Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-01-31
Our Letter.
COLUMBUS. JAN. 26. 1866.

Our Columbus Letter.
COLUMBUS. JAN. &c, 1866.
ELbor Chronicle The fourth week of
the session of the Ohio Legislature l.
drawing to a close. and apparently to the
outsider, but little has been done, yet
they really have been weeks of work and
busy preparations. Many bills have been
introduced-local and general-in both
Houses, passed through their first and
second Readings and have been referred
to the appropriate Committees for that
consideration which their merits deserve
Many people are prone 10 think that the
work of the legislator ends with the ad
iournment of the days session but that
is scarcely g 1.-THE of his labor, and is the
least onerous of his duties. It's the ON
mittee Room that develops the work Of
the legislature. 1t is there the crude
bills are nodded and shaped into forms
for final passage if they possess sufficient
merit-very often returning to the House
so changed that their idolizing parents
scarce recognize their darling paintings.
1t is there, also, bills without merit, re-
ceiye their death warrants, and are start
ed at a lively pace for the tomb of the
Capulets,-the members of the Standing
Committees, after patient and CAREFUL ex-
animation, being prepared TO point out
to the House the absurdities and incon-
sistencies contained in them. But l am
not ~apologizing for the Honorable Legis
lature for Ohio. Having some knowl-
edge OF the ability and industry of past
Ohio Legislatures, l can safely say that
the present legislature will not suffer IN
any respect in comparison with any that
has occupied the Legislative Halls during
the past ten or twelve years at all events
In the Senate on Saturday last. Mr..
C~ritcbfeld, (Dem.) introduceda bill liking
the legal time of manual labor at eight
hours per day.
A lengthy running discussion was had
upon a proposition to employ Reporters
for the two Houses-that is, persons to
report the proceedings of the Legislature
for the two Columbus daily papers. The
matter was finally rightfuily disposed of
by LAYING il upon the. table, where it will
doubtless quietly repose during the seSs
ion. The daily papers OF other cities IN
the State publish full reports of legisla
tive proceedings and pay their own re
porters. If the present proprietors OF
the Columbus papers can't afford to 90
the same thing, they had better sell out
to somebody who can.
A bill to repeal the section of the Mil
TIA Law which exempIs members of the
National Guard from working on the
high ways, was considered, but no final
action taken. In the House a bill was
passed amending the 9Th section of an
act relating TO bowers. By it the practice
of the Courts is made to conform to the
Code Also, a bill to amend the law
IN relation to the payment OF costs IN
prosecutions for minor ~offrnses, so as to
REQUIRE the County Commissioners to
make quarterly instead OF annual allow
ances. A bill was introduced for the re-
lief of soldiers and marines who have
been disabled in the .. S. service.
On Monday, Mr.. Brown introduced a
bill relative 10 the-construction of ewers
in incorporated villages OF three thousand
inhabitants.
Mr.. Mcfarland, of the Butler Co.. Dis
trict. introduced the following proposed
amendment of the Constitution, which
was laid upon the table to be printed.
Be Il Resolred 6y the General Assembly oil
The STATE of Ohio: Tnree-fifIhs of the mem
beers elected to each House concurring
therein, that it be and is hereby propos-
ed to the electors Of this State TO vote at
the annual October election for the year
1867, VI on the approval or rejection of
the following amendments, to be added
TO the first section of article fifth OF the
Constitution of this State, TO wit:
Excepting such persons as have borne
arms against the Government OF the Uni
ted States, or who were engaged in the
military service, in the interest of what
is known as the Southern Rebellion,
waeed from the year 1861 to 1865, or who
have fed from their place OF residence 10
avoid being drafted into the military ser
vice of the United States"
In the House, Mr.. Banning lUnlou) IN
troduced a bill fixing the time for manu-
al labor each day at eight hours, except
when special contracts are made. The
labor question BIDS fair to epgross consid-
cradle attention this winter.
In the Senate on Tuesday, a joint reso-
luton wa adopted, authorizing the State
Treasurer 10 sell the gold coin in the
State Treasury about lS6O,OOO,) at Its
msrket value, placing the premium re-
ceived to the credit of the general reve-
nue. fund. The House has not yet con
Cured in Resolution.
A resolution, which has been previous
Iy adopted by the House, creating a COM
mittee to investigate the propriety of pur-
chasing a residence for the Governors of
Ohio, was rejected.
In the House a bill was passed to COM
pei County Commissioners to establish
lines of true meridian at the county seats
of the several counties of the State.
Also a bill amending the law prohibit
ing the killing ofwild deer. 1t authorizes
IMPRISONMENT in the county Jail from
ten to thirty days, for a violation of the
law.
One of the members in the South Car
DINA corner of the house. introduced a
bill repeating the act of 1865, to punish
persons who leave their homes for the
purpose Of avoiding c~onscription. This
bill is for the purpose of permitting the
skedadlers from the draft to come home,
those fellows who are watching over the
border" The cowardly wretches ran
away when the country was in peril and
needed their services, and now that it
has reached a haven of safety, l don't be-
lieye we care about their delectable pres
encs among US. The families of those
who lett any, have got along without
them for two years and more, and they
can continue to do so with loyalaid- 1t is
time the race of towards was exhausted
on American soil. Let the skedadlers
propagate their species in Canada or
Mexico. They will find fit companions
among the half breed "Kanucks" and
the ~treacherous "Greasers."
Like patriots thus be it understood.
They left their country for their c%Ountry's good"
Now let them stay away. The bill won't
pass.
Bills have been introduced TO transfer
the soldiers relief bond to the support of
common schools. To amend the act con-
corning divorce and slimony, making in
sanity of five years standing a cause for
divorce, and to prevent fraud in listing,
property, moneys and credits. A bill to
punish seduction under promise of mar
riage, received its quietus by being indef
nitely postponed. In the Senate on
Thursday Mr.. Brown presented the petit