to fe
). that the day is not far distant when Il
a State will cut loose from these works th
!. have acted as an incubus upon her for yeal
r The convention petitioned the Legislstul
it NEST piteously not to sell the public wor
r. and these aristocratic nabobs, who ha
e grown fat upon the Treasury pap, hs
I encompassed the State House round, Ii
IL so many carrion crows, around carca.
v So far a. am concerned, all their giga
- tic efforts will be ansvailing. The Sta
has. for many years lost BY these wor
. several thousand dollars per annum a
4 the State can now get two millions &
!. hundred thousand dollars for these worl
!. " and thereby rid herself Of the most direi
a curse that ever hung upon . State.
y few of the favored and wealthy count
through which these works run, are beu