The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-02-13

II ~~~~ ~ -s.sSAS - ASV yS~oS ~~-
sake of row. And SO things 60 on
swimmingly as aforesaid.
The railroad question is already
looming up into large proportions,
the fact being already apparent to
every body that no other question
will compare with it in interest
either on the part of members of the
Assemblyssor of the irrepressible
lobby. A bill was introduced yester-
day in the House, and referred to the
proper committee, for resumption Of
the land grant to the Burlington and
Missouri River Railroad. The bill is
exceedingly short and simple, briefly
declaring in preamble that the road
not having complied with the condi-
tions of the grant, therefore the same
is resumed by the State. In support
Of this bill there is hero quite lobby
from the southwestern part Of tho
State. They do not, as I understand
it, have any hostility to the B. & M.
road. They are entirely willing that
the grant should be rc-made to that
company, but with such conditions as
shall guaranty the early completion
0f the road to the Missouri. 1t is
likely that they will succeed in their
purpose.
Touching the Chicago, Rock Is
land and Pacific road, there is a sort
Of three-cornered fight, SO to say.
There is quarrel between some of
the stockholders and the managing
oficers Of the company. The scene
Of this quarrel is Wall street, New
York. The officers of the road, for
the purpose Of completing it from
this city to Council Bluffs, is !
sued certain amount of capital
stock wherewithal to get funds for
the work. Certain stockholders pre-
ferred that the funds should be distrib-
! uted as dividends, instead Of being
nsed for extending road. So they
sued out an injunction, preventing
the work from going on. Thus the
case stands in New York. Here,
there is the usual two-sided fight
upon the railroad question. The bill,
however, now before the Legislature,
giving the grant to the old NJ. Il NJ,
(defanct) to the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific company, and requiring
it to 60 ahead with the work, seems
be fair in itself and to have the
support Of most of the members.
For The old Dubuque and Sioux
City grant there will, most likely, be
an animated contest. That road is
now leased and run by the Illinois
Central, a powerful corporation. But
1.-THE now organization, known as the
Iowa Falls and Sioux City Company,
win earSestly contend for the lands.
IL has . trong lobby here, and will
probablyhave stronger.
As toathe McGregor Western, with
its gr4ht Of 100000 acres, it has
donslnothing whatever to deserve it,
and tho lands ought to be resumed
i without delay.
But the general question, applica.
+ TO all roads alike, of whether the
a. stature shall provide for railway
tAxl or that they at any rate
shaIIApt have tariffs discriminating
aRaldnt our own citizens and towns,
il tho 6ne which will call out the
great ekruggle in the halls Of legisla-
tion and the rooms Of the lobbyists.
II looks now as though we shall get
I : law against discriminating rates.
There was an animated little fight
on theirrepressible whiskey question,
the other day. There will be filli-
clustering guponth thisquestioD, . goodea!
4 Of talk, the introduction Of many pc
titions, and 30 forth, but in my judg-
] nsnt little if any Legislation will be
done. The attempt, the other day,
TO have the Radical House pass the
old aFifth Resolution" of the last
Democratic State Platform, was what
YOU might call q Italicized fizzle. 1t on
" showed that the Democrats were
unwilling to cooperate with the Re
publicans hostile to the principle oi
prohibition. So il the unterrifed
Democracy have to go dry for want
of the repeal of the prohibitory law
they can only complain oftheir own
representative men for that terribleca
lamity.
A question which IS being careful
ly considered by many Of the best
minds in either house, is that in re
gard to the administration Of justice
It is universally admitted that
the District and Supreme Courts arr
sverburdened with cases. The sys
TEN now IN operation was adopted
when Iowa was comparatively
small State. It is not 1t all fittod Il
our present wants and necessities
There are several plans which hav'
been proposed, or suggested, asreme
! dies forthe acknowledged evil. Onei
! the enlargement of the Jurisdiction 9
county courts-county judges-let
~ rala'n o. r NE prd