Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-01-28
From Jefferson City.

Ed. RegisteT-If your readers OBJ
serve pessimistic sentiment permeat
ing this article, desire that it shall
be attributed to a condition of physica
indisposition, and not to any individ
ual idiosyncracy. Like many Others
here, have been just about incapaci
tated by an attack of influenza. There
is an epidemic of congestive fever pre-
vailing throughout this part of the
State. About twenty members are re-
ported sick, while twice as many are
complaining, but manage to put in an
appearance.
Up to this time over three hundred
bills have been introduced and have
had their first reading. About two
hundred and seveuty-five their second,
and twenty-five have been engrossed
and printed. The only one that has
passed the House was measure pro-
viding, that all county officers or 9TH
ers who receive fees under the laws OF
the State, shall keep a correct and sys-
tematically itemized account of all
monies received; the same to be enter
ed in a book for public inspection.
The idea of this is to promote a better
system of keeping accounts, and posi-
bly, an incentive for correct settle
ments by some, who having trusted to
an unreliable memory, might overlook
an occasional trifie. This may also
prevent an over charge of fees.
If any subject concerning which leg
islation might be desired, has escaped
attention, it has certainly been an
oversight, and as it is early in the ses-
sion / think it hardly necessary to
post any notice or reminder of the fact.
Believing that the desire to appear in
some new role, will prompt somebody
to report the fact and manufacture the
necessity for its introduction. If all
Of the proposed legislation should be-
come laws, it might be possible to
lease some of our county's poor land
for building room, to get the volumes
under shelter. And this would be as
much as would ever be required for
large percentage of the whole lot. As
soon as a committee reports on a bill,
that it has been duly considered and
that it does or does not
pass, this report is taken up and de-
bated. If favorable report is made,
the question is whether it shall be
printed and engrossed and come up
for it's its third reading. Occasional
ly, when measure is reported on I'M
favorably, it has been voted to print
for information. The interested ones
believing that some good may be seen
IN it, when it is more particularly in
Vestigated. Sometimes when commit
tee has reported adversely, bill may
be refurred, and have consideration by
4 different set of Investigators, who
nay see it in a different light. BY
his time bill is about as perfect as
Is friends can make it, and this is the
proper time for any who are funda-
opposed to make their first
attack. Any attempt at an earlier
period would be with disjointed efforts, |
because many who may be unwilling |
particular reason for opposing 1t be- |
ore it has reached a perfect state, but
'ather inform themselves on the sub
ect and hear what can be said in its |
avor, knowing that afterwards they |
will have sufficient opportunity to give
t their veto. The last stages are |
therefore, reserved for this, that is to
ay of the question, whether it shall |
De engrossed and read the third time, |
Ind lastly whether it shall pass. The |
lrst part is usually the most interest
ng contest, because the subject is new |
o most of the members, and the minds |
# the others have not been declared |
" any vote, and the result is a matter |
# uncertainty. Therefore, in this /
tage comes the trial of strength be-
ween its friends and opponents, and
t is here that opinions are formed and
he main battle is either lost or won.
Cor mismanagement or accident may
prevent any successful rallying on the
ubject of final disposition.
The manifest propriety of permit
ing every member to have as much
as possible on every ques-
ion, on which he is to vote, permits
IS being read by the clerk as often as
t is to be seen that it is really for in
ormation, aud not for delay. The
lumber of times that some bills have
zen read previous to this occasion
uggests the thought, that some peo-
lie are either afraid of helping to pass
ONE bad laws, or are rather slow in
the meaning of other
copies mode of expressing their
ieas. After the reading of bill, it
} debated afresh, and for the most
art is more spoken to at this time
han at any previous reading. The
riends and opponents have discovered
be various arguments on which each
ide relies, aud which on them appear
, have influence among the members
hey have had time to meet them with