The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-03-23
From Des Moines.

|
DEs MONIES, Mstah 9th, 1864.
Dear Times This has been dry weel
here the atmosphere has been dry; tn
Legislature has been dry body, and tn
publ; goes dry for news from this inter
esting locality. A summary of the legis
lative proceedings docs not amount t
much. February goth, thelSenatc passet
several bills of minor importance. Marcel
1st, the Senate adopted the Land Gran
resolution memorializing Congress to giv'
the General Assembly, Of the State, tn
pouer to adjust all conflicting claims to all
or any part of the Railroad bonds growing
out their grants-thercby releasing the
State from the Railroad trust-a thrust q,
the Railroads. The House bill to abolst
the Board Of Education and create the Of
flee or Superintendent Of Public instruction
was amended in some particulars, and
suppose will be entitled to some mileage, for
travel between the Houses before it be.
comes low. A bill to create the Twelfth
Judicial District, was reported ON favorably
in the House. March 4th, the Senate
passed the Homestead Bill-a bill to pro.
vide for the better protection Of the School
fund, which is sadly in need Of protect.
ing hand-also bill to further define the
duties of Recorder Of Deeds, and several
local bills. There was a long discussion in
the Senate in relation to the purchase OF
the Capitol building, for which the State
pays a rent of One Dollar $1,OO ayear,
so long as the Luilding is used as the Cap.
tol Of the State. 1t is proposed, in order
to effect the purchase, to release the bonds
Of certain gentlemen, who borrowed of the
School Fund, the money with which the
Capitol was built; and as all these men are
hopelessly lnsolvent, and as they went Sc.
curty for one another, and as it will be
utterly impossible to collect one dollar OF
the $5O, 900 due the State, why the State
may as we'll take the building, now leased
to her for 80 years at the nominal sum OF
one dollar per year-give US the worthless
bonds, and call the thing even. The State
will lose nothing by the operation, more
than is already lost, and a load Of debt
will be removed from the shoulders of a
few individuals. March 9th, Mr.. Burdick
of Committee on Railroads, reported bill
back, to grant right Of way to Railroad
companies through incorporated towns and
recommending its passage. This is impor'
tant; as heretofore Railroad company dare
not run in Iowa nearer than two miles of a
town, for fear they would be refused the
right of way and their operations stoped.
let all good citizens petition for the passage
of this bill.
The week has been consumed by the
House, in pleasant little discussion over
resumption, and long winded speeches have
been the order Of the day. Hon. Mr.. Paulk,
Of Alamakee, has prepared bill for allow
ing members to close their efforts at orato.
ry, after having entertained the House,
with speech Of two hours in length.
believe the House has been in Committee
Of the whole every day the past week and
the time is apparently IS far of as ever,
when it will vote to resume the railroad
lands, or the regular order Of business.
All the issues possible, have been called
upon, to answer for all the sins they ever
committed, or ever have chance to com.
nit. The friends of the roads are in the
minority in the House, but they manage
their cause with ability, while at the same
time they appear determined to exact JUS
tice in favor of the actual settler on the
lands. They do not lose sight of the i'm
mense benefit the Railroads have been to
the people Of Iowa; while their opponents
are sure the poor settler will be entirely
ruined by these greedy corporations. The
resumption bill is rather an expensive lux
ury and is growing more so every hour.
The time consumed in making the last two
speeches, cost over $1,000, and still no
one expects any good to grow out of this
attempt to resume the lands of the Rail-
road companies. except those who are in.
terested in the old Des Moines River In
provement Co.-that believe possesses few
claims on the affections of the people for
past fayors.
l have delayed this letter in order to
give you the result Of the City election. The
Democrats elected their Mayor by nine
majority, and the Republicans elected the
majority of the City officers, and Council,
men. Both parties trot out their bird for
cro,c both parties are jubilant over their
success, and when all parties are so we'll
pleased with the results it must be that
the election resulted in selecting the right
men for the right place. Hurrah every
body. Yours &C., d. NJ.
sD- The Local reporters have their
jests and fun as we'll as other people, and
here is sample record from the "locar' of
the Memphis Bulletin AS the various in
Surance cOmDanieS savings hanks State of.