Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-01-30
IOWA LEcisL ATURf.

IOWA LEGISLATURE.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
Dies MONIES, Jan. %, 1873.
Nothing Of moment was done to-day
in the Senate in it's half day session.
House File No. Is, relating to the
rights of property occupied the attcn-
ton Of the House during the forenoon.
A strong attempt was made to radi-
cally change the law in relation to the
title of property held by aliens. The
amendment was that no per.
son residing abroad could hold
title to property in the State longer
than ten years without vesting the Il.
tie in some resident in this country or
filing his intentions to become q citi-
zen Of the U. s. according to the nat
uralization laws of the land. A spir.
tied contest was held over it, but the
measure finally suffered defeat. It
will be seen that such law would
materially affect foreign capitalists and
the various immigration schemes.
Chapter IL, relative 10 liens for
hedges, was entirely repealed.
This afternoon title Is, in relation to
domestic relations, was under consid-
GRAFTON and has not yet been entirely
disposed of. This bill contains
great deal OF new matter. The
House is feeling" It's way cautiously
through 1t. So far, considerable
"rights" have been given to woman,
and we may safely venture the asser.
ton that after the working up of this
subject, the women of Iowa will have
but little Of which TO complain on the
score of holding property. Chapter 2,
relating 10 husband and wife, just I'm.
isbed, gives considerable individuality
to women in the law, the chief embod-
iment of which lie to give married wo.
mon the right to contract and sue and
be sued as If unmarried.
An amendment was also passed
regulating the transfer and convey.
ance of property and real estate be.
tween husband and wife, 90 o. to make
such property liable for seizure for
debts contracted by the party, before
such transfer or conveyance was made.
In response to the inquiry Of the
House given some time ago in regard
to the Rankin affair, Attorney
General CUTS sent In a communica.
ton giving it as his legal opinion that
Rankin had committed felony in en-
bezzling the college funds and Is gull
ty Of . penitentiary offenss by con-
verting them to his own use, accord.
ing to bis own declaration. He enter.
tanned no doubt as to his conviction
upon proper indictment.
Mr.. Duncombe, of Fort Dodge, Of
fered preamble and resolution which
were adopted instructing the Attor-
ney General to take the proper steps
for his prosecution and conviction.
The affair here is looked upon with
more interest than the session Of the
Legislature. The investigation has con-
tinued all day without eliciting much
that is new, except that Treasurer
Rankin had used the college funds in
his private business from time to time,
replacing them as they were needed.
Dies MONIES, Jan. %.
The Legislature Is feeling" it's way
somewhat The work done by the
assemblies during the last twelve years
must be reviewed with elaboration !;
just " hat has been done for day or
two.
The House to-day finished House
File 10, relating to the domestic rela-
tons. The question Of marriage and
divorce has been pretty thoroughly
discussed, without very material alter
alton In the laws by which people
marry and ua-marry under the present
system. Several sections Of new mat
ter were incorporated into the law,
regulating the manner by which mar
riages may be annulled, and for what
causes all Of which are too lengthy to
give here. A residence of six months
was fixed as the shortest period under
which divorce may be fled by any
party. More new sections have been
included in this chapter, than in any
bill yet reached by the Legislators.
The plea uged by the commissioners
to whom the work was committed, IL
the great importance of the subject
and perhaps they are right The pres
emit amendments 30 accurately do
fine each ones duties and responsible
ties, as to leave but little room for
doubt and legal bubble, in divorce.
In this connection-not Of little i'm.
portance-was an amendment vesting
In the Circuit Court the power to ap-
point guardians for the children OF
idiots, lunatics, persons Of unsonnd
mind, habitual drunkards and spend.
thrifts wasting their property.
A hill was introduced and passed In
the House, appropriating the sum Of
81, 1850 for the! postage Of members
Of this General Assembly. Tho oon-
Of revenue was the order Of
the day ilpthe Senate. The subject Of
taxation, in connection with this sub.
ject isreceiving it, share Of attention.
The exemptions on private libraries
were reduced from one thousand to
one hundred dollars.
The Rankin affair came up In both
houses. Yesterdays action In direct
ing that Major Rankin be prosecuted,
rather blocked affairs. To-day he
f3led n communication With thn nnu.