Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-02-13
LEGlsLATavE CORRESPOND
ENCE.

Special Correspondents 10 the Davenport
Democrat.
DEs MoiNEs, Feb. II. 1868.
Ep. DExoCRAT: The interests OF thu
State University have largely occupied the
attention Of the General Assembly for the
last two days. The institution has been
sadly crippled BY lack Of revenue. While
the merits Of its efficient corps of teachers
have attracted to its halls from FIVE to eight
hundred students annually, want of funds
has prevented the trustees from preparing
such accommodations as were neceasary
TIE substitute for house fle 1o9, which was
reported this morning by the House Uni
versity Committee. is calculated TO afford
the relief needed. This substitute erects
law department and appropriates $25, 900
!, purchase law library. develope the
Normal department, repair the buildings
and furnish more room, effect an adequate
insussnee, and give such aid to scientific
and other departments - shall! be necesaa-
ry to increase their effectiveness. II pro-
vides also for the annual levy Of lilo Of 4
mill tax for Univerity purposes; the pro.
duct Of this tax will take the place Of The
appropriations now asksd for, and super.
eeds the necessity Of asking : specific an
propriation for the University q every 49,
sion. Iowa has many important interests
to guard, but her educational system. nth
the University At its head, overshadows an
others. Other States have fet and rs-
sponded to similar claims, Wiscon.in n
addition 10 magnificent sndo wment. do.
mated oil OF her agricultural college land 10
her State University. New York, Conneos
tieut, Kentucky and other States did the
same. Iowa has devoted her lanAs to The
erection Of an Agricultural College. With
out descanting upon the wisdom OF folly Of
such devotion Of those lands, il has neceeeita-
ted the giving Of such other aid q shall in.
crease the revenue of the University.
There 10 barely quorum prssent thia
morning. and the walls that echoed 10 the
tread OF neither Brutus look down on bare
and empty seats.
The only bill Of general interest that il
under consideration is one BY which II il
proposed to take from inebristes oont,oi
over their property. The Iutsmpeests
Committee reported in favor Of ito passage.
After long discussion il was rseommittad "a
the Judiciary. The lntsmpera,e Commit.
tee in ito anxiety to deprive unfortunate in.
sbriatss Of their property, had not consid.
cred that often men Of this kind provide
sufficiently and we'll for their fam,lies. vhila
many sober men let those depsndsoe upeu
them starva The bill also eommittsd -
fious innovations upon common and statut,
law, BY placing not alone the property bul
the childres in the care Of . guardian. TIM,
rudely violating the most sacred riebu .
the mother.
The bill to compel the covering Of thresh
ing machine tumbling shafts, to prsvens &C
cidents. BY making the neglect 10 % cove
. mi isdsmeanor, punishable by fins and i'm
prisonment, has been discussed a lene,l
end will pass. The discussion develope,
that many lives have been lost by this cias
Of machinery.
The bill to protect fish, BY rcouiriu,
owners Of dams to put therein Z s.chute.
excited much discussion, and vas d-n',
sifsetually By postponeusnt 70 March 7th
The 0foot seoolutioos cane ~ IN q
0soate THE mosning, and Il was 4evod ,,