The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-02-01
! SENATE.

f. = - i y TX . r
January rs.
Senator Burke and Hurley boil;
introduced bills for the taxation of
R. r. property. Sen. Ketcham q bill
for maximum rate for freight and pas
sengers on RAILROADS, Senator Nc
Kean bill to regulate taxes h their
collection which have been voted in
aid OF railroads. The Senator asked
for . suspension Of the rule that tho
bill might be acted on Immediately.
A lengthy discussion ensued, when
the bill was ordered printed and re-
ferred to the railroad committee
Then was taken up the bill for
the repeal of the act authorizing cities
and townships to vote . tax in aid Of
railroads. Tho bill is y sweeping re-
peal of the law, except that taxes al
ready voted or those that may bc vo-
ted prior TO July !, 1872, are not ef-
fected by the repeal. Senator Boom
er offered an amendment striking out
that part allowing the voting of
more taxes under said law. After
extended discussion the amendment
was carried by vote Of % to 21.
The friends ofthe bill fearing it
would be lost if pressed to a vote, on
account of the absence OF Senators,
consented to its postponement to
Feb. 10th. The consideration of the
report of the Code commissioners
was set down for February 10Th.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Gear introduced o bill for the
taxation Of railroads and railroad
property. 1t provides for the clas-
sification Of railway property into
two divisions; provides for the man.
ner of assessment and for penalties
in cases Of non-payment of taxes. ALSO
allows cities aud towns to levy taxes
on ruch property.
Mr.. Tufts presented bill for the
appointment of railroad commission
ere.
Mr.. Ainsworth a bill to amend the
circuit court act. A bill for the ap-
pointment Of deputy county auditors
came up on its second reading, which
witho6k action, was passed on filc.-
The bill to reduce the postage al
lowance Of members came up Ungits
second reading, when, on motion, the
publication CLAUSE was stricken out,
and tho bill re.committed to the Ju-
dietary Committee.
J. 3. 0RINNHxL MAKES HIS BOW.
In the Davenport Gazette Of the
25th inst, We find q letter from the
Hon. J. B. Grinneil, Of Grinnell,
Iowa, on the subject of the next Re
publican nomination for the Presi-
dency. We publish tho letter to-day
sl,npIy Ior lns reSsvI Gnat We may
give the Republicans Of Iowa notice
of the movement on foot, and that
Mr.. Grinnell'sposition may be under
stood from his own language. We
notice too, that the Gazette gives o
sort Of quasi endorsement of the let
ter,and as the editor, Mr.. Potter, was
recently from New York, and better
versed in the politics of that State,
perhaps, than with the politics of
Iowa, he cites difficulties in that
State in the Republican party, which
he claims, are detrimental to Grants
popularity. Without discussing the
correctness of the Gdzette's premises,
we will say that the most astute pol
itician or purest saint cannot APP
pease and modify the corruptly dis
organized condition of affairs in the
State of New York.
We would fain say nothing of Mr..
Grinnell nor his position as defined
in his letter, but it plays its little
part in the politics of the State, and
therefore we must notice 1t. MIR,
Grinnell knows that the Republican
party Of Iowa overwhelmingly favors
the denomination of Gen. Grant. He
knows equally well that the present
administration has been most re-
markably successful, honest and
faithful one: He further knows that
the President is the earnest, honest
and loved choice of the great mass of
tho Republican party of the country.
Again he knows that the mass of
the Republican party Of Iowa, par
tioularly of the 4th Cong. District,
who have honored him with position
are the warm friends of the PIesi
dent. Finally, he knows that he has
been tor the past FIVE years the
most persistent, irrepressible hanger
on and seeker for further honors
from the hands of the party that
Iowa can boast of, until the dose
so often presented to the lips Of the
people has nauseated the most &C
comodatlng stomach. So, Mr. Grin
nell afoat, unable to iDgraft himself
upon place in his party, indomitablt
in perseverance, and Of inordinatt
ambition, strikes out, seeking graft
tication for his desires, Mr.. Grinnel
alone cannot mako ripple upon the
surface. Unless it be true that he il
merely the auctioneer's boy to max,
the advance cry of certain backers
whose hand arc not clearly shown
and which we claim are not yet sufli
GENTLY discernable to speak of, hi
letter will sink quietly into oblivion
i BY report furnished us by Col. A