DES MOINES, Feb. 24.
DEAR HAWK-EYE: – The legislation of the present session will be, when complete, of a more important, tangible character, (especially that which bears upon the subject of taxation,) than that of any of its predecessors since our State emerged from the territorial regime. The new obligations which “the state of the Union” has devolved upon us will give hue and shape to nearly everything which passes from the hands of our law-makers. Greater labors and responsibilities than have ever before presented themselves have had to be faced by the Committee on Ways and Means, and they have come fairly and squarely up to the work. Hon. W. H. Holmes, the able and well known Senator from Jones county, (an able legislator, by the way, and a model of legislative ability, business, prudence, integrity and industry,) as at the head of that Committee in the Senate; while the house Committee is “called from refreshment to labor” by Hon. E. G. Bowdoin, of Floyd County, a member of the last House, and a gentleman to whom “Linkensale” paid on of his finest tributes in the columns of the Hawk-Eye, at the last regular session. He was then Chairman on Schools and State University, and has now been advanced to the leading position among his compeers of the house – a place for which his education and business habits abundantly qualify him – (I might say, parenthetically, or in a whisper, perhaps – if you won’t tell anybody – that both these gentlemen are mentioned by their friends in connection with higher and more responsible duties, before they are many months older.)
Financially, the “Ways and Means” have taken four highly important steps, in the presentation of the following bills, all but one of which have passed both Houses and are now the law of the State – while the remaining one only needs the concurrence of the Senate in a few merely verbal amendments. These measures are as follows:
1st. An Act by which the State assumes annually the assessment and collection of her portion of the National Tax, amounting this year to the sum of $452,088.
2d. An Act authorizing the State and County Treasurers to pay out, and receive for all taxes and for the principal and interest of the School Funds, the demand Treasury notes of the United States, and the bills of the Branches of the Iowa State Bank, the latter so long as they are redeemed in specie.
3d. An Act authorizing the Governor to apply our claim against the General Government in payment of the Federal tax, as far as it will go, and for levying immediately, in addition to the tax of 1861, on the valuation of that year, a tax of two mills on the dollar, to raise money to pay the balance of the Federal tax after the application aforesaid, and to pay the Warrants issued and to be issued on the War and Defence Fund, amounting to some $250,000.
4th. An Act authorizing the reception of the Warrants on the War and Defence Fund in payment of State taxes and the Federal tax just levied; also providing that large Warrants may be returned to the Auditor, and that he may issue new ones in lieu thereof, in sums of one, two and three dollars.
These Committees have further agreed on and will soon report a bill for an act providing for the better collection of taxes, by making either township collectors or assistant collectors in each township.
It is also proposed, and with much probability of its passage, to provide for taxing for State purposes all salaries and incomes from whatever source derived, where the property from which income is derived is not subject to taxation.
This last act is intended to apply to all the officers of State, Supreme and District Court Judges, County Treasurers, Bank officers, private brokers, &c., and, in fact, to all persons who derive a valuable or stated income from any source not already subject to taxation.
The citizens of this town are now deploring the loss of two noble boys – Weeks and Doty – who fell in that gallant Charge of the Iowa 2d, at Fort Donelson. Fifteen of the Company (B) were wounded – some of them badly. It is reported that Edgar Ensign, 1st Lieutenant, fell so severely wounded that his life is in great danger. He will be remembered by most visitors to the Capital as the very obliging and gentlemanly deputy of State Treasure Jones. A slightly built and retiring youth, he did not seem to be fitted or destined for the stern duties of the battle-field; but it is stated that the noble fellow was shot down far in advance of his men, while waving his sword and shouting to the Company to follow him!
I suppose, Hawk-Eye, that you saw that article from the Springfield (Mass.) Republican in relation to the alleged oppressive taxation in the northwestern part of the State. Well, I only allude to it for the purpose of saying that my big-hearted friend, Doc. Cutler, of Wright county, called the attention of the House to the fact and moved the appointment of a Committee of Investigation. The motion prevailed and the Committee are now at work, and the slander will ere long be wiped out, or the means adopted to dry up the above.
The other day the question of repealing the Supervisor system was up in the Senate, and after a great deal of discussion, pro and con, the subject was indefinitely postponed. Bills and resolutions to the same effect lie upon the table of the House, but as soon as they are reached they will likewise be sent to the tomb of the Capulets. The Supervisors can, therefore, safely rely upon carrying their heads upon their shoulders another two years at least.
As a good deal is said about the congressional apportionment, let me guess how the districts will be arranged – though I do not know but you have published something approximating to the same opinion. I guess the Districts will be as follows.
1st District – Allamakee, Winneshiek, Howard, Mitchell, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette, Clayton, Butler, Grundy, Bremer, Blackhawk, Buchanan, Delaware and Dubuque.
2d District – Jackson, Jones, Linn, Johnson, Cedar, Clinton, Scott and Muscatine.
3d District – Washington, Louisa, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Davis, Lee and Van Buren.
4th District – Appanoose, Wayne, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Marion, Mahaska, Keokuk, Iowa, Poweshiek, Jasper, Marshal, Tama and Benton.
The 5th District will embrace all the remainder of the State, part of Nebraska and Dacotah, the Pembina District of Minnesota and several other terra incognitos too numerous to mention. The idea of such a big district to canvass, is rather appalling to some of the candidates for Congressional honors, but Eaton, the Chairman of the Committee, says they have got to stand it. The order of numbering the Districts may be change[d], but I think they will be organized as I have stated.
I enclose you a list of the acts which have been enrolled up to this date. The number may seem small, but a great many bills are either engrossed for a third reading or in an advanced state of preparation in the hands of committees.
DACOTAH.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2
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