Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-02-02
DEs MoINEs. ian. 96

T.
{ Scarcely ever has a General Assem-
bly, convened in Iowa, before which
there were less subjects Of great inn
portance than the present one. There
are scarcely any snbjccts which are
agitating the people. over the State,
in regard to which there is any lcgis.
lation imperatively needed. The
Railroad question, which has been an
nnfailing source oflegislation for the
past decade. is not being disturbed.
While the liquor law fails to attract
that unusual attention as in times past
There seems to be desire. OIL both
these subjects, to let the laws remain
much as they are and not tamper with
them. No bills have been introduce
ed with view to license the sale OF
liquors, although it is said that there
is strong license element in the leg.
islatnre. What the committees may
be doing, it is hard to tell, whether
they are revolving in their minds
bills which will soon assume a definite
shape and be introduced. on these SUBJ
jects, or whether they are letting the
wide world wag as it will and not
busying themselves in regard to these
questions, is not known.
The GOvArnor has not yet filled the
the Cole vacancy and declares he will
not do SO until he learns the action of
the legislature on the bills providing
for an additional Judge of the SUI
preme Court. This is well. The Ju-
dietary Committee have reported q
substitute for the two bills introduced
on this subject. 1t provides that there
shall be five Judges Of the Supreme
Court and that the additional one shall
commence his regular term the first
Monday in January, 1879; that the
Governor shall appoint Judge now
10 hold his Office until the regular
term shall begin.
The chances are excellent for am
increased salary for Circuit Judges.
Whether they will only be increased
TO 1850 as'recommcnded by the Com
mittce, in the Senate, on compensation
OF public officers, or to $4,000, as
many desire, can not now be told.
Enough is known. however, to say
that strong effort will be made TO
give these officers living salary.
There is a feeling that these salaries,
as well as many others, should be so
large as to compensate n good lawyer
for leaving a lucrative practice and
going on the bench.
A resolution was adopted u few
days since to obtain from the Clerk
Of the Supreme Court an additional
report relative 10 his per diem and
salary, outside Of his fees. lie report
ed to-day that his per diem last year,
as allowed by law, amounted to $3.50,
and his expenses while attending
court, for which he receives pei. diem,
was 1894. This report created a
laugh at the Senator who had intro
duced the resolution with view OF
reducing the salary.
The three bills introduced in the
Senate to punish three card monte
men, have been called, and the Judi
ciary Committee has reported SUBJ
stitute, believed to embOdy the best
features of all. The bill deals quite
harShly with these fellows. II pro-
vides that three card monte men and
other confidence fellows shall be pun
ished by fine Of not less than $500
NOR more than $4,000, or by impris0n-
mcnt in the penitentiary for a period
of not less than two nor more than
five years, or both by flne and i'm
prisOnment. Every person shall have
the power to arrest them with. or
without warrant and after arrest If
the injured or swindled party does
not appear to testify, he shall be
Judged guilty Of swindling along with
the sWindlers themselves. III the
Conductors of Railroads do not ar
rest the fellows, then the bill pro-
videsA punishment fSf them also.
The bill Is certainly severe enough,