The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-01-24
rDrTORrAE. CORRESPONDENTS.
MADISON, Jan 18th, 1861.

|
ment The members generally have an air of /
responsibility and seem of orderly department.
In the Assembly, only small fraction of the
whole were members last year. There is, how
ever, one aspect which is characteristic of new
Legislative bodies; that is an undue propensity
to talk and make motions. To make speech
Of FIVE or more lines in the Legislature, and
have the same reported in the newspapers, is
looked upon as a great achievement; the men,
Der who can accomplish this much, supposes
hereby he establishes reputation with his
constituency.
The number who, during the first few DAYS
of the session. tried their hands at Offering res
olutions on the present crisis of our national af-
fairs, was truly overwhelming. Some of the
resolutions were patriotic and temperate enough
but not a few were simply declaration mixed
with bad grammar. Yet the members ought
not to be blamed for such superabundant ex-
ercise of their gifts they have a laudable ambi-
tion to let the constituency know, through the
medium of such papers as publish the Legisla-
tive proceedings that they are not mere silent
members.
The following is summary of some of the
most important measures which have been
brought before the Legislature
Personal LIBERTY BILL.
Resolutions and bills have been introduced
TO repeal the Wisconsin Personal Liberty Bill
these measures, of course, come from the Dem
ocratic side, and there seems to be no disposi
ton among the majority to repeal or alter the
ersonal Liberty Bill, unless it is made to ap-
pear that it works injustice to any portion of
the Union. That this law has ever interfered
with the rights of any one, is not pretended by
those who ask its repeal.
CHAPLAlNS.
Both branches Of the Legislature have voted
to invite the resident cergymen Of Madison TO
open the morning sessions with prayer On the
the resolution for the employment of chaplains,
The Assembly expended the usual amount of
talk it was strenuously opposed by those who
do not believe in the constitutonaliiy" of
Legislative praying; but the resolution prevail
cd by a large ajority.
TOWN LIBRARIES
A bill has passed the Assembly without OPP
position to repeal the i; W creating town school
libraries. What plan will be adopted for school
libraries does not yet appear.
| PER CENT OF DELINQUENT TAX.
Heretofore there has prevailed much diversi-
ty Of opinion in respect 10 the construction of
the statute as to the disposal Of the 5 per cent
added to delinquent returned taxes. In some
counties the five per cent has been credited to
| the several towns, and in others it has been
credited to the counties. A bill is now before
the Legislature intended to settle this question
by giving the per cent to the towns
BANKS.
| Several measures have been introduced with
view to amending the State banking law I'll
of these measures look to the greater safety of
bill holders by providing against deprecated
currency. An attempt will be made to provide
for the redemption of Wisconsin bank notes, at
some central locality, at a certain per cent.
NEWSPAPERS.
The resolution in the Assembly to allow
newspapers to each member is the same as last
| year. Seven dailies each, or its equivalent in
weekly papers. This is too much, but the Leg
islature plead precedent, and therefore there is
no custailment in this expenditure.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
There will be strong effort made during
the session to change our present system of
county govern ment. The Commissioner sys-
TEN, which prevailed during our territorial gov
eminent is the kind which the friends of the
change desire. This matter of change has been
before the Legislature nearly every session for
several years past. The western counties have
always been heretofore, and are now Il e advo
Gates of the measure,
APPORTIoNMENT.
One of the most important measures which
will be acted upon by tue Legislature is the
appOrtionment of members under the new CEN
sus. The committee in the Assembly appoint
ed by the Speaker, on the apportonment, consists
of six, only one of whic number is from the
first Congressional district. This is not fair
constitution of the committees nevertheless, |
the will of the committee is not law.
RATE OF INTEREST
A bill has been introduced to reduce the rate |
of interest to I Der cent. There seems to be
growing sentiment in the State, that high rates |
of interest are not conducive to the best inter
estS of the people The Governor treated the
matter at length in his message last year, and
has called attention to it again this year. His
arguments are not easily answered.
FARM MORTGAGES
A bill of the most exciting character was act
ed upon in the Legislature on Thursday last
At the last session, the Legislature passed
law for the foreclosure of the mortgages given
by the Mil. s. Miss. r. R. Co. Oh the road
These mortgages, in the meantime, have been
forecosed, and the sale appointed for January
the 18th inst A bill was hastily introduced
into the Legislature, day or two before the
sale, to repeal the law of last winter, and thus
prevent the sale. The bill for repeal passed
the Senate on the morning of the day fixed for
the sale of the Road, and sent into Assembly
while under consideration in the latter House,
that body voted to adjourn SO the bill failed,
and the sale took place accordingly. The re-
peal of the law of last winter was generally re-
garded as measure to help the farm mortga-
gors, but in respect to this, the farm mortgagors
did not appear entirely agreed The Madison
Democrat, paper devoted to the interests of
farm mortgagors, says the arrangement since
the sale under the new organization is more IA
vorable to this class of persons, than under the
provision which had been made for them under
the law of last winter. That paper expresses
the opinion that the provisions which the new
company have made for the farm mortgagors,
VIII make their certificates of stock, paying in
vestments within five years. Whether this is 8
correct representation of the prospects of the
farm mortgagors on this Road or motifs left for 8
those who are more competent to Judge than s
the writer hereof {