Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-02-07
CAPITAL CORRESPONDENCE.


DRSNOlNRA, Jan. ~, 1867.
FR,END JOURNAL: viii close my psrsonnsI
of the Legislature by ieua,lking that MIR.
Woodward, ~ We supposed ne would, when
voting for him, ranks high, and is the judicial
leader Of the Senate, whose opinions are Gag
erly sought for, and who has . vast amount
Of business ~ Chairman of the Judiciary;
one whose voice commands the attention Of
al, when raised, who is the embodiment Of q
dignified statesman. Auscatine County was
LOT turned out into the cold atmosphere, usu-
ally pcrvading political and legislative orgsni-
cations, when officers were to be dispensed.-
Here is MIR. Patterson, Of Atalissa, faithful
door-keeper of the House. Below il our
friend Washburn, exercising faithful,
watchful vigilance over the contents of the
several Committee Rooms. Your humble
servant doing his lrettiest at times to deci-
pher strange hierogiyphics, intersperscd with
loud calls of 'Senators Ainsworth, Bowen.
and Brown" with ~ Bill for an Act entitled
an Act amending phi. Act, passed &C." All this
is very pleasant to behold, and much more so
| to perform but when assisted by so faithful,
correct, prompt and gentlemanly an aid as
my friend b. J. Cue, my labors are much re-
lieved. vi
What occupies, or will occupy the at!en-
ton of this General Assembly?
LIST. Probably before this is in type, the
State will have assumed the collection Of the
direct Federal Tax, for the coming three
years. l he General Government now owes
our State for advances made on account Of
troops, very nearly the amount Of the Federal
tax for the fist year. This will pass to our
credit. BY this act Of assumption, the State
saves Is per cent uron her whole apportion-
ment, or $55,0O0 in round numbers each
year. It avoids the necessity Of creating q
new class Of officers, by comforting the du
ties Of assessing and collecting upon officers
already provided for by law. w..
ID. The Act requiring State and County
Trcasurers to receive, in payment Of al taxes
and other public dues, the United State.
Treasury Demand Notes, and issues Of thu
State Bank Of Iowa, 50 long as it continue.
specie payment, will also pass. This measure
is necessary, so far IS The U. S. Treasury
Notes are concerned, for two reasons: specie
is not to be had for some time except at sact
rates a. will make it impossible for thousands
to pay their State taxes 1t gives to tn
country q safe circulating medium, and lends
the moral support Of our people to the tinan
cial policy Of the government.
Sd. 1t is demonstrated that while the pe0
pie are crying against taxation, the Stat
gives little ground for complaint, the grea
burden being from counties. Within few
days it has been carefully estimated that $50,
loco would not pay the jury fees in civil &C
lions, tried by The several District Courts o
Jour State. 10 remedy this immense outlay
it Is proposed to require Of the District Cler;
that when he taxes court, sheriff and witnes
fees, he shall also tax the sum Of IS 90, as
jury fee, against the losing party, where ther
shall have been trial by jury. This throw
the heavy jury costs of our District Court
! upon those who prefer to li'igate, and will, j.
. my judgment, tend to decrease very muc
litigation, without good cause. 1t Is also pre-
posed to reduce jurors fees to 81 SO. Alst
to provide for the coll ction of taxes from res
ident taxpayers by township collectors
There are some very plausible and good al
guments in favor of this system, and al
inclined to believe it will prevail. believe
to be the more speedy AMI certain way {
gathering our taxes. More hereafter. z.