DES MOINES, Jan. 31.
This has been a day for the introduction of business and for
instructing the committees. Once in a
while a good portion of the daily session will be taken up in passing
resolutions of instructions.
In the House, Mr. Wetherall offered a resolution instructing
the committee on constitutional amendments to inquire into the expediency of so
amending the Constitution as to prevent the ingress of negroes and mulatoes
[sic] into the State. It is a
continuation of the subject introduced yesterday, only it comes in a different
form. The resolution was quickly tabled.
Mr. Kellogg offered a resolution instructing the committee
on charitable institutions to inquire into the expediency of removing the Deaf
and Dumb Asylum from Iowa City to this place.
The lease of the building now occupied is nearly expired, and hence
before any building is erected or another one leased, is the time to change, if
at all. The expense attending the
removal would we trifling, since it is not intended, as one bright member
supposed, to move the building up
here. If then, this is the place for the
institution to be located, now is the time to provide for its removal. There is a set of men who favor the location
of these State institutions in different parts of the State. They argue that the State at large is
benefited by this distribution. I cannot
see how Davenport or any of the river towns is benefited by the location of
this Asylum at Iowa City. In reality, it
is only the town in which such institution is located that is benefited, and in
many instances the benefit conferred even upon a one-horse town is but trifling. And, since each city cannot have a State
institution located within its limits, all that are without the pale of their influence
are losing by their being located away from the Capital. Were they here, their condition and wants
could be investigated at each session of the Legislature without heavy expenses
to the State. At present the appointment
of an investigating committee is synonymous with a heavy knock at the door of
the treasury. During the last regular
session two of these committees were appointed, one to visit the Insane Asylum,
and the other the Penitentiary. The
amount paid out of the treasury to these committees for expenses, etc., was not
far from $1,500. And when these committees
return and make a report, the members frequently know no better than before
what course to pursue. It is now
proposed to send committees again to these institutions. If such institutions are under the fostering
care of the Sate, especially charitable institutions, were all located at the
Capital, the members could at their leisure examine into their condition,
wants, etc., and be prepared to legislate intelligently on the subject. The state at large would be a great gainer by
this plan.
The House has passed a few bills to-day. – Among them is one
repealing the law creating the office of Commissioner of Emigration in the City
of New York. A second one related to
Life Insurance Companies. It make it
unlawful for any such company, incorporated by another State, to do business
within this State unless possessed of an actual capital of $100,000.
In the Senate Mr. Smith introduced a bill making liquor
venders responsible for damages or losses incurred by any party through the
intoxication of any person or persons. – This is capital. I hope it will become a law. It taxes the right parties for the support of
drunkards and their families.
Intemperance is a costly vice, and let those who reap the profits pay
the expenses. This is but fair.
A usury bill has been introduced into that body. It makes 6 per cent. the highest legal rate
of interest. The policy of this is
questionable. Money will sell for what
it is worth. If I wish money to invest
when I see a clear return of 25 per cent., I will pay 15 per cent. for the
money without any hesitation. It is
worth that to me, and more too. The law
can’t prevent me from paying it, neither can it prevent any creditor from
collecting it. If I say – one year after
date I promise to pay Mr. So-and-so $115, for value received – when I only
received of him $100, I evade the law and do not make a misstatement, providing
the last named sum is worth to me to-day what the former one would be at the
end of the year. I know there are
objections to letting money take the course of merchandise to be sold or loaned
according to present value. These
objections will doubtless be presented by favorers of this bill.
To-day the stamp act went into effect. This morning the members of the House were
crowding around the clerk’s desk, like children around their presents on
Christmas morning. On examining the
matter I found that the postage stamps were being distributed according to the
provisions of the recent act on that subject.
Never before have I seen a sober set of men inaugurate a custom so ill
suited to their wants, so inconvenient in every respect, so poorly calculated
to accomplish the object aimed at as this same stamp act, which was hatched in
the Senate and nursed in the house. It
has created no little amusement to-day and will be a constant annoyance so long
as it lasts.
J. R. C.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette,
Davenport Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 4, 1862, p. 1
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