Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-03-24


gent expenses have increased TO an amount
which will astonish the people who have
confided public affairs TO their hands. In
the matter Of printing for the Legislature at
the present session, it is safe estimate TO
say, that when the Laws and Journals are
issued, the expenditure on this account will
be over sixty thousand dollars, and this is
no unfair sample of other expenditures,
though less in amount. So much for the
humbug Of economy, about which we heard
so much at the commencement Of the ses-
sion.
We turn now TO graver matters. The
Senate is every where regarded as the con-
servatlve body of every State. 1t Is sup
posed, and properly, 10 be composed of men
of inatured judgment, of experience in
public affairs, less likely TO be influenced
by popular clamor, and its action consulting
with more than ordinary care the true inter
es,s of the State. As TO all matters of
general legislation, the Senate Of Missouri
IS entitled 10 this character. If the House
had occurred in i, action, there would
have been more cause for exultalion, in
stead Of humiliation, Of the result Of the
labors of this General Assembly. True ii
is, that in the organization of the commit
nh, ., el,ra - ,b
business Of egislation-whether from ac-
cident or otherwise, we cannot say-the
presiding officer seems TO have been most
unfortunate. In the construction of the
Committee on Internal improvements, ii did
happen thot gentleman was placed at its
head, who was the declared opponent Of ey-
cry measure which looked 10 the advance
msnt OF State aid 10 the railroads. A man
OF ability, great industry and pertinacity, in
whatever he believes TO be right, such an
roads, as the result has shown. Nor could
any change be made in the composition of
that committee, by The addition of other
members TO it, and the result was that ii
could do nothing it was q dead-lnck all
the while, so nothing was ever matured or
brought 10 the consideration of the Senate
with a Recommendation in favor of its pass.
age. Such composition OF the committee
was full OF evIl 10 the railroads, and kept
back all action upon measures for their re-
lief until a late period Of the session. 1t
did more than tbs. Il enabled The Chair
man OF the Committee TO present 10 The SEN
ate a bill to protect the credit of the State,
but which, in the general opinion, would
have gone far 10 destroy it, if it had been
adopted; and on This question there was
long debate, employing many hours Of prec-
ious time. It's chief advocate Mr. Meier
rim. exerting all lis ability in presenting.
10y forced Ond unfair statements the Treas
urg Of the State as in collapsed condition,
and sure not 10 meet the liabilities for in
terest, ncw or hereafter 10 press upon it.
All his ingenuity was devoted TO this point.
But, luckily for the State, there was one
man who tool; bc.er and more expansive
view Of the whole subject. He had been
schooled in the discussion of questions grow
ing out of this internal improvement sys-
lem. His mind could take in ut one grasp
all the difficulties presented in the care. as
well as the resources and the ability of the .
State 10 meet them, and he was not long in
coming 10 the conclusion that the embarrass-
ments Of the Treasury, presented IN so SOM
bfe coloring by Mr.. McFerrin, were no,
rrenedlabe. He showed by figures end
argument that it was within the ability OF
he State to meet her interest, and any that
might accrue, and yet give further aid to
he Railroads. Alter this speech of Mr..
Wilson of Andrew, the Senate rejected the
Of the Chairman Of the Commit
ee on Internal Improvements (only five
roting for it, nnd thereafter bills were
passed giving aid 10 the North NJ ssouri,
he Pacific and the Iron Mountain roads,
The Senate thus performed its duty.
But in the House the cornbinations which
we're formed, ct an early period of the ses
'ion, between the opponents of all Railroad
appropriations and tie Southwest members,
an effectual barrier 10 the pas
sage of any bill for the relief of either OF the
roads named. The Southwest members
went 10 jefferson City determined upon
getting law passed to change their guar
inteed per cent. Bonds into per cent.
State Bonds, in the expectation that they
would sell better and greater progress would
be made in the work Of construction OF their
read. In this they were right, and the
friends of The main stem of the Pacific road |
at all times codceded it 10 them. But at
The same time that they were making this
demand, they everywhere insisted against
ary further aid beino OWEN ia the Kansas