Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-04-09
From our Madison Correspondent
Madison, Wis. April 4 1862

ing credit of the legislature which has
just closed its session that, after fixing
upon a day for final adjournment, it
only extended it once, and that for less
than week. In one other thing this
Legislature is without a precedent 1T
adjourned in the middle of the week.
All It's predecessors have adjourned,
without exception, I believe, unless.
perhaps at extra sessions, on Monday:
that is early Monday morning-there-
by drawing pay for two days more than
if they had adjourned Saturday night.
One little episode and I'll proceed to
business. On the evening Of the 31st
ult., the Assembly held session which
lasted far into the night. When it was
q little past twelve o'clock, Mr.. Hyer
arose and announced that he had lust
received Geographic despatch which
he would send to the Clerk to be read.
He did SO, and the Clerk read: "Great
Union Victory at Vicksburg! City
taken and the whole rebel army made
prisoners!' The Republican members
all arose and gave three cheers with
great animation and enthusiasm, when
some one suggested "April Fool! q
presume am in error in stating that it
was the members who cheered, for l
have talked with considerable num-
Der of them since, and each one has
Informed me that he saw through it all
the time: and kept still. 1t must have
been the messenger boys who were
sold.)
During the last week of the session.
the legislature worked with commend
able industry, and accomplished some
very gratifying results. Several meas
ures Of Importance have been enacted.
Greatest among these, perhaps, is the
Militia Bill, which the public necessity
clearly demanded, although the provis-
ion which requires all between the ages
Of 20 and As who are capable Of bear
ing arms, to mustsr and exercise in the
drill six times year, may strike some
as being as inconvenient as it is novel.
A codification of the School Laws has
been enacted by this Legislature, al
though the credit of preparing it be-
longs to J. L. Pickard, Superintendent
of Public Instruction, and bis able AS
sistant, Mr.. Craig. The rates of legal
advertising have been increased to so
cents per folio for the first, and 25 cts.
for each additional insertion. The
State aid has been continued to the
families of those who die in the service
until they receive their pensions, pro-
vided it shall not exceed six mouths
a humane and just law.
On the whole, if this legislature has
not done as much good, it has not done
as much harm as some of its predeces-
sors. That the State has not received
a quid pro quo Tor the amount which
the session has cost, is obvious; but
this is true Of our legislatures general
", and how it can, and when it will, be
remedied, are subjects which are in
volved in the most profound mystery.
The Assembly passed votes of thanks
to Speaker Barber, and to Mr.. Webb,
Speaker PRO. tenn, the former by a
party vote, and the latter by unaEim-
ity highly complimentary to the able
Representative from Waushara. The
officers OF the Senate received similar
compliments from that body.
The legislature having adjourned, I
am forced to sink from the dignity of
your "Nadison Correspondent into
the position Of al "Occasional," to be
heard from only when something trans
pres at this place Of sufficient impor-
lance to be chronicled in the Reporter.
Au recoir.
Faithfully. PIP