The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-12
CLEANING THE SEED.
SENATORIAL sKECTHEs,

Mr.. Foote, Chairman of the Committee on
Commerce and member of the Committee on
Ways aud Means and of the Railroad Committee,
is one of the soundest, most practical and use
full men in the Senate. 1t is true that you do
not see him so often figuring in the daily re-
ports, as a speechifier, as many others. But
whenever it is reported that Mr.. Foote spoke,
whether his speech is reported or not, you may
| always know that the speaking was to the ques.
| ton and to the point Not syllable against
time, not windy word for Buncombe's sake,
has he uttered since the commencement Of the
session. 1t is pretty generally understood, in
fact known, l think, that the most voluble
members of legislative body are not always
| the most valuable; and that man may have a
| tongue propelled by exhaustless power and have
no other power pertaining to him in, as well as
| out of, a State Senate. The position assigned
him as Chairman of the Committee on Com
merce was judcious appointment and one tit
to be made That Committee have endeavored,
principally through the influence of the Chair
man, l have understood, to inaugurate re.
form in the usury and interest laws of this
State. Whether the measures, or any of them,
succeed or not, is no test of their wisdom
That the public good demands a reduction in
the rate OF legal interest there can be no doubt
Brokers and "enal dependants may theorize
and "large lib ,rty" men may swagger, but still
ever became rich and prosperous while the law
smiled with appreciation upon the greedy ava.
rice Of money lenders, by allowing higher rate
OF interest than Legitimate enterprise could
pay He who protects, or would protect, hon.
est industry from burdens too grievous to be
borne and yet holds tat o man should pay
his debts, is a better friend Of the poor than
the canting hypocrte who whines his living
sympathies in dolorous demi-tonc, but insists
that the poor man shall have the blessed privi-
lege OF paying ten per cent per annum until the
interest swallows up the principal OF the lat
! ter Sort Mr.. Foote is not one; and Of that sort
are not the Kingdom of the Heaven"
position on the Committee of Ways and
Means is one, above all others, where clear head
ed, practical, working, business men are want
cd, and the right mau was placed in the right
position when Mr.. Foote was appointed mem
Der of that Committee Those who pay but lit
tie attention to the details Of legislation may not
bear in mind that the working members Of the
Committees, especially the important Commit.
tees, bear the burdens and are really the influ.
ential men of legislative body.
take the venture Of predicting that the i'm
press Of his views will be found stamped upon
the Railroad legislation Of the State before ad-
journment; legislation not hostile to railroad en-
terprise, but conservative Of the general vel
fare.
Personally Mr.. Foote is a popular man with
his brother Senators and with the people OF the
Capital Unassuming in his manners, the con.
vlction takes unconscious possession Of one be-
| coming acquainted with him that he is thorough.
ly honest, conscientious and kind-hearted; that
there is no guile within and no pretense without.
| he is merchant; forty seven years of age; has
been twenty years a resident OF the State and
| was born in Vermont. He is Of medium or av-
| erage weight and heighth; light complexion,
light hair and whiskers, land in those respects
as well as others, resembles the majority OF the
good of all ages) regular features and blue eye
that tells the whole story. Religiously, chris
tian of the Congregational school
Des Moinss Register. TRAvELrR