Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-03-25
Columbus Letter.

COlumOulS Letter.
Especial Corr. of the Journal.l
The Legislator and Lobbyist
Adjutant General MeIley's
MiX--City Redistricting--.
State Convention, etc.
LoLUMBUs, o., Mar. 10Th, 1880
The Legislature is about as dull
as can be. Most of the lobbies have
gone home, and the Assembly as a
whole appear to be afraid to do any
business. The majority are on hand
promptly when there is an opportu
nifty to stir up political chaff-they
absent themselves as a general thing
when anything that concerns the
good of the State is brought up.
One reason for this is probably be-
cause the Republican majority
realize how the Democrats rushed
things last year, and piled blunder
on blunder. Now out of what looks
very much like cowardice, the ma.
jorlty go to the other extreme, and
anything like serious business is re-
garded as dangerous--something TO
be avoided lest somebody "puts
their foot in lt-' Its not much
wonder that sensible men, when dis
cussing the needs of the State, aver
that for ali the real benefit the Legis-
lature confers upon the State, that
body might as well be at home. To
the people of the Capital City the
Legislature is inclined to be classed
as one Of kheA necessary evils, and
the hotels are about the only places
that derive any benefit from the
Representatives of the people"
Lobbies have been more numerous
this session than for years, and it
is exceedingly amusing to watch the
persistent efforts on their part in
"button -holing" members to lend
their influence and vote in favor Of
their particular bill. Last week,
this crowd were here in full force to
help the passage of the now celebrated
"Wilkin's school BILL" which came up
for passage in the House Wednesday
afternoon. The lobbies of the House
were crowded with ferocIous gang
of book agents, ETC., and considera-
BILE excitement prevailed for the
time being. When the bill came up
to be voted on it received 81 votes,
while so opposed it. 1t was lost,
not having the constitutional ma
jority.
Every day or so new bills are in
troduced for reorganization. The
latest is that of Representative
Locke Of Madison county, who has
bill which provides for the appoint
ment of Board of 3 Directors, who
shall have charge of every State
Institution, and receive compensa-
tion of $4,000 per year each. The
bill provides how each institution
shall be governed, and has large
number of members on its side.
The late Adjutant General, L. NJ.
Nelly, has figured rather unfavor-
ably in a transaction that has come
to light lately and is just now re-
ceiving considerable attention in the
daily press. From all accounts it
seems that man named Russ, who
is now Adjutant General of Indiana,
made an arrangement with Nelly to
copy the records of the Adjutant
Generals Office in this State, and
get q correo. list of the veterans
entitled to State, County, or local
bounty. Nelly was to receive $500
for this, $l00 in cash, and S400 when
the list was disposed of by Russ.
Russ completed the work and sold
a half interest to bounty and pen
sion agency for nearly $4,000.
Every claim was worth $4,000 and
many of the soldiers did not know
they were entitled to the. money;
and would readily sign contract and
powers of attorney for so per cent.
of the amount collected. 1t was
learned by this agency that, before
the courts would entertain the claims
it was necessary to have the certifi-
cate of the Adjutant General of this
State to show that the veterans had
been duly credited to the counties
and were entitled to the bounty.
Nelly refused to give these certif-
Gates unless he received the $40O
due him, and has been sending out
circulars to the soldiers warning
them to have nothing to do with the
Indiana parties. Of course this
proves the truth in an old adage
"When thieves and rogues fall out
ETC."
| The Republican "Love Feast as
lit were, last Thursday night, was 8
spirited affair and the best of har.
mony prevailed. 1t was by far the
largest gathering of the State Com
mittees that has been held for years
and indicates that every member
will do his level best for victor,
in the coming contest 1t wa
neither O Sherman meeting nor
Blaine meeting, but genuine Re
publican gathering, in which the bes