DES MOINES, March 25, 1862.
The Senate was engaged most of the time yesterday in considering the Income Tax Bill and School Fund Bill. A substitute was finally adopted for the former, but what the final action of that body on the bill will be is uncertain. If the bill goes back to the House, a strong effort will be made to kill it. Some of its features are particularly obnoxious to many of the members.
Senator Woolson’s bill for the better protection of the School fund was somewhat amended and engrossed for a third reading.
To-day the Senate again devoted its attention to the War Claim Bill, and passed it in the form I once alluded to, with the provision that the claims of corporations shall be passed upon and reported to the next General Assembly. The House will be likely to quarrel for some time over the Edward Morledge Claim and the corporation provision. The rest of the bill will be satisfactory, and possibly these provisions will be adopted.
The Eads Security Bill was lost in the Senate by a single vote. This Lee county affair had better be laid aside pretty soon or enough will never be collected from the sureties in question to pay the expense of legislating on the subject.
The House yesterday discussed the County Court Bill for a long time, but arrived at no conclusion in reference to it. It is one of those questions which call forth earnest supporters and strong opposition. The fate of the bill is very uncertain, judging from the indications of yesterday.
Mr. Bowdoin introduced the following resolution:
Resolved, By the General Assembly of the State of Iowa: That we tender to Abraham Lincoln the expression of our cordial approval and thanks for the manner in which, amid unparalleled difficulties and embarrassments, he has administered the Government of the U. S. from his inauguration to the present time; and that as we have given to him our unwavering support in the past, so far the future, retaining and abiding confidence in his ability, integrity and patriotism, we pledge to him our earnest co-operation in all such measures as he shall deem requisite and just to utterly and forever vanquish the rebellion of the South, and once more restore to the unbroken American Union the unquestioned supremacy of the Laws of the Constitution.
The previous question was moved and a direct vote taken without an opportunity for discussion or amendment. The Democrats with few exceptions voted for it, not fully realizing what a pill they were swallowing. Before the next morning however the pill made them feel uncomfortable, and a full realization of what their votes were recorded for came over their minds, and the result was – a couple of protests. One came from those who voted in the negative, and the other from those Democrats who voted for the resolution. They have for a long time – nearly all the session – been trying to pass a resolution of a peculiar form, endorsing the Administration, but the Republicans concluded to draw their own resolution, and when this was presented and an opportunity for amendment cut of, it made them feel uncomfortable. They have professed a great anxiety to endorse the policy of the Administration, that it was thought best to give them an opportunity to do so without any reservation.
Lane’s Militia Bill was discussed to-day, but it will probably be killed. It is questionable whether any bill of the kind will pass the Legislature.
A bill was passed authorizing counties to fund their outstanding warrants. Some counties heavily in debt demand it as a measure that will save them thousands of dollars. It is left with the people to say by their votes whether the policy shall be adopted, and only the counties in debt are interested. In these the law does not apply to indebtedness hereafter incurred; hence it will not be any inducement for counties to run in debt.
A Notary Public Bill also passed the House to-day, providing that there shall be only five Notaries commissioned in any county containing less than 8,000 inhabitants, and that in counties with a greater population there may be one additional Notary for each 4,000 inhabitants. The commission fee is to be $5, the bonds $2,000, and the commission to run five years.
The bill providing for additional Assistant Surgeons and Nurses was also passed.
The bills begin to be hurried through now as the session draws towards a close. After to-morrow no more matter can be introduced into the House without the consent of two thirds of the members.
Mr. White, of your county, has been unwell for a few days, but is recovering and will soon be in his seat.
J. R. C.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 31, 1862, p. 1
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