Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-02-24
DOlNGS AT THE CAPITAL.
SENATE CHAMBER, Desmoines,
February 14th, 1860. I

FRIEND JOURNAL:-Th continuation OF
most beautiful "spell of weather" seems t
have put the legislators in mind Of their farm
and other interests at home, and they hav
therefore set themselves at work in earnest
The principal part of Saturday and yesterda.
was passed, in the Senate, in discussing tn
deposit of school fund in the State Treasury
Mr.. Bowen introduced the following substitute
-''and to inquire into the propriety of sub
mitting the question to vote of the people o
the respective counties IN which school fund.
are invested whether they will assume, ir
their corporate capacity, an Indebtedness o
said investment, and pay per cent. pei
annum thereon; and to inquire whether, in
case any county refusing so to do, that said
school fund, when it falls due, should not be
collected and deposited in the State Treasury
for re-investment in county bonds, and dis
tributed to such counties as may desire to
borrow said funds; and whether, hereafter,
when the State receives any of the per cent.
fund, it should be loaned to the counties in
their corporate capacity, instead of distributing
it among the counties, as now authorized by
law"-which was adopted by 10 to II.
On Saturday, somewhat numerously
signed petition from citizens Of Cedar county,
praying for the abolition of the death penalty,
was received. A motion to refer the same to
special committee, wi h instructions to
report bill in accordance with the prayer of
petitioners, was lost by q to 16. This was
test vote upon this subject in the Senate.
hail it with degree ofjoy. The present is
hopeful the future is big with promise. The
world is gradually becoming civiized-relics
of oarbarism are fast disappearing, and yes
terday long stride was taken in the right
direction. .Sirteen men Of nerve, of christian
lied and humane feelings, voted ays Let
their names be remembered until their
number is Legion"
After four days discussion, the House
voted to annul the grant made to the Central
Air Line Railroad Company, by the large vote
of 54 to 26. The next question will be to
dispose of the grant-over which will be one
grand bear fight. Soon after this vote, Will
son, of Jefferson, introduced resolution
instructing Committee on - to inquire
aehether any, and, if so, Uhat Railroad Com
panies have failed to comply with the act Of
July, 1856, donating lands to certain Railroad
TIL, ,c 81 oil %ha
Grant Companies, it being generally under
stood that neither of which Except the Bur-
lington road, perhaps,) have complied with
the conditions of their grant. doubt very
much whether the Senate will concur in the
resuming vote of the House.
Investigation seems to be the order of the
day. Beside the Joint Committee to investi-
gate the affairs of the Insane Asylum, a
Committee has also been appointed to investi-
gate the affairs of the Penitentiary. trust,
as 1 believe, that there will be thorough
investigation into the truth of the charges
preferred against the Republican party of
extravaganza and corruption. If there have
been violations of law, stealings and frauds,
let the facts be known, and let the guilty
parties be punished to the utmost. | am
happy to say that the Democracy have found
faithful aders and abettcrs in these PROPOSE
tons to investigate, and the Republicans have
stood by them to man.
The Senate is now discussing bill repeating
law giving County Judges authority to
subscribe stock to agricultural societies. A
new and perfected bill for county and town.
ship organization has been reported and
ordered published. Also, a bill establishing
County Court, comforting, in addition to
powers already conferred, powers commensu-
rate with tn; District Courts, in all civil cases,
when the amount in controversy shall not
exceed - dollars, and may hear, try and
determine all public offenses, when the pun
ishment imposed does not exceed 500 fine
or 80 days imprisonment, and shall have
exclusive appellate jurisdiction in all appeals
from Justices of the Peace A panel Of jurors
for each term shall be drawn in the same
manner as provided by law for District Courts.
Judge shall have power to hold special
adjourned terms of Court. No appeal to
District Court shall be allowed except =;
but, in all cases Of judgment rendered in such
courts, either party thinking himself aggrieved
or injured by such judgment may remove the
same, by appeal or writ of error, to Supreme
Court. The above are some of the main
features of this law. Aud right here allow me
to re-express my opinion that the office of
County Judge, as now. constituted, will be
abolished. The New Code, as reported, will
be adopted in the main.
Mr.. Price introduced into the House a
resolution instructing the Judiciary Commit,
tee to inquire into the expediency of passing
a law for payment of fines upon the public
highways, which was unanimously adopted.
believe such law will be reported.
X enclose the report of the Senate Commit.
tee on county and township organization.
A more jolly, good -natured, whole-souled
set of fellows was never cengregated in leg.
islative assembly than is congregated in our
State Senate. l have never seen men who
knew better how to pass the weary hours
Our own Senator is the leader of the mirthful
and fun.provoking Senate. Saturday last
Judge Rankin presented the petition of his
constituents in relation to the ''ground. hog, y
which was referred to the Committee on
Federal Relations, with instructions to report
the last night Of the session. Mr.. Patterson
was added to the Committee for the purpose
of carrying out the closing programme
Evenings drag wearily upon members wht
are here without their wives. But the gloom
mess and dreariness of the long nights hav'
been very much relieved by the presence o
tho Hart Family consisting of five sisters