Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-01-22
Letter from the state Capital.

WILLIAM EITEZRL Bdisor and PrODristor
Letter from the State Capital.
COLUMBUS, Jan. Is, 1872.
The General Assembly has taken Its
first recess; the Solons have departed to
their homes, and I wander alone through
the Legislative halls.
u feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banQuet-hall deserted,
Whose lights have fed
Whose zRrlands dead,
And all but me departed"
Sincs I wrote you last, two or three
subjects of general interest have come
up for discussion and action, and 1 take
advantage Of tho idle time OF the recess
II give you a brief account Of the same.
The temperance question came up in
the House very Unexpectedly this week.
The "MOdifers," as they are called,
have been giving out from time to time
that thew would force the committee TO
report back the Haag bill. Emboldened
by their accession of strength by the
change IN three members, they COM
menced the attack, although they failed
in the motion to require the committee
10 report back. Nj. Bergstresser, the
chairman, who had his report all ready,
recommending the indefinite postpone
ment ofthe bill, shot his reportin. This
was getting more than they bargained
for; they were not ready for a vote, and
wanted to delay until they could get in
their men. The friends Of the Adsirl law
forced the vote then, and the modih-
ers" fllibustered to gain time. They
consumed the whole day in dilatory mo-
tons ; but the Temperance men pressed
them step by step 80 the wal, inexorably
as fate, until Mr.. Stanton finally demand
ed the previous question, which was
sustained. To the surprise OF everybody,
the Speaker decided that this brought
the House to a vote, not on the question
osindefnits postponeI-ent, as Stanton
supposed and intended, but on the en-
grossment of the bill. The vote showed
SSfor and so against, absert - mo-
lion to reconsider was promptly made
and voted down, and the Haag Bill
for modification was dead as Julius Ce-
sar. The temperance men weretubIlSnt,
and the "modifers" correspondingly
depressed. It is regarded as a decisive
vote. and 1 do not think modification will
again be mooted in the House this ses-
sion.
Several known friends of the present
law were among the absences, which
added to the fifty, make a number sum
eient 10 hold the present law upon the
statute book.
In the Senate, the /" Mcdowell bill"
which is similar to Hsag's bill, was laid
uuon the table last session, and has not
been taken up this session. l do not
think it can pass in any form. So the
friends Of temperance may breathe east
err. All credit to the mse In both branches
who have stood arm and beat back the
hosts OF whisky and Satan.
A bill has been introduced in the
House, and passed its first and second
readings, creating q Superior Court for
Mahoning county, TO be located at
YOUNGSTOWN. 1t is most likely that this
is the old fight between Youngstown
and Garfield on the county seat ques-
lion revived in q new guise. Already
the two parties are preparing to send
their agents to Columbus to " fight their
battles DER again." What the prospects
are of the passage of the bill, 1 cannot
saw; but if it is very strongly opposed
by the other psrts of the county, ! hard
" think it al be passed.
In the Senate, Thursday, the subject
Of the interest laws came under general
discussion. on the bill Of Iii. Putnam to
repeal the law allowing usurious interest
TO be recovered back after payment, but
leaving the present law allowing interest
10 be eight per cent. by contract I'M
toucbed. An amendment was proposed,
however, which allows parties free to
make such contracts for interest as they
think proper. The discussion involved
the whole question Of interest and usury,
and afforded the Senators an opportuni-
" to give their views on the general sub
ject.
Among the ssRstoxs who participated
sn the debate on this addressing CUES
tion were: Putnam, Smith, Hart Jones
Of Trumbull, Mcdowell, Patrick, and
Zones Of Licking. The TuscarawasS Sen
stor Patrick) was particularly ~ferocious.
He was not in his seat when the subject
came up, "but he gnufed the battle
from afar," and came in in the midst OF
the debate, with aostrils Aistended. shsk-
his name "a. G., red locks), and dashed
into the thiekest of the fight. He dis
pfayed s most wonderful historical re-
search. He bessn with the money
changers; had a passing allusion TO
Dives; made the usual comparison Win
shvloek, and wound up with q graphic
history and Biography ofSim. Jennings
The sDeeches of this noted Senator are
A., all s~tereotyped, and 1T equally well to
snv subject. It is always the same talk
the rich and the poor, the poor work
iugman. the rights OF labor, the oppres-
sion of capital. ShylOcks, ct i'd mn 9e-
mas. The discussion lasted two sessions,
and was finally terminated by postpon-
ing the whole subject until next Thurs
dsv. The original bill will pass the SEN
ate.
The Assembly = getting into WORKING
condition, and when the recess is over 1
think business will progress with COM
mendable dispatch.
Zones (of TrumbulD hin for ths pro-
lection of laborers and others on rail-
roads. will meet with great and deter
mined opposition from the railroad In
terest. Iahink It will probably pass In
some form, but perhaps not in its origin
al shape.
The Ohio miners, in tas Rascarawss
and Mahoning valleys, are moving 10
cur "by law. the proper protection
ot life health and hmb, in the coal