The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-08
Legislative topics.

ate, the bill to repeal the Statute providing
for the foreclosure Of mortgages iby adyer-
tisement, came up for 6nalg passage and
was lost, d large majority voting against it.
It was afterwards reconsideredl and Il laid on
the table. The passage Of the bilPis strong.
ly pressed by the Committee on theiJudi.
ciary, and other legal gentlemen, upon
grounds of high public policy. They con-
tend that foreclosing by advertisement tends
to uusettle titles, and will eventually lead
to an immense amount Of litigation over the
system of foreclosing in court. IL On the
other hand it is agreed that foreclosing by
advertisement is as much process of law,
as though it took place before legal tri-
bunal, and more than q hundred per cent.
cheaper, in consequence of the heavy fees
charged by lawyers in proceedings before
courts. This may be illustrated by the
fact that in Rice county, a gentleman, who
is not a lawyer, has recently foreclosed
nearly one hundred mortgages by advertise
ment, without the aid Of legal counsel, and
thus saved large amount of costs. The
bill will doubtless be defeated by large
majority, in the House, even should it get
through the Senate.
MORE CHANGEs.-1t seems as If the mem
Al
bers of every Legislature feel themselves
bound to undo everything that preceding
Legislatures had enacted. Perpetual change
is the order of the day. A law scarcely
has been printed and circulated. and gone
into effect, ere it is to be repealed, and a
totally different system created to take its
place. Thus there are perpetual mistakes,
troubles, expenses ard confusion.
For instance-in 1859 We had the Su-
pervisor system, and Town Collection OF
Taxes. In 1860, this was changed, and
under a Commissioner system, we had the
County Treasurer collect all taxes. Now,
it has Just been decided by the House to
return to the Town Collector system. AS
one of the members remarked: "For hea-
veu's sake, do let US have one system long
enough to see how it works, and allow the
people to form an opinion on its merits"
The MILITARY BILL.-This immense bill
of So pages, transcribed at cost of wi,
and printed at cost of hundred more.
was brought up in both Houses Thursday.
The House was little ahead, and when
the Senate learned this they dropped it, and
went about more useful business. The
House labored on it more than an hour.
Its utter unftness for the condition of our
State, and its latent intentions become
more apparent every hour, and notwith-
standing the Press and two or three other
interested parties are urging its passage on
the ground of being necessary at the pres
ent juncture of affairs, the House ad'
vanced far enough yesterday to reduce the
annual tax on each citizen who refuses to
strain" with an cd gun, from one dollar to
fifty cents. The provision reviviDg the
exploded and ridiculous "militia musters,
compelling every citizen not member of
volunteer corps to appear on parade day
armed with some kind of gun or fowling
piece, knapsack, cartridge-box, twenty balls
"suited to the bore of bis weapon" and like
number of cartridges, together with "twt
spare aints" ETC., was left in in spirit
though the language was stricken out.
The fund to be raised, which will, If col
lected, amount to $4,000 annually, is to b
spent in the salaries of sinecure officers, 70
paying the uniformed soldiery dollar pc
dsy each for "trainiDg," and for renting an
eauipping Armories, Arsenal, etc.
We have thus briefly sketched some
the obnoxious features of the bill. 1t
totally unnecessary, and will prove burder
some and troublesome. We have already
military law ample enough for contiogencie
and we viii always, too, have plenty I
volunteer corps who will arm and equi
themselves, and sustain their organization
without taxing their fellow citizens, mar
of whom are almost unable to pay the tax
they now have to meet. ,,...,. ,.,.,.,
The MILITARY BILL.-As will be SEE
by our House report, this monstrosity r
ceived quietus Friday, being sent
the Tomb of the Capulets by adecided vot
The members of the House pretty general
came to the conclusion that if passed
could not be carried into effect so general
as to be of the use and effect designed.
GONG TO SrILLwArER.-One of the mel
beers Of the House Friday was urging t
meeting of Joint Convention prior to ne
Tuesday" for" said he, "several of
haze to go to Still.cater on that day
Although pity for the unfortunate gent
men should have prevailed, rather tn
merriment, bursts Of laughter followed Il
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