The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-01-25
Legislative Summary.
sEATE.

sEATE.
Thursday. Jan. Is.
In tire Senate bill was introduced for
an act to encourage the growth ot timber
In this State; To relieve Alfred II. Rey-
nolds. of Buchanan county; to provide for
the building of bridges within the limits Of
Incorporated cities and towns i'm the same
manner a. other bridges in the county are
built. and that the expenses ofths same he
paid for in the same wav, &C.; to provide
for the settlement of all claims, rights. and
liabilities between the State Of Iowa and
all parties having claims allowed by the
Commissioners appointed under the Act
of March Sd. 1860, and the Act Of March
2sth, 1864. The greater part Of the day
was occupied i'm discussing the report of
the special committee on the contested seat
from the 3lSt District.
In the House, bills were introduced for
atoms before Justices Of the Peace; for II
change in the manner of electing Town
ship Trustees and the length of time they
shall remain in office, to amend the law i'm
reference to the competency Of witnesses
to authorize Boards of Supervisors to COM
promise certain judgments in favor Of the
State to make II misdemeanor for No
tary 70 perform the acts OF Notary before
he has qualified or after his commission
has expired. and attaching heavy penal
tv to the offense to prevent the importa.
ton, sale, or running ut large Of horses
diseased with gleet or CHAMBERS; and to
bring the crime Of Assault and Battery
within the Jurisdiction Of Justices ofthe
Peace.
Saturday, January, 90.
In the Senate, a memorial was received
from she Honorable Members of the Su-
preme Court, on the subject Of the Iowa
s ,idiers' Orphans Home; petition from
the citizens Of Muscatine county, asking
repeal Of the laws legsIizing the manuf,c
ture and sale Of beer and wine: petitions
from various parts Of the State asking the
Of a Law Department in the
State University; memorials relative to
the fees Of Sheriff. and asking
the protection of our western frontier bills
were introduced providing for restraining
dogs from running at large; various
amendments to the Revision of 1850 for
fixing the place Of business for the man
agement Of railroads in the State; for fix
ing the time Of holding courts in the 5th
Judicial District; for establishing law
department i'm the State University, und
making an appropriation for the purpose
OF purchasing n select law library; for
amending she law relative to the naming
Of Independent School Districts bv omit
Bills were passed logalizing the acts Of the
Board of School Directors for the city Of
N lscatine. and for compelling witnesses
to appear before investigating committees.
The subject of the contested election Of
Senator in the 5th District. was discussed
and made the special order for Monday
morning at half past 9 o'clock.
In the House bills were introduced to
amend the law relative to security on
school fund loans, making said security
half the superintendent at all times-never
half the assessment; to provide relief for
the parties who have sustained losses bv
the sale OF Saline lands tn amend the law
and 50 from the duty of performing labor
on the highway; to regulate appeals to the
Supreme Court i'm certain cases; to pre-
vent the spreading Of contagious diseases
among swine; to amend the law relative
10 building bridges; to have scholars far
niShed WITH school books ut the expense of
the school fund; relative to administering |
paths tn appraisers; to amend the law re- |
ating to County Surveyors; to punish |
parties for harboring estray animals with |
)ut advertising the same; tn require Re- |
,nriers to keep a general index and to use
seals, and to repeal the law requiring the
Of letters containing the monthly
reports Of County TreasurerS. Consider
able discussion arose on the claim of Edit.
Gen. Baker for services rs A. Q. NJ. Gent,
which was sent toa second committee with
nut instructions. and will doubtless pass.
ne it provides a very small compensation
for weightv duties and Responsibilities be-
vond what was contemplated when his
salary as Adjt. Gen. was ffxed.-Duiiy
State Ragister-
Tn the Senate upon Wednesday. petitions
were presented. that railroad tracks should
be fenced i'm, and that tner. he change in
the system Of collecting taxes.
Bills were introduced to enlarge and de-
fine duties Of the Supreme Judges: author
izing Sheriff to administer oaths; concern
ing fences; conrernsny suits in Justices
Courts; for the relief Of Col. Hills: concern
ing Clerks Fees: amending Section 1920 Of
the Revision; to amend Chapter 81 of
the Revision. and various other acts.
The afternoon was chiefly occupied with
the consideration Of the contested seat
from the 3Ist District.
In the House. petitions were introduced
to increase G'corier's fees: to enart I.i1-
or License law; tn postpone January ami
June meetings ofthe Board Of Supervi.
sors and to enlarge limit Of bridge tax
levy to three mi Il.
Several reports Of committees were
made.
Bills were introduced to tax railroad
authorizing Justices Of the
Peace to employ n clerk; to authnrize
Clerk Of the district Court to enter salts
ton to mortgages; to regulate practice. in
divorce suits; to.amend Estrav' law; tn real
peal Sections 8, 2. 8. 9. 10. IL of Chapter Io2'