Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-11-06

The ottnmwa COURIER makes bold
10 say that il the O'Donnell bill is
made the test in the classification oil
members of the State Senate, on the
railroad question, then the opponents
"of such bill acted more wisely, either
knowingly or unknowingly, in be-
they who voted for it, The O'Don-
nell bill may have not been the best
/ bill possible, but il was the one agreed
/ upon by a large majority ofthosc who
were in favor OF railroad control. II
passed the House by large majority,
and lacked only two votes Of becom-
ing law in the Senate. The criticism
OF the COURIER and the excuse Of those
who pretended to be in favor Of the
general principle, yet voting against
the specific measure, are much like the
old story of the eleven obstinate Jury
men.--Baa3ington Haaekeye.
The above criticism of the Hasphege,
| upon ourselves, was made in reply to
our structures npon that paper for
making classification Of members of
| tho old 18th General Assembly, upon
the, basis of their votes upon the o.
Donnel bill, We would not impugn
the motiveslofthe members who voted
for the O'Donnell bill; we believe they
acted in the light of their best inig-
ment, honestly. While we do tins we
know there are those who would not
support the bill, that are entitled to tho
same proper and Just consideration at
the hands of the Ha,pkeye and every
body else. Oar criticism passed our
Judgment upon the wisdom of the
action of members upon both sides
having in view the ultimate aim Of re-
gulating the tariffs of railroads, but
admitting all to have acted honestly.
Our cotemporary does not do this. 1t
says The excuse of fthose who pretended
to be in favor Of the general prin cip.e,
&C. Among those gentlemen who
as he says are pretending, he classifles
the Senator from this county. We are
sorry that the argument and justice Of
tho Hd,ckeyes cause ia not cnoMgh for
its defense, without impugning the
motives OF gentlemen whom a common
public have always, we believe,
thought the peer of the critic.
The O'Donncll bill was not only
not the best bill possible, but il was in
fact very bad bill and if it had been
passed and put in force by railroad
companies, it is our opinion that the
Legislature would have been conven-
ed in extra session, for its repeal, by
the force of popular clamor. This i'll
effect OF the bill would have had the
result of entrenching railroad compa-
nies in power, instead of helping on
tho cause of raidroad restriction.
We cannot say about the majority
agreeing to the bill of the friends
of tariff legislation it is certain how
ever that not enough votes were OBJ
obtained to pass IT and ii only takes
majority OF both Houses to pass such
measures.
We do not wish TO discuss these old
matters; we prefer to let time tell
whore men stand on this question, and
we should not have said word upon
tho subject had it not seemed necessa-
ry by the Hoack-Eye's unjust, as we
claim, classification Of members and
publishing the same. We will not say
that q man is pretending in his sworn
legislative duties nor that his general
opinions are this or that upon the ba.
sis of his vote upon bill SO pregnant
with evil as was the O'Donnell bill.