Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-07
Cleveland, Teb.s 1850.
General Assembly lIauers.

General AsssnBly Matters.
The Solons seem to have gone to work in
earnest since the big holiday and Senatorial
election, and if the right direction is taken
we see no reason why an adjournmen. sine die
may not take place as early as the middle Of
March. The appropriation bills should be re-
ported and passed as soon as possible, and
the great mass of crude new bills on all sorts
Of subjects be sent to the oblivion Of indef-
mite postpOnement. Excess Of legislation is
the great curse of the State, and the sooner an
end is put to statute tinkering by short ses-
sions and few of them, the better.
Resolutions have been introduced in both
branches for final adjournment on or about
the 1st Of March. In the House the resOlu-
tion was laid on the table for discussion, and
in the Senate the proposition to adjourn on
the first Monday of March was laid on the
table, yeas II, nayslS. We understand the
subject Of an adjourned session has been dis
oussed in Republican caucus, without arriv-
ing at any conclusion. The people want no
adjourned session, and will hold the members
and the party voting for it to strict account.
The unwise Senate bills to put out the
School Library light for two years, and with
hold the publication of the laws in the news
journals Of the State, still hang in the House.
May their suspension be final Retrenchment
should begin in the Capitol, rather than in the
diffusion of that intelligence which is the life
of liberty.
Asin the Republican General Assembly of
1861, the fees Of County officers are en-
crossing considerable attention. The labOred
legislation then did not effect much of a saw
ing in practice, and We doubt whether any
considerable retrenehment would follow the
passage of the bills already introduced to re-
duce the fees of County Auditors and County
Treasurers. officers would find some way of
HWhipping the devil round the stump" at
least so far as to get well paid for the public
service rendered. Mr.. Jones bill in the
Senate substitutes fixed salary for County
Treasurers for the per Centage and fees now
allowed, as follows:
In counties having no more than 9, 400
white male inhabitants, shall receive $500
per annum, and S25 for each additional 200
white males, provided that no Treasurer shall
receive more than $4,000. Deputies to be
paid out Of the County Treasury, by the au-
thority Of the County Commissioners. This
bill would allow the Treasurer Of Hamilton
County about $500.
2 Senator Monroe has introduced bill fur
ther defining the duties of County Treasurers,
which substantially revives the Law of 1856,
80 far as the disbursement Of taxes is con-
serned. Mr.. Monroe is a practical as well as
experienced Legislator, and the measure is
doubtless well considered.
Senator Jones has introduced bill repeal
ing all laws concerning drains, bitches and
water courses, which is similar to the law
passed last winter, with the following mOdi6-
cations, viz:
The notice required is more simple; owners
Of land in the vicinity benefited to pay for
the work; provides for keeping the some in
repair; authorizes supervisors to make re-
pairs at expense Of parties interested, and
authorizes commissioners TO let the work on
contract.
In the House, Mr.. Hitchcock has introduced
q bill amending the assignment law, giving
the assignee the benefit of property exempt
from sale or execution, aud also all property
belonging to the wife before marriage, not
converted to the husbands use. Also, giving
assignees the benefit of the homestead law
Mr. Brown bill to punish by fine all brokers
and money dealers for paying out other than
specie or notes Of specie paying banks. =
Mr.. Clapp bill to prevent the sale and use
Of ''burning fluid; p and also bill ito pro-
vide for greater liberty of speech in our
Courts" What the object is we guess not,
unless to permit brOW-beat witnesses to talk
back to lawyers. Mr.. Clapp has also intro
duced bill to prevent hasty and perniciOus
suretyship, providing as follows:
That any and all underwriting of any man,
the same being married man, shall be void,
for any sum exceeding one hundred dollars,
unless accompanied by the signature of the
wife Of the said surety or. bondsman, or her
consent to be obtained in writing.
A bill has passed the Senate, yeas %, nays l,
to regulate the responsibility Ofinn keepers. 1t
exempts from liability for loss of property of
guests in certain cases, when not caused BY
theft OF the negligence of the inn keeper or any
of his servants.
Three OF four propositions to amend the
Constitution have been introduced. Senator
Harnson proposes the single District system in
elscline members Of the Legislature, and annu-
al sessions Senator Monroe has an amend
meut which proposes to submit the proposition
Of annual sessions, with biennial election Of
Senators and annual election of Represents
fiYes. Mr.. Hitchcock, in the House, proposes
to smenl BY providing for annual sessions, with
biennial elections Of both Senators and Repre-
sentstiyes, Another House proposition is an
nual sessions and annual elections to both
branches. Time spent in legislating on the
subject may be REGARDED as lost. Votes to car
ny any of the propositions will be lacking at the
polls.
Presidential Oauard.