The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-05-23
special session of the Legislature.

Special Session of the Legislature.
The Legislature of this State has been in spc
cial Session at Madison since Wednesday of
last week, and will probably not complete the
business before it, before the close of the pres
ent week The session will be longer than was
expected as it was found that quite number
of enactments were necessary to meet the ext
gencies of the case Some eight or ten bills
have been introduced among which the follow
ing are chiefly important:
| A bill for the relief of families of volunteers
Considerable diversity of opinion exists in the
| Legislature, as to the best method for providing
aid for this object; some favor the plan of al
lowing towns and villages to vote such amount
of tax as they may think proper; this plan is
objected TO OH the ground that some wealthy
towns may neglect or refuse to raise any tax
while they have the same general interests in
volved in the war, as the towns which pay libe
rally Some are in favor of having volunteer
fund voted by counties this plan is also liable
to objection; many towns have already made
large volunteer subscriptions, while other towns
have given little or nothing. Were the volun
teer fund to be raised by county tax, no discrim-
nation could be made between the towns which
have already given and those which have not.
Another plan is to have the volunteer fund
raised b. State tax this course has been pur-
sued in the State of Vermont, but it necessari-
ly involves some expensive machinery in the
distribution ofthe fund. Some one of the fore
going plans will be adopted by the Legislature.
A bill to put five regiments in the State on a
war footing, including those already called into
service, will be passed. Should the services OF
the entire five regiments be demanded by the
General Government, the Governor ofthis State
will be authorized to call for two more regi-
ments The desire is to keep two regiments
in reserve in the State, equipped and disciplined
ready for active service. This bill is an impor
tant one, and we shall without doubt be able
to give it in full next week.
Money being the "sinews Of war;" the Leg
slature will without doubt pass the bill now be-
fore it, appropriating $S00,0OO in addition TO
the 5000, 900 already ppropriated-making in
all 81 900, 900 for war purposes. There seems
| to be no difference of opinion as to the amount
necessary to be placed at the disposal of the
Government, but there is great diversity Of
opinion as TO the best method of realizing the
proposes the issuing of State bonds of denomi-
nations of not less than FIVE nor more than one
thousand dollars, drawing seven per cent inter-
est Whether the bonds could be Immediately
sold without some sacrifice, is perhaps question
able the bonds could not be used as circula-
ting medium, for no paper drawing interest could
be kept in circulation. The proposition there
fore meets with considerable favor, to issue
State scrip i'll denominations of five dollars and
upwards, to the amount Of the 100000 appro-
priated. This scrip is to be made redeemable
within one year, and payable at the State Treas
urers Office. Those who favor this plan urge
the following reasons The scrip would fur
4 nish the people with good circulating medi-
UNI, which is needed in the disturbed condition
Of our country besides it would afford ample
time for negotiating State bonds TO the best
advantage.
A law to prevent rendering aid to rebels will
be passed. Laws of this character have been
recently passed in several of the Northern
States. While it Is not intended to restrict the
! proper exercise of the freedom of speech or the
iberty of the press, yet there needs to be safe
guards i'll time of war. Inciting factious oppo
sition to the Government, counSeling or advls
ing the enemy, or furnishing the enemy with
supplies cannot be allowed. There are now
! some existing wrongs which need to be attend
ed to; in one OF the towns on the Mississippi
' side of this State, powder mill is now in full
> blast hich makes consignments regularly tc
E St. Louis. 1t ia believed by those informed OF
the subject that this Wisconsin powder finds it;
way to the Sece ssionists, or at least has here
tofore The aiding or abettrg of treason IL
5 any shape cannot be tolerated, and the Legis
4 lature very properly will enact stringent Law
, on the subject.
A bill to amend the law of last session, de
) claring the tights and privileges of persons wht
q enroll themselves in the service of their coun
: try, will also be passed. Also bill to provide
for extraordinary expenses ofthe Executive De
partment. This bill proposes to place $4,000
at the disposal of the Governor for the paymen
of messengers, and for various kinds OF services
. required in times of war.
o Such are the leading measures now before th'
Legislature, which will, with perhaps son mod
ification become laws during the present week