The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-04-11
Edtsor5ag Correspondence.
MADISON, April 6th, 1861

Monday the 18th inst The number of bills in
troduced into the Assembly since the commence
ment Of the session, Is about five hundred, and
in he Senate about half that number I can
not subscribe to the popular notion of large
legislative bodies, nor DO l incline to the ex-
trome Of small legislative bodies. There is
doubtless proper limit the number Of mem
bers should be sufficiently proportioned to pop
ulation, TO represent faithfully the varied inter
ests Of the State. st the next session, the As
sembly, under the new apportionment will CON
tain one hundred members, and the Senate
thiIty-three There is much truth in the old
adage Z" large bodies move Slow they often
become unwieldly. A representation ofseyen-
ty-GYe in the Assembly and twenty-five i'll the
Senate would give US Legislature quite as
| large as most Of the States in the Union have.
The interests of the State with that number
would be quite as well cared for and the bust
ness Of legislation more expeditiously transact
ed.
BY the new Congressional appor tionment,
| Wisconsin Will have six members of Congress.
The report Of the committee on Congressional
apportionment which has not yet been acted
upon does not change the southeast or first
! Congressional district The new legislative
| apporlonment also has not yet been acted upon
by both houses. The Attorney General has Civ
en- an opinion that the Senators elected last
ia Il for two cars viii hold for their full terms,
notwithstanding the change Of Senate districts
by the new apportionment
The people in several portions of the State,
arc still disposed to tax themselves for purp osa
OF building railroads. A bill h as just passed
the Senate allowing the people of Fond du Lac
| county to levy tax Of 800, 900 to build
railroad to consolidate with the Sheboygan rail
road. However much have been the losses sus-
tanned by individuals who have aided in the
building Of railroads, the people still in many
| sections of the State, feel that they cannot do
without these modern convenences of travel
and commerce. The forfeited railroad grants
and the swamp lands are sought TO be diverted
to various purposes by interested parties. A
bill has passed the Assembly to appropriate a
portion Of the forfeited La Crosse Land Grant
in aid Of building the Sugar River Valley Rail
raad. This road is intended to be constructed
from the Illinois line to Madison and from
thence to Portage City This measure may not
I prevail in the Senate. The memorial which
pas sed the Senate, asking Congress to re-appro-
pirate the Land Grant for the benefit Of Farm
Mortgagors has not yet passed the Assembly
The military spirit in the Legislature has been
revived within tie past few days in conse-
quence Of the warlille attitude of our national
affairs; and notwithstanding the lateness of the
session, it seems to be determined that some
thing must be done before the Legislature ad-
Journs to encourage military organizations es-
peciaIly Independent companies. Wisconsin
p Sin now has no effective military organization,
and is but poorly prepared for an emergency.
The town library bill which passed the As
sembIy few weeks ago, has not yet passed the
Senate doubts are entertained whether it will.
become law. The State Superintendent Of
4 Public instruction has prepared new revision
OF the School Law; it has been submitted to
the committee OH education, and approved. -
The revision Of course makes no material
changes in the present law 1t only collects to-
gether and properly arapges the various acts
that have been passed since the last revision
This will be Of great service to the school dis
tricts Of The State, as its effect will be to sim
pity what now il many instances appears com
plicatcd. 1t yet needs the sanction Of the Leg.
islature to give it the effect of law.
Sherman N. Booth has presented claim Of
$4,000 in Tie. Legislature which he claims as
damages sustained in his trial and bis imprison-
ment for more than a year i'll the Government
custom house and Jail at Milwaukee, for the part
he took in the Glover rescue case. The Legis
/ lature have no disposition to recognize the
{ claim, but Mr.. Booth did not expect his demand
e would be favorably entertained; his intention is
to sue the State for damages but before such
{ suit can be brought, the law makes it necessary
that the claim should be brought before the
Legislature, and if rejected, suit may be com
mcnced. The critical condition Of the banking
institutions Of the State has, in the opinion OF
some, called for legislative interference; some
think the proper policy in the present state Of
affairs is for the Controller to refrain from call
ing for the full amount of additional securities
to make up for the depreciation of bank stocks
The Legislature has no authority to confer pow
er On the controller to make calls for bank secu
rites other than now provided by law; the ac
ton Of the Legislature can only be advisory
E On the other hand there are many who believe
that the controller should require the banks o.
the State to furnish additional securities to make
up for depTociations of stock to the strict letter
Oft law. But this policy is objected to it i,
said that more than one half of the banks il
the State would go overheard if required tC
, make good their deprecated stocks immediate
It ". in the money market-thereby subjectine
o the people TO immense losses. The bank cues
Y ton, therefore, SO far as any present remede.
e are concerned, is involved in difficulty. The
. Legislature can do nothing to relieve the exist
ing embarrassmentsi it can only provide better
safeguards to be used in future
There will probably be no change in the Ii
cense Jaw this year. though numerous petitions
have been sent to the Legislature relating tc
the liquor traffic. The bill introduced in the
] Assembly, declaring the liquor traffic q nuts
anee, has been defeated. So the liquor dealers
need have no apprehension this year, but will
jog along as usual.
? The people Of the State will most likely very
{ generally be pleased to have the Legislature adj
? Jonm at the earliest day practicable. Although
5 considerable amount of useful as well as ne
3 eessaIy legislation has been accomplished, vel
0 there has unquestionably been some legislation
winch will injure the credit and good name Of
5 the State abroad This legislation however
3 was IN no sense Of political partisan charac.
s teri It was prompted hy the SANG Kind ofina,,.