Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-01-26
Letter from Fr.nc,. Little.
MADISON, Jan. %, 1861.

MADISON, Jan. %, 1861.
EprroRs TRIBUSE-Dear Sirs: Yours re-
ceived, and | will comply with yonr request
There is much business on hand, but
there is nothing doing yet, Though there
has been over two hundred bills introduced
Committees have not yet got into working
order Although it is nearly ewo weeks
since the meeting Of the Legislature, yet
the Senate, in that time has not been III
session more than five hours
Politicians are busy very busy-ln
fixing up the slate to suit themselves anu
schemes and counter schemes, are the Or
der Of the day. Grant wants to remain as
now--only having one member La fayet'e
wishes to have the Southern district OF
Grant in order to make Senatorm! DIS
tric. and is willing to let Iowa remain ana
60 this think Grant will agree as far as
we are concerned, but rather think they
will faht La Fayette, Another plan, OF
Madison, &C., is to have Iowa and Rlch>
land one Senatorial district with four Mem
bers. OF course prefer to remain as we
arc at present, if possible,
But the great question is the Congress
sion apportionmept This is the game that
swallows all others. We have several
prospective Congressman here, and they
can box up their own districts (as they call
them, but unfortunately 1t does not suit
other aspirants in the same or other dis
tricts. Fie and Hazelton want to have
Grant, La Fayette Iowa, Richland, Craw-
ford and Vernon, while others want Green
and leave out Vernon. Cameron, e. W.
Hazelton, Rusk Williams and others, are
oil hard at work, not for the good of the
State or party, but to get hold Of those
counties whose votes they think they can
depend upon
Large appropriations are asked for our
public institutions, amounting to nearly
four hundred thousand dollars. Some Of
them | think can be very safely cut down,
while others .arc certainly needed Our
insane Asylum, for instance, Is crowded to
its utmost capacity, yet there are from
three to four hundred insane persons
confined over the State in jails, poor houses,
&c: which certainly costs the state more
in the aggregate than in our Institution,
and the unfortunates cannot receive that
care and attention that their condition re-
quires and demands.
Through the kindess of DR.. McDiD,
spent an afternoon and night in the institu
ton near this place looked it all over from
basement to attic; also, out houses, barns,
sheds, ,Sc, aud must acknowledge that,
whatever views have heretofore entertain
ed with relation to the heavy expenditures
being cut down, they are removed 1t is
hard to conceive how it can be sustained at
so small cost when we consider that it
contains population of more than the vii
mgo of Highland Three tourths being all
the time under restraint cared for by otb-
era, noe producing ANYTHING, mast be clothed
ana fed warmed and doctored, and to in
dulge IN only such amnsemcnts as then
helpless condition viii admit.
There is, another question before the
Senate. Two members have accepted the
Office OF post masters OF the villages in
which they reside. Our Democratic friends
in those districts went on and elected Sen,
ators to fill the vacancies which they say
were created by the acceptance of the posts
Offices There arc two nice questions in
VOWED Are the seats vacant II so, are
the applicants entitled to them? II these
questions are decided in the affirmative, we
VII then have majority of but one in the
Senate. FRANClS LITTLE.