Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-02-20

From our Own CORRESPONDENT.

Dies MONIES, Feb. II, 1874
The past week has been largely
devoted to committee work, which,
coupled with the fact that there are
a large number OF absentees on Wis
ting committees, and for "othcr
purposes" makes the actual House
work dull,
But few laws have yet reached
the Governors office. The most
prominent one this week is the bill
appropriating $4,000 to remove pri-
or liens upon portion Of the prop
erty turned over to the State by
Rankin, last year. 1t is thought the
State will save some $4,000 by the
operation, as forced sale at present
would be disaster to almost any
body.
Before getting warmed up in this
letter, l must be allowed to state
that in my remarks on Representa-
tive Spangler, of your county, I did
not mean to intimate that he was
opposed to the religious exercise of
opening the sessions by prayer. If
any drew that inference, they will
please amend. 1t was the paying
tor it by the State that he opposed,
but proffered to furnish either in
person or by substitute, a prayer in
his turn with the rest Of the men,
bers. M II
Another. thing in regard to him,
and that is the comment on his
course on the suffrage question.
That he is right on that point, I tul-
ly believe, and as before remarked,
am glad to chronicle his labors in
that direction.
Your comments on the platform
Of the Innominata of Buchananan
county, apply with equal force else
where. To take position on prin-
ciple, to elk belief" as Bacon
would name it, does not comport
with that party. When they do that
they place themselves in the condi-
ton of other men, that is to be judg-
cd by their principles and actions.
The position they most desire is a
non-committal, mid.air, on-the-tence
"sort-o'-did" and "sort.o'- didn't"
one, SO that they can make changes,
kick up dust, throw sand and A.
that without getting anything in re-
turn. That will do for little while,
but the time is coming and now is,
when they must take a stand. They
must 90 on the record. There is no
lodging. If they have any princi-
Piles they must announce them; it
isn't simply a coalition to vote for
Dixon all the time, but the people
will require some definite action on
some certain and specific principles,
and if they should be SO fortunate
as to get ahead of the Republicans
on such basis, then there would
be some show, but as long as
I'm doubt he hangs between"
just criticism and severe censure
will be required toward them.
So much for that. TO return to
business. The chief topic is the
railroad bill; the chief gossip is the
Agricultural College Investigation.
There has been nothing shown yet
in the investigation worthy of note.
Prof. Jones has been tho sole wit
ness on the side Of the indictment,
and he spread himself out over some
five days, but all he said does not
amount to as much as pinch Of
snuff in the way Of eliminating any
parties connected with the College,
for he distinctly states that he be-
lieved all had acted IN good faith,
and done the best they knec ho'c.
1t is a serious affair, however, in an.
other light-in fact, in two lights.
First in its slanderous character to-
wards the institution and it's faculty.
This is Of such q character as sent
throughout the world by newspaper
articles, and circulars to Changers,
&C., that the committee are now
obliged to push on the work and
summon and hear the other side,
which will be very lengthy, as the
professors, pupils and friends of the
school are numerous. This will
swell the volume to an enormous
size; and second, it will cost large
sum Of money. The disposition is
to print liberal number, some say
5000 copies. This will cost about
as much Us the new code. Taking
these views of the matter, and hav-
ing now the almost positive evidence
that there was no cause of action
from the beginning, it will be seen
that a serious and very expensive
affair is on our hands. How much
better to spend even quarter ofthc
money in some improvements which
are much needed at the College, or
in establishing a Normal School or
some other worthy cause. The ex.
pense of this contemplate affair
would half support good Normal
School to accommodate $50 pupils
for a year.
The railroad matter is progress
ing. The Senate committee have
reported bill, and as it contains
some of the best provisions Of Mr..