The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-04-14
SPECIAL CAPITOL CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from "JOnny CaddOO.,
From Des Moines.
DEs MONIES, April Sth

DEs MONIES, April stb, 1870.
DEAR COURIER
The forenoon OF the
7th, was spent in discussing whether
the House would prefer the Bill ap-
propriating SIS, 900 for the soldiers
reunion or not. 1t WAS finally refer
red to a Special Committee Of all the
men in the House. The
Committee met last night and unan-
imously agreed to report in it's favor.
The afternoon was mostly spent
ON the bill to re-organize the State
University, which takes Jno. Irish
and Hobart out from the Board Of
Trustees. John made one OF the
most lugubrious, whining speeches, ]
ever heard, there being. tears rolling
down his checks As large rs pine ap,
pies. He fairly begged the question,
there is no doubt, but it would be bet
ter Tor the Institution if it was re-or.
ganized and taken out Of Johnson
county politics, but some soft-hoarted
and soft headed members dislikcd to
slaughter John, so this morning it
failed to pass the House.
For some days there has been All
unusual stir among the friends Of the
Capitol Bill, and it was apparent
something was on the t"Pts. Absent
members were telegraphed for, State
officers were bnsy among those who
were opposed to ii, just because their
instructed them, implor-
ing them to vote to take it up and
dispose 1t, so it was no surprise when
yesterday evening Mr. Kasson intro
duced u resolution making bills on
their third reading the special order
tor this morning. 1t requires two
thirds TO change the rule, SO you
will see the necessity OF getting the
consent of some OF it's opponents first
to take it up. The resolution was
adopted, and AS there is no debate al
lowed on bills at this stage, and not
very many ON the list, it was known
the Capitol bill would soon be reached
this morning. The Savery was kept
red-hot last mig hit, and early this
morning the gallery and lobby was
filled with the dts-intercsted people
of Des Moines.
About the time the prayer closed,
the lovely Mrs. Allen with her charm.
ing daughter Kitty hankcd with
couple Of other deliberately got up
10th amendments, filed in and took
possession of O'Donnell's seat. Fred
iudicioasly kept away from them
he had voted against the engross-
ment, but by some hocus pocus his
county central committee telegraph
cd him TO ''go for it; SO he changed
his mind to suit. Stone, Of Mills,
had declared he would be ''forninst"
it unless they named some commits
sloners in the bill. b. f. Allen agreed
to it; anything SO the bill would go
through. The Clinton county dele.
cation were pctltioned against it, but
agreed to vote for it if the Polk Co.
delegation would agree to help dc
feat the new County Commissioner
bill. Certainly OF course they void,
but Of course the Capitol bill must
go through first. Then Tufts, Of &C.
dar, was honey -iugled to vote torit
with the promise that they would
raise the tax on railroads sufficiently
high to build it. OF course they
would after u few unimportant bills
were read and passed, it was takon
up and passed by - ayes. Tufts
moved to reconsider the vote, 50 rs to
hold it open, but he soon found he
had entered q current that was too
strong for him. and his motion was
quickly tabled, Then came the vote
on the County Commissioner bill
which was passed by fitty-nine on.
of the Polk county, delegation
lodging so rs to keep faith with both
parties. 'iufts and Spencer of Clin::
ton look rs if they had sold out very
cheap.
The bill was soon returned to the
Senate and received the sanction OF
that body to the amendments, and
is now law. Quite a number of
other bills We're also passed, one MA,
king appropriations for the improve
ment OF the Mt. Pleasant Asylum.
Thus passed the most important
day in tho history Of the 18th Gen
cral Assembly. As the time draws
near for adjournment members arc
getting interested in their pet bills
and rs soon as orc measure is dispos-
ed OF some score of excited members
Jump to their feet and exclaim in
frantic voice "Mr. Speaker" mir.
Speaker aud almost refuse to squat
q. tbs sound Of tbs savsl,
4 few more days more and then
Yours respectfully,