Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-03-13

.... SENATE.
Dies MONIES, March, 8, 1873.
In the Senate, to-day, there was
poor attendanc with poor attention,
owing to the importance of tho
House discussion of the railroad bill.
Bills were introduced from the Com
mittee on Agriculture to provide for
the construction of drains through
two or more adjoining counties from
the Committee on Claims to pay VIM.
r. Craig $l9,62S for work done on the
original building of the Deaf and
Asylum at Council Bluffs, claim
which has long been pending against
the State; from the Committee on
Insurance, to require fire insurance
companies doing business in this State
to cancel policies in certain cases.
Senator Woolson also introduced
q new bill on the wine and beer ques-
ton, designed to prevent the sale of
these beverages within two miles of
any town prohibiting or licensing
the same, or within two miles Of
where any election is being held.
The bill was referred to the Jndicia.
ry Committee.
Senator Bows introduced resolu-
ton directing the joint committee on
the State Reform School to INQUIRE
into the expediency of buying the
b building known as tho mitchell
Seminary" for use as the Girls Re-
form School, The resolution was
adopted.
The President presented letter
from one Bronson E. Keller, propos-
ing to execute capital punishment by
the administering Of prussic acid to
the condemned. 1t was referred to
the special committee ON the suppress
sion of quackery.
At ten o'clock consideration of the
special order. the bill providing for
the organization of Board Of State
Charities, was resumed and Senator
Woolson, the author the bill, spoke
at length in favor of the bill. His
was the only extended speech ON the
question and the vote upon the en-.
grossment Of the bill was 81 to 81
which President Campbell decided
by voting in it's favor, thus rendering
necessary another vote on the ques.
ton on its final passage. It is quite
doubtful whether or not the bill will
pass the Senate, although it did dur.
ing the last session.
HOUSE.
In the House two or three bills O
an unimportant nature were intro
duced and referred to their appropri
ate committees. The interest of tn
day conferred entirely in the discus
sion of the railroad question which
was made special order for tel
o'clock.
| The bill repeats the freight TART
rates of the present law and substi
tutes the commissioner system in it
stead. The amendment was prepar
ed with great care by the railroa'
committee as o substitute for tn
many bills presented to the House
Messrs. Manning, of Carroll, Wilson
of Polk, Stone, of Marion, and sever
al other members took part in tn
t discussion in favor of the bill Will
Messrs. Seaman, Brooks, Afford, Ms
cy, Walker and Bloom opposed i
: Many amendments were submitte
and several unimportant ones adopt
/. ed which do not in auy manner q
feet the general force of the bill. tn
discussion was continued in the af
ernoon. tits quite generally though
q that the present tariff law will be L,
pealed and the commissioner systel
adOpted. The bill does not affect tt
A law relating to passenger fares, while
Q will remain at three, three and q hal
ri and four centa nor mile for tho III
:. ferent classes of roads.