Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-07
CAPITAL D0INGS.
Number of Bills introduced Less
than last year. The Interest
Bill. Various Matters of Special
Interest.


MADISON, Feb. ito an ordi-
nary observer a profound dullness
has peryaded all departments Of
public economy in and about the
Capitol during the past week. Yet
some times the senses of the ordi-
nary observer are dimmed, and he
sees as through 4 glass darkly."
Notwithstanding appearances, quite
a good deal Of solid work has
been performed BY the Legislature.
Every day, with one exception, has
been favored with two sessions III
each house. The motive which has
prompted this seeming celebrity, is
in all probability due to the fact
that after to-day (Fuesday) all new
business is to be put off until next
year. Last year il was February
18th when new business was cut
off, 1t is claimed by Legislators and
others that al adjournment will be
effected by the 22d inst. Washing
ington's birthday; but in the deep
and penetrating Judgment Of your
correspondent an adjournment will
be an impossibility until at least a
week or ten days have elapsed after
that date.
Even if the Legislature docs not
adjourn until the first Of March, ii
will have been il comparatively
short Scssion--one Of only about
fifty days, whereas the 3lst session
took seyonty-two days for COM
pletion.
The number Of bills introduced
last year III the Senate was 2O9, and
in the Assembly, 5l5. This year
there is q falling of, as the number
i'll the Senate will scarcely reach
80, and in the House 325. This
showing is q decided improvement.
Your correspondent thinks il his
heart that the smaller the amount
Of bills introduced, and the shorter
the sessions Of the Legislature, the
more satisfied will be the people.
Among bills that are to produce
some excitement, is one that Mr..
Mills champions, which provides
that the legal rate Of interest shall
be 6 per cent, and the contract
limit S per cent, This bill will find
strong opposition and it viii also
find support to considerable eX-
tent a good deal ot fun is con-
iidently expected.
ltappears " the statistics ii The
Secretary of States reports that Il
session of the Wisconsin Legislature
costs about 100000, or something
like 81 800 per day. With this
wcishty fact il the mind IF your
reporter, he wandered into tic As-
sembly chamber the other day ana
witnessed the third reading and
passage OF bill appropriating the
enormous sum of S26 out of the
public funds to one John Edwards.
As the bill was about to he voted
on, member wanted to know what
this terrible drain upon the public
treasury was for. Mr.. Mills, from
Grant county, then explained the
purpose Of the bill at great length.
The consideration of this bill took
up thirty minutes The entire time
spent IN session Oh that day was
three hours. Hence sixth Of the
time was spent upon this bill. As
It costs l.500 per day to run the
machine, i took $3.50 appropriate
s25 to John Edwards. WHO II II
pays the taxcs2
Another Outrage on the people of
this state, is the perpetration Of a
bill in the Senate appropriating
s1,ll1.56 to Henry Brtz, to reim-
burse him for fees il defending him
self N tile $4,000 suit against the
State. Bntz was State Treasurer
some years ago, Gn 1873, ! think).
Having large amount Of funds at
his command, he loaned out money
on his own responsibility, in direct
violation of the law. and lor lis
risk baggei tic interest thereon.
which went infn ~ tat,ta .,.al,,.