The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-14
e present year. The duties of this Office

we have of the State SUPPLEMENTARY,
under the care of Mr., Baker. The
minimum price Of school lands has been
fixed at S. per acre, and q provision has
been inserted to give those who went upon
the school lands previous to the survey and
have been bona tide settlers thereon ever
since, to purchase at 80 per acre. The
object to be gained in putting the lands
into market the present year, was urged to
be for the purpose of getting a reduction OF
the school tax OF the State, especially as
the war tax WAS likely to add materially to
the taxation of the people. It is a ques.
ton not fully settled in very many minds
whether it was the best policy 20 bring
those lands into market just now, md some
of the members Of the Legislature were
very earnest in their opposition TO the bill
for this reason.
The settlers upon School Lands, who
were called upon to pay rent according to
a law of last session were relieved from
thrseAffths of the rent, by law passed this
Session. The complaint was very general
all over the State that the rent was exhor-
bitant, and the Legislature was flooded with
petitions for all abatement.
The Tax question, being the most im-
portant, as affecting every man in the
State, was mainly considered and settled by
seec, committee OF both branches Of the
Legislature. The bills were not introduced
until the last week of the session, and for
tunately both Houses were satisfied to let
them go through on the recommendation Of
the committee. without alteration, except
in the bill relating to Delinquent Taxes
The Delinquent tax Biz, as proposed by
the Committee. aba,ed ail interes., penalty
and costs, On all unpaid taxas prior 70 aud
including the year 1859, if the taxes were
paid before the FIRST of November ensuing.
The bill! az it passed, does not abate the
COS: OF Fax saies, but abates all penalty
ard interest except seven Per cent. interest
per anuum, and provides that to secure this
abatement the taxes CT the succeeding
years that may De dus and unpaid, shall be-
settled at the same Tina.
The bill !evying tax Tor United States
purposes, which Was passed, provides for a
three mill tax. WITH a special provision of
a poll tax CT one collar upon every citizen
of the State. The tax for State purposes
was fixed a four 'G.ls on the dollar OF val-
uation.
The Assessment Law was amended SO as
to do away with the sworn statement Of
the person listing property.
The County Auditor and County Treas.
urer laws were also amended. The latter,
so as TO place the collection rolls fer about
two months in the hands of town treasu..
rers fer collection in their several towns.
There was, as usual, goodly number of
lawyers in both branches, and they had
their own way about pleadings, practice,
motous, answers, demurrers, witnesses, &C.,
and to the unceaslng iaeors of the Chair
man OF the judiciary Committee, not Only
as that Chairman, but ss member of the
House, we Gre indebted for dozen amend
ments to the Compiled Statutes, mainly liz.
terestng to lawyers, and we presume, tend
ing to increase the delightful uncert. mites
OF the law to all iit;gants. We are aware
that the numerous changes proposed did
not meet with universal favor among law~
yers; and On this account we have hope,
that some of the amendments were ina
tended to remove portion of the log which
constantly envelopes the judicial bench.
The numerous applications to the Legisa-
ture for change of names, was indicative OF
healthy moral feeling throughout the
State. And as the Legis lature granted all
the changes that were requested there is
reason to hope that there are no children
now in the State unprovided with legitimate
parents.
There were quite a number of amend
ments to special laws OF previous years, re-
lating to roads, towns, etc, and three or
four laws authorizing counties to issue bonds
to take up present Indebtedness.
The foregoing comprises about oil the ac-
tual business of the Legislature, except the
Appropriation Bills, and when examined
critically, we are satisfied that the work
could have been as we'll done as it has been
in session Of thirty days, and consequently
with more credit to the members, and to
the greater satisfaction of their constituents.
And it is worthy of note, that many of the
members themselves think as we do, and
Offer no excuse for the unwonted length of
of the session.
We are glad to return them to their con.
stituents and leaving them there, If their
constituents are satisfied, we are and now,
with our best wishes, and the hand of fell
lowship extended, we bid them lest fare