, 1860-04-05

'og' ana even the saror Of law has already al
most departed from them. The Legislature sir-
taal'y adjourned at midnight Of Friday last; for
there was no quorum present after that time.
A few members have remained until to-day,
enough to keep the body alive, and enable the
Governor to sign MI bills and to perfect what
legislation came near enough to perfection for
tnat huale to be put upon them. The larger
portion Of both houses lett the city last week.
In the confusion attending the last DAYS and
hours Of the session, it was difficult TO deter
mine what passed und became law and what did
not great many bills reached various stages
On their way to a final passage, but failed to
reach the goal, notwithstanding all the aid
which friends could give them. Some really
important and useful measures we're defeated,
IN some instances because they were not brought
Legislature proper time to examine them and
become satis fed Of their merits. Among these
l may mention one for funding the floating
debt Of the State University. This bill was only
reached on tic last night Of the session. whan
no debatab1e bill could be considered
in the House, unless By suspension of the
rules, which required, vote Of two thirds.
the closing session. Quite arespectablc majori-
ty were ready to pass the University bill, but
there we're not enough to carry the suspension
OF the rules, and 50 The bill was lost The bill
was quite an important Que for the iute1 csts Of
educatfon, and it WAS pity that it was not
brought to & vote when tue Legislature we're
more at leisure and able to consider the merits
Of bills before them.
CAPITOL ENLARGEMENT.
The bill for the enlargement Of the Capitol,
or rather for erection Of the West wing Of the
H. Il H. IL o.
more prosperous times occupyi ing the old Capt.
to{ anu the east wing Of the new one, which is
so constructed that old mud ncw IRE virtually
one building.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
The bill for the establishment of public
library IN every town in connection with the
s}stcm Of public instruction, also failed to be-
come law+ There was a division Of sentiment
ID the Legislature upon the question which was
most e1pedent, to form library in each dis
trict, or only one in erery town Tor alt tue dis
tricts Of the town. On this account mainly no
decision was arrived at Meanwhile however
the law Of last year, setting apart certain por-
ton Of income for the purpose Of creating a
library fund, remains in force, end uader this
there is accumulating handsome sum OF
money to be di~tributcd throughout the State,
for the purpose Of purchasing libraries when.
ever plan shall be agreed upon in regard to
their location aad management. For an ejuca-
tional measure Of so much importance, We can
afford to wait until the fullest consideration shall
settle the best plan.
In this connection ought to say word, per-
haps, in regard to the present Superintendent Of
Public Instruction. Mr. pickard, whom the Re-
publicans put in Office at the beginning Of this
year. His administration Of the educational in
tercsts Of the State will make decided contrast
with that Of his predecessors; and in connection
with Ills able assistants and with Chancellor
Barnard. who is giving bis valuable experience
aud much OF his time to the caase Of popular ed
ucation, Mr.. pickard promises to give Wiscon-
sin an envlable position in regard TO the general
education Of her children. Mr. r. is untiring
and most conscientious ia devotion to the duties
Of his Office, and as often as time and opportu-
nifty will allow, goes abroad and personally ex-
think lie has done more Of this latter work du-
ring the first quarter Of this, his first year OF
duty, than any Of his predecessors did during
their entire official term.
rCul,c PRINTING.
This re1ed question il left where the Legis1a-
turc found it. Alter debating it through all the
session, aud referring it again and again to COM.
n1ttees it is left for the Stute: Commissioners to
pay the printer what they think right, which il
he does not think ;s and sufficient be must get
his remedy :ram tue Courts. Our printing trouo-
here an uDcnriabie reputation. They are very
generally suspected Us beingin league with tie
old fellow who keeps one Of his subaiterns in
every type room, and when the Legislature were
disposed to Investigate the printing coatracl
and adjust it on its merits, they were afraid to
take the testimony Of any one who knew any.
thingpractica!Iy about printing, foriear be might
compelled to leave tae matter where they found
ASSESSMENT I'LL.
