The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-03-26
From Des Moines.
The Twelfth Gen raj Assem-.
bly,.
The State House Question in
the Senate---The Temper
ance Question---Other Mat
tiers.

A0 OtdC0 AO160 NG10SGAOu III
the Senate---The Temper
ance Question---Other Mat
tiers.
Special Correspondence Of the OF
tumwa COURIER.
Dies MONIES, March, 81.
There has been long, and lively,
and bloody fight over the State
House question in the Senate. Mr..
Woolson, of Henry, and others fought
the bill at every step, by parliamen.
tary tactics, and in every other way,
it's friends fought hard for it, the
lobbies and galleries were packed,
and altogether the contest was the
greatest which has yet taken place in
the upper house, and elected the best
attendance. All the beauty and fash.
ion and intelligence of Des Moines
was out, In fact, the capital, devo-
ted to new Capitol, was out in its
best bib and tucker, and presented a
fine array of beauty and loveliness
for the contemplation of the Sena-
tors and the other spectators. I
haven't seen so many blooming wild
ows, and blushing maidens, and
handsome matrons in one heap for
many day. Confound the Senator
who could vote against the Capitol
under such circumstances!
During the contest a motion to in
definitely postpone the bill was de-
feated by % nays to % yeas. This
was regarded as test question. In
asnuch as it requires rs votes to
pass bill, it was concluded that the
State House was squelched for the
present. I suspect it is, but after all
have little lingering hope hope that
there will be Is Senators unwilling
to vote that Iowa is little bit of a
cribbed, and cabined, and "one-horse''
State, unworthy to have and too
stingy to pay for a State House
something better at any rate than a
menagerie tent. The question was
postponed till next Wednesday, up
on which day I hope it may be final.
ly disposed Of
We had very fine debate on the
whiskey question the other day. 1t
was gala day in the House and half
a gala day in the Senate, Mr. Trus-
dell, Of Clinton, and Mr.. Irish, Of
Johnson, being the leaders for prohi.
bition and license respectively in the
House. They made excellent speech
es, Trusdell being the more eloquent
orator and Irish the keener debater.
Several other good talkists took part
in the debate. The conclusion of the
whole matter was that the liquor law
will remain as it is. The bill, which
has passed the Senate, providing
that cities not Incorporated under the
general incorporation law, may by
vote Of the people regulate the sale
of wine and beer, or prohibit it, may
pass the House, but this is only Civ
ing to such cities the same power as
is already possessed by those incor.
porated under the general law, and
will not, therefore, have anything to
do with the general liquor law.
Quite an important bill was passed
by the House yesterday upon the
subject OF stock running at large du.
ring certain portions Of the year.
The practical effect of the bill will
be, in the counties where it shall be
adopted (for it only will go into Of.
feet where the people have voted "a
vorably upon it) to dispense with fem
ces, except such Enclosures as are
used for keeping stock in. 1t is con-
tended that it will be Of great prac-
tical value in the way Of setting up
the counties where timber is scarce
and high. have travelled through
counties in Illinois where such law
is in force, and have seen fields Of
wheat for miles and miles without q
sign of fence. Think the practic-
al effect Of such law in some of our
new counties might be Of great ben
eft. Mr.. Babbitt, of Pottawattamie,
and others opposed the bill, but Mr..
Wilson, Of Tama, and others fought
for it finely, and it received fifty -one
votes, precisely enough to carry it.
Two or three other bills of less OF
more Importance were passed yes
terday. Indeed, the Legislative
steam is on now hsavy, and good
time is being made. A bill passed
the House yesterday to authorize
counties to fund certain indebtedness.
1t is to enable certain counties to is.
sue bonds for the payment Of debts
not incurred on account of RAILWAYS,
and to levy tax for the payment 81
the bonds, and the interest thereon
not more than seven per cent. of the
principal being funded in any one
year.
The bill for the establishment ofCir.
cult Courts and for general term
Of the judges Of this District Courts
was up yesterday afternoon and a
fine fight had thereon. The fate Of
the bill ut this writing is uncom.
monty dubious, but l hope for its sue.
cess.
A very important bill, for an act
to regulate insurance companies, has
been passed by the House, and, it is
understood, will pass the Senate
without material amendment. In
the early part of the session Capt
Stone, the brilliant young represent.