Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-01-07
THE LEGISLATURE.

THE LEGISLATURE.
Next Monday is the day indicated fr
the meeting Of our State Legislature
Ever since the political complexion of the
Legislature was ascer'ained the Reprbli-
can press of the State has been engaged
in " chalking OUT work for our law-mnk-
ers. The revision Of the Code, the aboli-
ton, or modification of our County Judge
system, the reconstruction and silnplifcn.
tion Of the School Law, and the abolition
of that worse ,han useless adjunct Of the
Legislature, to wit: The Board of Educa-
ton, IRE questions that have been me n
toned BY "ur brothers of the quill as EN-
inently worthy the attention of the wise
men at the Capital. Without presun.ing
to possess the right to dictate to the party
in the majority in our State Legislature,
yet rs one Of The dear people and one So
hcitous for the success of such legislation
as will result in the greatest good to thu
greatest number Of cur citizens, we may be
permitted to intimate that the question
which will occupy the mos. prominent pc
si.ion before the approaching Legislature,
and which is Of more practical Importance
to the people OF the State at large than
either of those above named, has received
very little attention from the gentlemen
engaged in planning work for the Lsgis
lature. We allude to the question Of State
aid for our railroads.
We admit tina. there is great dstrus.
in the public mind in regard to the practi-
cabiity OF the State extending pecuniary
aid to corporations-n belief that il would
tend to corruption, debt, taxation, &c. Yet
those who entertain these fears do not pre-
d'cate them upon anything wrong in the
principle, but upon the probability of dis
honesty and corruption in the application
Of the means furnished By the Sla,e-,ha,
instead Of being wisely and economically
disbursea, they would be m ade to subserve
the purposes Of personal aud political pro.
fit and aggrandizement Presidents can
be produced 10 establish foundations for
these fears, but wherever abuses have &C.
cured it was owing to defects in the law,
which were taken advantage of by d.shou
est agents, and not the fault Of the rrin-
eipls. But were those doubts as TO TIA
expediency ii the measure we'll grounded
which, however, We by no means admit, w
contend that there are emergencies exist.
ing which demand the speedy completion
Of important internal improvements il
oar State, and the available means for thu
purpose are inadequate, which would JUST
~ the State in rendering assistance.
The railroads Of Iowa have arrived at q
juncture beyond which they can not pro
coed without more aid than is at presen
at their disposal To ensure their advance
men.-in the language Of tho man Al,
tackled BY cholera" Something must b
done, and that quickv' Priyat
enterprise will not build them without som
hope Of remuneration, and this hope vii
not be reasonable for years to come. l,
new and prairie States like our own, rail
roads cannot be dispensed with unit
crowded marts and overlooking abundanc
will give them lucrative transportation
The tread Of pioneers and the nois
Of the steam car must keep within halin,
distance Of each other.
Will the evils likely to result to the Stat
By granting assistance 10 certain roads B
more than compensated by the public goo
which they will work. This is the shap
in which the question should be considered
While this trust has been abused in som
instances, Jel j, has generally secured III