The bill for tue assessment of taxes which
reported in mr. last as having fallen deud be-
tween the two Houses, has finally passed. The
Assembly "a: last rccedede from the sul,st!
lutte to the Senate bill and .Idoptd the latter witt
n few amendments. The bill is based upon lht
scheme OF taxation ~ hich has prevailed for son,t
years in Ohio 1t taxes all personal property
and allows very few exemptionsof effects. The
resultis TINT the burden Of taxation will not fall
so heavily as it has dime upon reaf estate, bu
will be more evenly distributed.
RAILROAD I'LL.
On the last day Of the session bill was passet
allowing the milwaukee, and Mississippi. and
the Watertown, Madison and Earatoo Valley
Railroads to buy or sell their property to cac1
other, or to consolidate the two roads and form
a new one. The affairs Of the former road ure
ia sucn state that something needs to be doae
If tue stockholders are ever to realize doiia,
from it. The other read is formidable com
peti,or with it, and proni IS TO make the stuck
of ths focmer no more valuable tllan it has
consolidated, for the ch.rges Of the Milwaukee,
and Mississippi Road, particularly the freight
charges, hare been very 0nerons, and we lure
been looking anxious1y to the completion Of the
other road, nnd the natural competition thence
arising, to furnish us relief. That road is nos
within twelve miles Of US, md good deal ol
grading has been done in tile intervening space.
road t" this poiat, which would be a great cou.
ren'eoce to US, and at once give the road con.
ncction With the Mississippi KiEer aud with all
tue southwestern part Of the State.
LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
During the last days Of the session the
stranger might hare noticed hanging from the
gallery Of the Assembly Chamber 4 map oi
rather singular shape, and marked con
spicuonsly on one side e and on the
other r. This was u map of one Of our
School Districts. The figures indicated its
length and breadth in milest 0ne from the
deusely populated portions Of the East, where
to get M impressive idea from such map Of the
large scale On which things are laid out in this
our Western region. Wig, The whole State ol
Connecticut would hardly make more than tlree
such school districts. The schoolmaster won}i
certainly hare TO be "abroad" most ot
the time, if he we're to take the oversight ol
such district But truth to say, there are not
mauy children yet Of school age, in the aforesaid
district. it being inhabited chiefly By fish and
"rarmiut," aside from few lumbermen wha
ply their work amid its pine forests. The occa.
sion of the display Of th, map of which have
spoken, was the endcavor Of sundry non.resi-
dent proprietors Of lArgc portion Of the dis
trct 10 hare it taken out Of Of tue school limits,
~ order TO escape the taxes to which it is now
liab1e. The endeavor, however, was not sue
ccssiu1.
1rxAr1c AsYtrH.
Mention was made, in former letter, of our
new Lunnt'c AsEiunr, as being veil built and
we'll adapted to its purposes 1t Is just xbout
ready 10 receive patients. il appeared. hewev-
er, carly in the session, ,,a: tue Commissioners,
in buildrg it, had considerably exceeded the
appropriations of former legislatures for this
purpose. This has giTen rise to pretty severe
report on tie subject, from the Committee ap-
pointed for the purpose Of inquirinE into the
matter. The result has been that the LeGisla.
ture, on the last days Of the session, appropri-
atcd $4,000 to pay the indebtedness on the
ASYLUM, nnd put the whole matter in charge of
a new Board Of Commissioners, TO he appointed
by the Governor, consisting Of fifteen members,
who nre allowed Is, 900 for the purpose OF put
ting the Asy lum in q condition to receive pa
tienss, and hare power to issue warrants on the
Treasury for the necessary expenses Of the In
stitution.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
Ercr since our Darstow and Land-G Grant cor
run1iou troubles we have had au Iuyesti.at;nr
Committee raised each rcar as necessary part
of our Legislative equipment This has not been
very complimentary TO our own character. and
lattcrjy We gave come 10 the conclusion ttut
iustead Of having such standing committee, a
perpetual token Of suspicion, it would he better
10 raise special committee Of inquiry whea