Year: 1872

and found so obnoxious. Thus far they
have done little toward redeeming these
expectations, but then we are yet early
in the session. A praiseworthy spirit of
economy has shown itself in both Houses,
and as some will say, this is carried lit
tie too far, and it is feared it may not
hold out through the session. In many
instances it seems rather misplaced, as
for example, in the matter Of clerkships
of the various committees, being denied
on the plea of economy, where in some
cases they are actually necessary. 1t
was expected that after the Holiday ad-
journment there would be great rush Of
business, yet week has passed away,
and few bills of general important ma
ture have been introduced. i is not to
be understood, however, by this, that
there are any lack of bills already before
the honorable gentlemen for their con-
sideration, for there has been a perfect
deluge Of them, but mostly Of a local ma
ture. Still there are some OF general
interest on the file or with the respective
Committees, and n little synopsis Of n
few of these give you below.


ANTI-MoRTGAGE TAX.


One of the first bills introduced in the
Assembly was by Mr.. Baker Of Nevada,
an amendment to an Act exempting taxes
on bonds and mortgages, and providing
that banks and individuals shall be as
sessed for the whole amount of their
property, while parties owning mort
gagged property shall be assessed only for
its value beyond the amount of the mort
gage, their oath to be taken in the mat
ter. In the Senate an amendment has
been added, authorizing suits commenced
to collect taxes on bonds or mortgages
to be dismissed by the plaintiff, the
defendants paying the costs of court and
a reasonable amount for the services of
plaintiffs attorney. With this amend
ment, the bill bids fair to become law
in few days.


THE FIVE PER CENT LAW.


Another bill Of general importance to
the whole State, is that repeating the
Five Per Cent law, passed two years ago,
on the last day Of the session, and which,
during the recent campaign, proved such
bugbear to the Democrats, and the re-
peal Of which was one of their platform
pledges. Two bills were introduced on



the subject, and the last, by Senator Tur-
ner of Sierra county, is the special order
of business for Friday next. Both have
created not little discussion in the Sen
ate, and in which the whole matter has
been pretty thoroughly ventilated. The
matter was referred to the Committee on
Corporations, but taken from them YES
terday and placed on the General file, and
there is but little doubt but that it will
pass with but little opposition and con-
sidering that number of elections are
soon to be held in different parts of the
State relative to granting subsidies to
railroad companies, legislation in the
matter cannot occur too soon.


RAILROAD MATTERS.


Three bills have been introduced, one
in the Senate and two in the Assembly.
relative to railroad interpretations and
the charges made for fare and freight
The bills are very similar in purport.
materially reducing charges for both fare
and freight, the former to four and five
cents per mile, and the latter from three
to ten cents. Though now nearly month
since their introduction, nothing has been
heard from the Committees to which
they were REFERRED when to-day. in the
Assembly, they were made the special
order of business for the 23d instant. No
doubt great opposition will be brought to
bear to prevent their passage, and the re-
cent damage to the railroad lines by the
storm, and in which their great import
ance became the more evident from the
want Of connection on many of them,
may prove great argument against it.


THE NO FENCE LAW.


This bill has been for some time in
the hands Of the Committee, and it is diff
cult to say when it will come up for CON
sideration. Legislation is demanded by
the press throughout the country as soon
as can be had, yet the general interests of
the people in this case do not seem to af.
feet our representatives. It's passage i'm
mediately would be great saving in ex-
IN fa


been blown down or destroyed by the re-
cent storm and flood, and we can only
hope that such will be the case.


COMPULSORY EDUCATION.


A bill has been introduced both in the
Assembly and Senate. They are almost
similar and provide that parents and
guardians having control of children be-
tween the ages of eight and fourteen
years shall require them to attend school
at least twelve weeks during the school
year, unless specially excused bv the
Board of Trustees. Any violation of
this Acts made punishable with fine
varying as the offence is repeated.


PROTECTION OF MINERS.


A bill has been introduced of no little
Importance to miners as a safeguard
against accidents. 1t provides that all
mining corporations employing twelve
men and having a shaft sunk to depth
of three hundred feet, shall provide an
outlet beyond the main shaft, through
which the men may escape in case of ac
cident' and further, should the compa-
MES neglect to provide this means of es-
cape' they may be held liable for dam