Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-02-22
Our Des MOines Letter.
DEs MONIES, Feb. 10th

Our Des Moines Letter.
DKs MONIES, Feb. 10th, ~
Mr.. Editor:-There was found q
bare quoreum present in the Senate
Hall on the morning ofthe 18th, and
in consequence Of the thinness in
in numbers, no n was venturesome
enough to rsik the fate of . favorite
measure. After the presentation Of a
few petitions and bills, an adjourn
ment took place. A day or two be-
fore the recess, a spirited debate
happened on Senator Lowry's bill.
Senate File No. %, to prevent the
frequent changes in school books,
and no conclusion having been reach.
it was made the special order for
Wednesday. The original bill pro.
yided that the board of directors
should not change the text books
more than once in three years. The
| committee on schools amended by
extending the period of five years.
Senator Fairall proposed an amend.
ment to authorize the people to de-
eide the question at the township an.
nual meeting. Senator Willet pro-
posed q substitute for the whole bill
to delegate the power to the electors
of each su.bdistrict to determine an.
nually, if any change should be
made. In fact there appeared to be
nearly as many plans to remedy the
the alleged evil as members of the
Senate. II may always be predicted
when the views of the Senators are
so different on any subject, every
amendmert failed, except one to
strike from the bill the second sec
ton, which made an infraction OF
the main provision OF the bill a mis-
demeanor. The discussion was the
most earnest that has taken place
this session, and continued nearly
through three sessions and termi-
mated yesterday by a vote Of % to
% engrossing the bill. It requires
26 votes to pass a bill and it is ex-
tremely uncertain whether it will
command the necessary majority.
On Tuesday the House worried it.
self not a little over the fence Jaw
and especially the part Of it which re-
latesto division fences more fruitful
source of complaint, pickering and
strife cannot be found in the whole
catalogue Of social contention than
this very question. In the counties
where the Herd law is in force, the
point has been raised that it's pro.
vision necessarily abolished the Stat.
ute on division line fences. To de-
fine more clearly the scope of that
law Mr.. Tufts Of Cedar county in.
troduced q bill, which furnished the
discussion. No conclusion was at
tanned and the matter wasre fcrred to
a special committee.
Many members Of that Body ap.
pear very nervous over the fact that
their per diem a through the recess;
and ostensibly they would have the
the people believe that hereafter
their consciences still be "void of of.
tcnse". They hammered away
ly all Of . forenoon on MI. Hopkirk's
bill to cut off The pay after the clapse
ofthrce days. That honest oldscoth.
man Surprising his associates all were
welded TO economy and retrench.
nlent neglected to call the ayes and
hayes on the question to engross
his bill and walked up to find it lost.
Another subject Of much more inter.
est to the farmers was considered in
tho House yesterday. It seems the
law to enlarge the growing Of forest
and fruit trees, needed amendment
and the House passed a bill extend.
ing Its benefits to persons who can.
not plant more than eighty rods Of
hedge or shade trees on the highway,
1t was reported and called up in the
senate this morning and after an eff.
fort to substitute therefor a bill re.
pealing all laws on the subject it was
%engrossed BY a good majority. 1t
was SO amended as to exclude
series OF fruit trees and nurseries
wherein forest trees are grown for
sale. 1t was vehemently asserted
that in many portions of the State its
provisions have been greatly abused,
and that rich men have availed them.
selves Of its unguarded provisions ia
exempt great deal OF real estate
from taxation. II the House concurt
in the safe amendments inserted bv
the Senate it will be more difficult IN
future to prevent its Object.
CiyIs.
Assembly f~rOceediMta.