The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-01-30
URsDAY, Jan UARY 80. 1868.


IIl ~ LII
FROM DIES MONIES.
The Legislature Fairly at Work The
| Formation Of the Standing Commit.
4 tees, Dc, DC.
Irregular Correspondence Of the ottumwa
DEs MONIES, Jan. 20, 1868.
I The ..stitasticain operation ofcoun-
ting out the votes for Governor and
Lieutenant Governor having been
performed, the inaugural ceremonies
gone Though with, with distinguish.
cd eclat for oil concerned, State Prin-
ter elected, and the standing COM
mittees announced, the twelfth Gen
eral Assembly ofthe State Of Iowa is
At last ready to 50 to work fixing up
the laws.
For the dispatch of necessary leg
islation and the squelching out Of un-
necessary Legislation, the proper for
nation Of the standing committees of
parliamentary bodies, issa matter Of
the first and most vital Importance.
ThereuPon hinges the whole business
Of a legislative session, The presi-
ding officers may well perform their
daily duties ofpreserving order and
deciding with impartiality, butifthey
have made serious mistakes in ma
king up the committees, | know Of
nothing that could correct the blum
der, unless, indeed, it were anew deal
all round. 1t is very fortunate that
Lieut.. Gov. Scott, the President Of
the Senate, and Mr.. Russell, the
Speaker Of the House, are both men
Of large Legislative experience. The
advantages thereof, have been shown
| in the formation Of the committees,
announced the other day, and which
have doubtless appeared in the CoUR-
lER before this time. The committees
might have been, perhaps, in some
few particulars, q little better, but
upon the whole they are unusually
satisfactory. a
In the Senate we have such men
as Cattell, at the head Of the Ways
and Means committee, Powers, ofthe
Judiciary, Bennett, Of Federal Rela-
tions, Ncedham, Of Schools, Wright,
of Agriculture, Mathies, Of the Mill
itary, Parvin, Of Claims whilst in
ahe Hnnse. Judge Cotton is chairman
of the Judiciary, Wilcox, Of Ways
and Means, Gaylord, Of Agriculturs,
Kasson, of Federal Relations, Trus-
dell, Of State University, McNutt, of
Commerce, Burnett, of Soldiers Or
phans Home, with well selected asso-
ciates, and other committees ofless or
more Importance equally well made
up.
Your delegation from Wapello coun-
ty has Jared well in the committees.
Your Senator, Major Hamilton, is
chairman Of the important committee
on interpretations, which will have
before it thissession an unusually large
amount or busineas- He also has a
rrnnsinent positiOn on the Judiciary
snd military committees. Your .ex-
perienced and faithful representative,
Mr.. Dudley, is chairman of the COM
mittee on Claims, and member Of
those on Agriculture, and Roads and
Highways. I do not recollect that
Mr.. Caldwell is chairman of any COM
mittee but his talents have been re-
cognized by his being placed on tour
important committees-Public Build
ings, Compensation Of Public officers,
Banks and Banking, Senatorial and
Representative Districts. The first
two Of these committees, in especial,
will have much business of grave inn
portance brought before them, during
this session, and they may be regard
ed as amongthe leading committees.
l feel particular qualification that
Mr.. Caldwcll's good sense and abilities
have been so well recognized as indi-
Gated by the honorable positions as
signed him on the committees. Your
delegation has got what the printers
call '.fat take
TheSupreme Courtis nowinsession.
The Hon. J. M. Beck, recently elect
ed Judge, fills his seat with dignity,
everybody believing that he will adorn
the high position to whichthe people
have called him. Among the men,
bers Of the bar in attendance upon
the court ! notice ex-Gov. Stone, who
has already entered uponthe practice
OF the law. The Governor, with the
exception ofthe Swamp Land matter
for which nobody holds him person
ally responsible-hasb been a good and
able executive officer, whose admin
istation has resulted IN the good Of
the State, and is entitled in the main
to high consideration. The people
will wish him well in his new employ
ments.
Oscanyan, the noted Turkish lee
turer held forth last evening, to a
large and select audience, which lis
tened with the politest attention and
the greatest disgust to vulgar adj
dress OF great length and weakness.
1t was pronounced By one competent
to Judge, . 'sone-horse bifdrcated mem
agerie, with very common Turkish