Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-03-22
pEs MONIES coRREsroNDExCE
Dies MONIES, March 14th.

Dies MONIES, March 14th.
1t is now probable that the General
Assembly will not adjourn Thursday.
The Senate is ready but the House is
not nearly so. The House passed a
resolution to postpone the time for
adjournment until the twcnty-third,
but the Senate refused to concur and |
the question remains in this condi-
ton.
HOUSE. |
A resolution was passed, and a
committee appointed to recommend
some person as superintendent OF
public building in the State.
The McGregor railroad bill was
passed and now only needs the APP
prevail of the Governor to become a
law.
The Representative bill passed the
House. BY it Lee, Jones and Cedar
Counties each lose representative
which are gained by counties in the
Western part of the State.
The most radical change attempted
by any bill before the General As
sembly passed the House. 1t abol-
ishes circuit courts, and creates III
their stead the old county court sys-
item.
i The bill to establish a home for i'd
lots or feeble minded children at
Glenwood to occupy the building
lately occupied as an Orphans Home.
, This bill came into the Senate and
; was referred to special committee
of which Senator Woolson is chair
, man.
: The appropriation bills are under
; consideration and it is probable they
, will receive pretty thorough trim
ming down before they pass.
Il SENATE.
/ The railroads have been the prin.
cipal element of discord in the Sem
; ate. The bill under consideration
: was the substitute reported by the
, committee.
1t provides for the election, at the
Fall election, ola Railroad Commits
5. sioner, who shall examine and repor
upon the safety, financial condition
a management, cost and value of eacl
road in the State. He shall have thu
power to examine all the books ant
accounts of the road. The Commits
sioner with the Executive Council il
constituted board Of railroad Com
3 missioners.
6| 1t further provides for a classified
ton Of all the roads in the State, a
Ol follows:
II Glass ga" all railroads whose gros
a earnings per mile shall be 5000 o
more; class "B," all railroads wit
gross earnings of between 5000 ant
z 5000 per mile. Glass &C." all rail
70 roads with gross earnings of between
q four and five thousand dollars. Clas
. 3D." all railroads with gross earning
q of less than 1900 per mile.
Y 1t limits the passenger rates as fol
lows: Class ga" three cents, elias
"B, "three and a half cents, class &C,
four cents, class 3D." four and hal
cents. The freight schedule to re
" main substantially the same as it j
1t at present.
h. Senator Nichols offered substitut
for this which provides for railroa
e. Commissioner, abolishes the schedul
,e of tariffs and provides that if unreas
u able rates are charged that the com
" plainant may seek relief in the courts
T. The discussion was consequently up
10 on this. Senators Nichols, Camp
" bell, Bows, Stoneman, Willet
:, and Cooley occupied the tim
. until the bill was postponed for
q time and the regular order of busi
ct ness was taken up and the followin
" bills were passed: To establish Su
periOr Courts to take the place c
10 Police Courts in cities of over 500
inhabitants; to re-apportion the Stat
into Senatorial Districts. The mos
q radical changes are that it combine
he Jones and Cedar, Davis and Va
" Buren,, and the two new Senators thu
v lost in the eastern part of the Stat
= are transferred in the west and nortl
70 west of the State.
(. The House has just sent the Thaye
% railroad bill to the wall. II failed I
:, pass by vote of ayes 36, nays 80.