Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-04-06
DOlNGS AT THE CAPITAL.
SENATE CHAMBER, Desmoines, I
April Let 1870

SENATE CHAMBER, Desmoines,l
April LIST, 1860.
FRIEND JOURNAL :-Within the next 4s
hours, the lawmakers will have finished their
labors, and the most Of them started for home.
Yesterday and the day before were busy
days in both houses. The Revenue Bill,
having passed the House, after most
thorough and persistent overhauling, came to
the Senate, and there received several amend
ments, and was sent back to the House. This
bill provides for an absolute title in property
sold for non-payment of taxes, if the same is
not redeemed within three years from the
time of SALE
The Appropriation Bill for payment of State
officers has become law.
A bill, compelling private bankers and
brokers to publish monthly exhibit of their
assets and liabilities, was lost in the Senate
by very close vote.
A bill, providing for the regulation of
railroad corporations, fencing of tracks, taxing
their road. buildings and rolling stock, passed
the Senate, on Friday. I sincerely hope that
it may become a law. There has been
evidence abundant, this Winter, that these
corporations are rapidly obtaining control Of
our legislative halls. All legislation must be
to their advantage, and no law must be passed
that shall in the least give them anything but
an unlimited sway. The moment word is
uttered about putting them on level with
other people, terrible howl goes up. In
legislation, they are par excellent, and are not
to be interfered with. only wish that we
had 40 more Senators like Bowen, of johnson,
and Wilson, of Jefferson, who had the wisdom
and the pluck to stand up against these
tyrannical and tyranizing corporations. The
truth is that there are so many out in this
wooden country, and from here on to the
"Slope," that have for years past subsisted
| almost entirely on corn-dodgers and pork,
which never knew of the leanness of Egypt,
that they have become desperate, and are
willing to barter everything they possess for
the ''b.est 5oon" Of seeing few pieces of iron
lain in straight line, and occasionally travelled
over by "Jersey steam wash boiler" Well,
let 'em have them; but their weeping, and
signs, and sorrows, will surely follow, unless
our present policy in relation to railroads is
changed.
A bill, establishing an independent sub
district school system, passed the House, on
Friday. Mr. Cue, of Scott, moved to amend
the bill, so that majority in districts could
admit colored children into the schools,
instead of requiring unanimous vote, which
was lost-yeas, 50; nays, 4s. The earth
moues.
A bill providing for the meeting of the
Board of Education, the 1st Monday in
December, 1860, also passed the House.
Gov. Baker offered resolution of thanks to
Speaker Edwards for his impartiality, &C., as
Speaker of the House, which was adopted BY
rising, and the greatest screechng and
hurrahing l ever heard from the. same number
of men. Many of the members have already
started for home and absent friends. To
morrow night will be witnessed the closing
scenes. Although there has been much time
consumed in the making of buncombe
speeches, calling Of ayes and noes, rising to
questions of privilege, explaining votes, and a
great many other, in most instances, useless
things, yet there has probably never been a
session of an Iowa Legislature when so much
labor has been performed. The members
have been sober, industrious and persevering
and l make no hesitancy in saying that, in
point of ability, the present Legislature will
compare very favorably with that of any Other
State in the Union. Among the Republicans
# the House, H. Clay Caldwell and Rush
Clark have the pre-eminence, and old Van
Buren, can never do herself more credit than
to set Mr.. Bailey aside, and put Clay in his
place in the Senate. Among the Democrats
Judge Hall, and Paulk, of Allamakee, stand
foremost.
Already are our friends naming candidates
to be set up in May, at Iowa City; and, as
letter.writers are sometimes allowed to suggest
names, beg leave to present the part of my
ticket which l have good reason to believe
will take we'll. l would name for Secretary
of State the present industrious and deserv'
edly popular Secretary, Elijah Sells. Fol-
Auditor, the honest, straightforward and
deserving j. w. Cattell For Treasurer, none
other than long Dan Anderson. Who doesn't
know Dan? What do you say, Republicans
Can these men be beaten by the amatgan'a'
tionists? Trot them out, then! ZENI.
| "All Around" DEsMo1NEs,
April Sd, 1860.
FRIEND JOURNAL: members are few at