The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-03-30
Columbus correspondence.

COLUMNS, Ohio1 Mar. lSth loOU.
EDrroRs TrrTiN TRmuNE:-The day
for adjournment is rapidly approaching
and that day will surely find much unfn-
ished business on hand. The unusually
fne spring weather, with the singing o.
birds, and the joyous oheerfulness Of al
animated nature, the balmy air and the
opening buds, the springirg grass Ont
the green fields, all tend to increase The
fcverish anxiety Of members to close thoii
lobors here aad return to their neglected
home duties ,--duties which to themselves
to their families, and to the State, ar,
vastly more important than protracted oi
excessive legislation ever Gun be. Their,
is moro danger Of excessive, than Of neg.
lected Legislation. Short, limited, unnr,
al sessions, for the purpose Of supervising
the affairs Of the State and making suel
corrections and changes as time and prog.
rcss may demand, is all the Legislation
required. More than this is unnecessary
and may be injurious. What We as q
people and great State most need Is an
abundance of productive labor, intelligent
ly directed, fully protected, and further
than that most respectfully ask to be lei
alone.
A bill ubolishing the Comptroller's OF.
fec, as unnecessary, was killed in the
House, few days ago, the prevailing
opinion being, that the Office is neccssa,
ry-that while the Auditor is a check up.
on the Treasurer, the Comptroller is a
check upon both. No harm can come
from continuance of the office, as the
expense Is light, and the duties import
ant. A bill restoring conventional rate
of interest was killed. This is a debOtu-
bic question and is earnestly discussed
throughout the State. The attempt to
afix an arbitrary value to money isrcsist-
cd as unjust and tyranical, the advocates
of free trade claiming that the value Of
money should be determined by the same
laws, that regulate the variable prices Of
property. On the other hand il is urged
that labor, and the poor, need-protectiOn
against the TapuOity of capital. The rS-
tional conclusion is, that an intelligent
people will soon determine practically
this question for themselves. House Bill
No. 10, giving Justices final jurisdiction
in minor criminal offences, with authori-
ty to empanel jury when demanded by
the accused, passed. This is good bill
and, if faithfully executed, will save much
expense and greatly relieve the higher
courts CT an unpleasant class Of business.
H. b, No. 1866, to exempt from taxation
land appropriated for public uses, was
passed. The titles Of railroad tracks be-
ing in private individuals, the object OF
the bill is to relieve the original owners
from taxation on such property. II, d.
1876 reduces the fees of SherilTs for trans
porting prisoners to the Penitentiary from
eight to ten cents per mile; reduces the
number Of guards on such occasions one
half, and allows six cents per mile, in
stead of ten for travelling expenses. A
Bill authorizing supervisors to construct
foot-bridges over streams Of water has
passed. Mr. MoOrs's s. B. No. 4s, to
employ couvicts in county jails at hard
labor, has passed. 1t authorizes the
court in its discretion to sentence prison.
ers to hard labor in lieu Of simple ccnfne-
ment. Il authorizes prisoners to be
worked on roads, quaTriys &C., under the
direction ofthe Commissioners. The OBJ
ject of the law is, 10 make 4 certain class
Of offenders self-sustSining, instead Of be-
ing clothed, lodged, and fed At the public
expense. A bill TO further define the
crime Of arson has become a law. Il
provides that persons burning their own
buildings for the insurance shall be pun
ished in the Penitentiary. Mr.. Staniey's
IS. b. Ne. l59, prescribing rates Of taxa =
ton for State purposes has passed both
Houses. Il provides for the ordinary OK
penses Of State government, including
benevolent Institutions and other eXPen.
ses ehafgeable 70 the general revenue
fund, OAE TRHTH Of one mill. For the
Sinking Fund 1--WE TENNIS Of one mill
and on each dollar Of the taxable prop
erty Of the State, on the grand duplicate
ofls6i, ,FHE raHTHs Of one mill and there
after until otherwise provided by law -FOUR
TEErHs Of one mile anRuslly. For Con
mon School purposes OHE AND EoUH
rENrHs Of a mili annually. and no more.
The bill for the reorganization Of she
Board Of Public Works, was stubbornIy
resisted Onits passage through the House,
many dilatOry motions were mLds and
much tine consumed in calling the yeas