Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-10
DOings al the Capitol.
MADISON. Feb. &c. 1866.

MADISON. Feb. &c. 1866.
ED. JouRxAL This is Monday morning.
and the only member now visible in the As.
sembly Chamber is your Representative, W.
], Copp. He lives so far distant from this
scene of action. that one week is too short
furlough to visit his home and then return to
business. The fact that Washington's birth
day occurred last week. was patriotic pre-
text for this Legislature to make weeks adj
journment. If the Father of his Country
looks down from the realms above and OBJ
serves the paralizing effect his birth day has
upon the labors of this body, with all due
reverence. cannot help but think his wish
would be, that his birth day might have been
at a season when the Legislature was not In
session. What everybody desires who are
interested in this State, is, that the Legisla-
ture should perform It's business with prompt
ness and despatch. then adjourn and go home
aud attend to other business, if they have
any. But / am inclined to believe that the
fault of long sessions is not wholly attribu-
table TO the members, but, in a great meas
ure, to the people themselves.
The rotation system and local interests
constantly springing Up and new jealousies
breaking out, send new men here each win
ter 1t takes a new nan several weeks TO
form the acquaintance of only a portion of
the members. and to understand the routine
Of business. They are amid new and chang
ing scenes, and the :" cold, chilly winter"
passes pleasantly and swiftly away, and the
people can emily wonder why the sessions are
SO long drawn out then we always hear the
opposition railing against the Z" ins," and en-
deavoring TO awaken the people TO a sense of
their duty, TO check the reckless expenditure
of money from the State excheqner. and
place again in power party that is only
governed by patriotism, State pride and
economy.
Members of the Legislature ought to be
elected for four or six years; then we ought
to inaugurate biennial sessions the COmsii-
tuition so amended as-to limit the session, as
it is i'm Minnesota, TO sixty days duration ;
then pay Il EN- a liberal salary without any
mileage. and if they can secure free passes,
that is their personal look out, and nobody
cares.
1t may not be generally known among the
people of the State that the Capitol. at Mad
ison, is not yet completed. The present. cost
of the building to the State. is two hundred
and seventy-five thousand dollars. The
dome is not vet erected, and some of the
rooms in the basement are yet unfinished
The estimated cost Of its completion is eigh-
ty thousand dollars. Mr.. Scribner, of Grant
county, has introduced a resolution that the
committee on State affairs be instructed TO
enquire into the expediency of reporting a
bill for an appropriation of seventy-fiye thou
sand dollars for the completion of the Capt.
toll. In my opinion, this institution is able to
run for a few years without dome, and I'M
til taxes are not quite so burdensome to the
people.
The monopoly question still remains stata
quo, but am told that there is something
brewing which win develope itself shortly
what the animal is. Even your (wise) cor
respondent is rot sufficiently posted to give &
satisfactory statement.
What this honorable body will do thi.
evening, when they assemble, respecting the
Presidents vetoe, is simply matter of spec
ulation. There is considerable feeling mani
tested about town; some for the President
and many against him. A few of the Fed
eral officers are futtering. and visions o
:. dead ducks" nightly haunt them. Som,
hardly know which way the cat will jump
and are anxiOusly looking for further reports
from Washington. Sincere patriots are desI.
rous of supporting the administration, but
the clouds gather around them so thick and
heavy that their vision is not perfectly clear
as to who the administration is. or where il
lies, We shall see what we will see.
The news of the nomination of the Hon
ii. L. Humphrey for Circuit Judge, in You
district, was received by the members from
the Northwest with hearty reclamation, and
meets their unanimous support. SKED.