DES MOINES, Feb. 27, 1862
MR. EDITOR: You will recollect some time since the Governor transmitted to the Legislature all the information in his possession relative to the difficulties in Fremont county. The communications were referred to a select committee, with Mitchell, of Fremont, for chairman. Yesterday the committee presented a majority and minority report, accompanied by bills relating to the subject of preserving the peace on our boarder. The bills have not yet been acted upon. The bill of the majority provides for the punishment of all parties who have been guilty of receiving the property of rebels in order to prevent its confiscation. Should this bill pass, together with the confiscation bill of Mr. Lowrie, the people down that way would soon be effectually pacified.
The dog bill was discussed most of yesterday morning, and will be passed in a few days. The committee have made all the amendments they could well think of, and it is hard telling how the bill will look when they are properly arranged. It will doubtless look rather severe to the poor canines. Certain it is they must be taxed, collard, and registered, or cease to tread the soil of Iowa.
To-day the special committee on the liquor question presented two reports accompanied by bills on the subject. The majority report a prohibitory law more efficient than the present. It increases the penalties for its violation. The minority report a bill for a general license law. Mr. Stanton introduced a bill repealing the lager beer clause of the prohibitory law. Both the former bills were ordered printed. When the subject comes up we may expect a pretty warm discussion. There is no chance for a license law, however. All the test votes on the question have stood about 23 for and over 60 against. But when it comes to amending the present law there will be much discussion. Hardly a day passes that petitions are not presented in favor of a more stringent law. All feel that the law should be made more effective, but how it can be made most efficient is a question upon which there is much honest difference of opinion. Dubuque seems to be determined to have a license law. Her citizens keep petitioning and her Representatives are doing their best, but it will prove a waste of time and labor. Her delegation has, in this matter, manifested a zeal worthy of a better cause. That they do not succeed is not their fault but the fault of the principle for which they are laboring.
The bill increasing the power of the Auditing Board was today under consideration again in the House. It authorizes them to send for persons and papers, to administer the oath to witnesses, and to audit claims irrespective of the time of presentation. The Senate bill was quite different, but was shorn down to the last provision of this bill. That part of both bills will pass. It is necessary, in order to have justice done to a large number of small claimants who are clearly entitled to their pay, but whose claims are too small to warrant them in chasing the Commissioners all over the State. The three months’ limitation in the law of the Extra Session is unjust.
The railroad committee to-day reported Mr. Stanton’s bill, with some amendments. I believe you have seen this bill; at least you have made some allusions to it. It is a very complete bill, and well drawn; is very specific and defines the duties of railroad companies so clearly that they can not be evaded under cover of ambiguous generalities. This is a peculiar merit of the bill. The committee will now report another bill, providing for the resumption by the state of all the lands forfeited by the various railroads. After resuming them the State can grant them to such roads as will give sufficient guarantees that they intend to do something. This will be all right.
The Senate has been busy to-day with the county court bill. Many petitions are present and bills are introduced into both Houses for conferring civil and criminal jurisdiction upon county courts. A bill will probably pass, conferring such power in cases when the amount for which suit is brought does not exceed $500.
I have already noticed at some length one of your Senators. Permit me now to sketch the other.
Senator Leake is a native of New Jersey. He graduated at the age of 18, at the Miami University, an institution which, in the thoroughness of its collegiate course and in the character of its students, has few equals. He afterwards read law in the office of Rosebeck and Talford, of Cincinnati, and subsequently practiced his profession in the same city. Five or six years ago he determined to try his fortune in the young and growing city of Davenport; since which time he has steadily and successfully devoted himself to his chosen profession. The intelligent citizens of Davenport have recognized his ability by choosing him to represent them in the State Senate. In that body he is not idle. Several important bills have been introduced by him, some of which have passed both Houses. Among them are the Appearance Docket bill, the bill for the more effectual maintenance of the widows and minor children of decedents, and one authorizing Boards of Supervisors to divide townships into elective precincts in certain cases. In his action he seems to be actuated by a due regard for State interests, rather than by local prejudices. He is one of the young men of the Senate, among whom he has no superior. His appearance is prepossessing. He has light hair and light complexion, a commanding form and manly bearing, and an intelligent countenance. These characteristics make him rather conspicuous in any assembly, and naturally lead the visitor to the Senate chamber to inquire his name.
J. R. C.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 7, 1862, p. 1
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