Letter From The Capitol

DES MOINES, March 10.

DEAR HAWK-EYE.  The storm which prevailed with such extreme rigor last week has been succeeded by more genial airs, and to-day the sun shines warm and bright.  The snow is melting rapidly and finding its way in ten thousand tiny brooklets to our noble river, soon to be loosed from its icy fetters and plowed by the steamboats, which have been scarce in these parts for many months past.  The winter has been a dull one, and every body is anxious for the return of spring.

To-day at 10 A. M. was the time fixed for the joint Convention of the two Houses for the purpose of electing the Warden of the Penitentiary, three Directors of the State Bank of Iowa, and three Bank Commissioners, under the provisions of the free banking law.  The present incumbents were all re-elected as follows:  Warden of the Penitentiary, Edward A. Layton; Director of the State Bank, Reuben Noble, of McGregor, Richard Bowen of Dubuque and E. T. Edgington, of Chariton; Commissioners, Thos. A. Graham, of Tama county, William Bickford of Jefferson and John W. Ellis of Davis.

In the afternoon, the bill amending the revenue law was under discussion in the House. – Sundry amendments were made, but the House adjourned without any final action.  The object of the bill is to make more effective the collection of taxes, and to supply many little defects which experience has shown to exist in our revenue system.  A great effort has been made to abolish the publication of the delinquent lists, but it is my impression that the law in that respect will remain unchanged.

In the Senate, during the afternoon, the township collector bill was under discussion.  It has very warm friends and equally bitter enemies.  Its fate is doubtful, though I think it very possible that it will pass.  It provides for the only true and effective means of collecting taxes and sooner or later it will become the law of the State.  Eastern men generally support it; while men from those States where two or three individuals have always transacted the business of a county are very averse to it.  There will be a “big fight” over it, or I am greatly mistaken, and if its friends are beaten this time they will work harder than ever for it in the next session.  All experience proves that a thorough system of township organizations is the fairest and best.  States have repealed their County Judge and Commissioner systems, but no State has abandoned a system like that which is now being initiated in Iowa.

It is my impression, Hawk-Eye, that you will agree with me, at the end of the session that when you see what has been done, that the Ninth General Assembly has been one of the best that has ever convened in this State, and that prudence, common sense and sound discretion, have characterized its action.

DAKOTAH.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 2