The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-02-23
Editorial Correspondence of the Guardian

Of noticeable interest, although the
wheels have been kept steadily moving
in the Senate Mr.. Foote brought up his
bill amending the present plan of secu
ring the soldiers vote. The present
method, understand, cost the State
about $4,000, the past year. A com
missioner was appointed for every regi
.ment, whereas one for every brigade
and even one for every division, would
be sufficient. The only duty Of the com
missioner is to provide the regiment
with poll books, and blanks for taking
the vote. They do not themselves take
the votes, and consequently one com
missioner could as well supply a brigade
or division with the necessary blanks
as to send three or four, or a Dozen
Iowa, at the time Of the last election, had
some half a dozen regiments in New
Orleans. One commissioner was all that
was needed 10 send 10 these regiments,
and yet half dozen were sent and the
State put 10 six times the expense, for
mileage would haxe been necessary, or
proper, under proper law. The plan
of Mr. Foote's bill is 10 allow the appoint.
ment OF these commissioners annually,
and to give the power to appoint to the
Governor, who is TO appoint and SO
manage as lie shall find absolutely nee
essary-taking INTO consideration the 10,
cality of the various regiments. This
will stop a leakage Of some consequence
The bill passed the Senate by 81 10 !.
and tina, one, Jennings Of Dubuque, who
OF course, prefers that the soldiers vote
should not be taken at all.
A bill in accordance with Gov. Kirk
woods recommen dalton, providing for
M increase of the Stale Library, also
passed the Senate The bill, | think,
appropriates $4,000 for the purpose.
The Senate also passed the House Bill,
repeating The law of 1851, prohibiting
colored persons from living in lie State
10y vote Of 80 yeas 10 3 nays. Thus
the State is redeemed from the infamy OF
This proscriptive statute
Tho Senate has also passed bill Civ
ing plaintiffs as well es defendants, con
tinuance in civil action, when they are
in the military or naval service of the
U tied Safes. Both houses have also
passed bill making challenges in Grim
inal casses alternate, giving the Stale
ten and the defendant twenty challenges
IN capital cases. In the Senate on
Thursday. Mr.. rookham, Of Mahaska,
consumed The afternoon in the descrip
lion Of the merits of the bill TO extend
the right of suffrage to foreigners and
negroes who have served in the army
The bill, Il believe receives little or no
support. +,
The House passed bill authorizing
Railroad companies TO issue construction
bonds in the sums Of $50 and upwards !;
also one empowering Township Trus-
tees to appoint member of Board of Su-
pervisors, when vacancy occurs, and
providing for the filing Of other offices.
Also bill regulating Grlst Mills On
this here was considerable discusson.-
The bill provides that milers shall only
take the following toll On wheat, one.
eighth part. on corn and buckw heat,
one-seventh part, where the mill is run
by water. Where it is run by steam,
one sixth is allowed on wheat and one
fifth on corn and buckwLeat. The far
msrs are generally earnest in support OF
the bill, claiming that they are abomin.
ably swindled 10 their CRISIS. The ar
gument against the bill was the Difficult
" Of making the law work equilably
over the whole State In the more
ihickly settled counties, where wheat
and other grains are worth so much
more than they are il the more remote
counties, il was urged that less toll
could be taken than in the latter, and
that therefore the law would no, operate
with fairness. But the farmers were
bound 10 have some such law, and are
strong enough in the lower house to put
trough what ,hey want. and though It
went, aud the legal gentlemen, who
wanted to crilicise the bill, were blun1y
told that this was "our" business, aid
10 keep hands off" and Say moth
ny" The bill afixes fine not exceed
NJ fifty dollars, for each ofiense. The
iouss also passed the Scalp bounty bill,
iving 10 the several Boards OF Super.
is"rs The power TO fix tie bounty on
c'!ps Of gilt animals, limiting Tie max