Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-02-07

napT1GGe.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.
Dies MONIES, Feb. 3, rs.
The laws relating to boundaries,
county, township and city organiza-
tons, criminal proceedings and
law practice are disposed of in q
summary manner, but there are
some laws that cannot be thus speed
lily disposed of-laws that cannot be
mentioned without calling out 4
lively debate.
The school law is one of this
kind. The commissioners have re-
ported bill making radical chang
es; changes which will not be
adopted without lively fight
They have abolished the district
treasurer, making the county treas
urer take his place, and they have
done away with sub-districts, be-
SIDES making many other minor
changes. All these innovations
must be debated, and the discussion
will call out as many more amend
ments, which must all be discussed,
and the result is general legislation
and nothing less. And it all takes
time.
The fence law is another Of this
kind, and the discussion on that
showed how utterly irreprcssible
are the ideas of members. The
range taken was fully as wide as
that taken last winter. The mem
bers from the old southern tlmbered
counties made the same demand for
fences, high fences, tight fences,
fences that will turn 4 pig or rat,
and Mr.. Blakely struck again for
his dog-law that he has had under
adyisemcnt for nineteen years, and
to which | believe he has convert
ed Mr.. Close since last winter. The
next general assembly, in which the
representation Of the north and
wcst-when they have no timber
will be greatly increased; will put a
lasting quietus on this question by
enacting general herd law.
The revenue law-the most i'm
portant Of all our laws--comes to
us full Of the chickering's of the COM
missioncrs. Not less than ten days
would suffice for full examination
and readjustmcnt Of our present tax
system, and it was unwisc to open
it up at this short session. The
Senator had title II embracing the
tax law under consideration several
days, but could not get it into such
shape that they could pass it them
selves though they tried it three
times. The great trouble is to de-
eide upon what shall be taxed. The
law now allows a mans debts to off
set so much of his "money and
credits" The commissioners have
added personal property" so that
only the balance of his money and
credits and personal property, left
after deducting his debts, shall be
taxed. Now some members think
debts should not offset any species
of property. Some think they
should offset one thing and some
another, while some think they
should offset all kinds of property,
land included, and all are more
or less obstinate and disinclined to
compromise.
There is a strong sentiment
against continuing the county SUI
perintendent Of schools as at pres
ent regulated, in favor of shorter
ing the stay of Judgment, In favor
Of abolishing the appraisement law
and overhauling the law for the
collection of debt generally. No
man can guess what our new code
is to contain beyond the chapters
that have gone to the Governor
One thing is apparent, members
vote with a freedom they did not
exercise last winter, for the reason
that they have no log-rolling on
hand, and are asking for no appro-
priations, and consequently vote
their minds, caring but little who
is pleased OF displeased.
The law regulating the marriage
relation passed substantially as it
stood before, but Il little more ia
vorable to the wife. There was but
little discussion upon it, though Mr..
Hilton, of the House, took occasion
to say he looked upon it as free
love arrangement from beginning to
end.
On the whole, work on the code
is progressing better than expect
ed. The House is good way ahead
Of the Senate, but perhaps they will
catch up when they get into two
sessions day.
MooDY Grow.