Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-04-11
LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS.
A BUSY SESSION CLOSED ON FRIDAY
Mr.. Graham Describes Scenes at the
Capitol, and Gets Somewhat
Eloquent in His
Soarings.

AS tne SIlaueS OI evening were scat
tering over Iowa on Friday, April 9Th,
the Senate and House were declared
adjourned without date by their re.
spective presiding officers.
Such scenes are always more or less
effecting Members and employees
assemble at the commencement of the
session, when nearly all are compare
tive strangers to each other, and ii is
hard to guess who will become warm
friends or bitter enemies, but before
adjournment the lines are drawn
closely. Fast and fond friendshipsiare
made that will never be broken or for
gotten during life. Hence when the
parting time arrives there is sadness
with it. An observer could readily dis
cover silent tear course its way down
the furrowed cheek of some old vet
eran of the legislature, for he well
knows that the sands Of time are run
ming low in his hour glass. This was
very noticeable with Senator Better, Of
Harrison county, who gave notice that
with the closing of. sfi:s session his leg
islative career wound end. l.. I II.
Bolter is a lawyer by psofession,' a
Democrat Of the Jacksonian school, a
good thinker and without doubt one of
the ablest debators on the Senate floor.
He was member of the House i'm
the llth, 18th, 10Th, 10th and Goth, and
Of the Senate in the 2lst, 22nd, 23rd,
oath, 27th and 2Sth General Assem-
blies of Iowa, making a total of nine
teen sessions he has served, two ses-
ions being extras, called by the Gov
ernor Senator Bolter has the honor of
serving longer as an Iowa legislator
than any other person living or dead.
Senator Healy, one of the young mem
bers of the Senate, paid very fitting
tribute to the aged Nestor I'M short
speech, after which all the members
arose and shook hands with Senator
Bolter, and many a kind word was
whispered in the old veterans ear
After adjournment it did not take
long To vacate the capitol. In less
than an hour the outside doors were
locked, and the corridors that have
hardly ceased to echo the sound of a
voice or footstep for three months past
We're as silent as the grave; and as the
writer sat down for a few moments of
rest the thought came to him, who will
live to see the 10Th General Assembly
convene.
1t is not my purpose to tell you about
the different bills that were passed or
turned down, rs they are many and
would take more time than have to
spare to write about, but will say that
as soon as the Senate and House files
are: printed and bound any Of Winnie
sheik's people who would like a copy
and win write me to that effect l will
try and secure the same for them. l
ann only too glad TO do something for
my home people.
-Nhu hoWt WI. Euitois,s Will tiiiS
letter closes the fullfillment of the
promise l made you on the 9TH of last
January, to send short letter every
week until the Legislature adjourned.
This have done with one exception.
No person realizes more than do my
inability to do justice to you and your
readers. | was deprived, when boy,
of that boon which every one prizes 80
highly--a fair education. presume
critics have handled my letters with
out gloves, around the stove, hut that
will not ruflie me one bit; on the other
hand, anything that have written for
your paper that has brought one little
ray of pleasure to the reader, or if for a
few moments has eased the pain of
some aching heart, then | am satisfied
and well paid for my trouble, and in
closing, let me say that any favor that
! can help secure for your people, re-
gardless of politics or anything else,
let them ask and / win try. Good-by.
THOMAS GRAHAM.