The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-01-22

Illinois Legislature.
Tuesday, Jan. 1.-THE senate passed the
following bills, which constitute the oaly
items in to-day's proceedings worthy of
note:
A bill to amend the criminal code, provi-
ding that juries in rendering verdict in n
manslaughter case, may fix the term in the
Pcnltentiary for life, or for any number of
years.
a bill to allow the collectors in counties
that have adopted township organization,
until the first Of June next, 70 collect and pay
over the revenue Of those counties
The House passed an important bill to
provide an easy and expeditions method of
changing names. The bill contemplates the
transfer of the power Of changing names
from the Legislature to the Circuit Courts.
1t provides that applicants for such change
Of name shall be residents Of the county for
period Of not less thar six months prior to
filing petition. 1t also provides that when
an infant shall reside in the family OF any
person three years, and has been recognized
as an adopted child, application shall be
made by the person having such infant in
his or her charge. Section i provides that
any married woman, after the decease of
her husband, may, If she desires, and the
intention is set forth in tie petition, have
incorporated in the decree for her dover, the
order for change of her name to what it
was before her marriage, or to any other
she may see proper to adopt. The bill also
provides for the publication in county or
other newspaper, notice of such petition
/ for change Of name.
| The bill to make stealing $50 necessary
/ to constitute grand larceny, and the bill al
! lowing Judge of the Circuit Court to call
! the oldest attorney of his bar TO the bench
! in cases where he IS interlsted-Wcre both
| voted down.
4 communication from the Governor was
read, giving report Of the pardons Of peni-
I Tertiary convicts granted by him during the
/ past two years. The number pardoued du-
! ring that time is III, forty-six OF whom
were pardoned only the day before the ex-
p!ration OF their sentences, and for the sole
purpose Of restoring them to the rights of
citizenship.
/ Wednesday, ian 12-The bill appropria-
( ting 500 to county Agricultural Societies,
was reported from the Agricultural Gem
mittee, amended 50 as L. .'-ril It's rpcratioa
to two rcars ard then re.,,fc1 GacS
\ resolution was aGoptei that the Com
mittee on Agriculture inquire into, and, i
! cIpc.,ent, report bill foT al Agricultural,
Geological and Botanical Survey Q. the
State.
/ Various new bills were pr. sentca an ] re-
ferreG, among which! was one by Mr.. Parks,
10 provide FOR I'll" appointment OF couserva-
tors OF confirmed ipu,atir z
that, on com. lii. uf a relative, or, III de-
fault of relatives, any juhatitant Of the
county, that any individual resident therein
is a confirmed ii. ushard, iary shall deter
mine the same, and the julie a the Coun
4 y Court shall appoint Coaacrya:7is Of his
estate.
The House Il, 20 pay each member and
officer Of the House al nate 500 on &C.
count, was passed.
/ The special order Of the aitcrnoo=-Nr.
. Underwooi's joint resolution providing for
calling convention 10 amend the constitu-
! tion--was taken up and discussed in com
mIttee Of the whole Senate, Mr.. Fuller in
the chair MessrS Underwood, Richmond,
Cloudy, Cook and Marshall spoke IN favor
of the adoption Of the resolution, and Mr..
Pest against it, The discussion occupied
the whole OF the afternoon and was made
the special order for two o'clock tomorrow
+ Thursday afternoon.
The House adopted a resolution fix ing the
hour of daily meeting at o'clock, =. NJ,
instead OF . \. ", the reason for the change
being that the members require the whole
forenoon for their dutieS on committee
The balance Of the forenoon was spent in
discussion on tire subject Of special IcgiSla
ton, elected 10y bin to amend the charter
Of the American Express Company. Tn,
bill was sent 10 tie committee on genera
laws.
Ia the afternoon, the special oFder-th.
resolution for calling convention to amend
-
passed without debate-aycs IS, noes -.
The Holse accepted an invitation of tax
citizens Of Jacksonville TO visit that city il
body on the Doth inst. Tbs Peuiteni.ary
committee were instructed to visit Alton euC
joliet tq iasPee! the Peni,cntiarics, aad re
post.
y long string of hills were introduced
read twice, and referred, among them I'll,
following:
By Mr. Church-To regulate change 9
venue in county courts. Where change i
made on account of prejudice in the mind 0
the Judge, it shall be changed to the Circui
Court Of the same county.
By ar. HuriDut- To provide for the reg
iStrY OF voters Of the State Of Illinois. Lac
upon the table and ordered to be printed.
BIZ Mr. Craddoch-To more eiIectualy
suppress gambling.
THE bill Furnishes gamblins or the keep
ing Of gaming house with imprisonment il
the penitentary, at hard labor, not less thar
six months nor more than three years
BY Mr.. Shaw-To rep!evy property be
fore justices OF the peace.
BY Mr. Haines-Io provide for the elect
ion OF County attorney for each county il
this State.
Adjourned.
Ihursday, Jan. 13.-The Senate spen
the whole day on the bill to increase the pay
of the Circalt and Supreme Judges. 1t pro
yided that upon the fling OF each record o
appeal, or for writ Of error, or upon dock
citing any suit, docket fee Of sX dollar:
shall De taxed aud allowed the Supreme
Judges; and that a docket fee of one do.la
shall be taxed upon each appeal, and upoI
each suit or Chancery proceeding commenc
ed in any circuit court of this State, for th'
use of the judges Mr.. Goudy offered
substitute, providing, instead OF the propos
ed docket fees, for the pay Of expenses o
said Judges in attendance upon Courts, Of
flee ard fuel. stationery. &C., &c. Thu
matter was debated at great length and Fl
uaIIy the bill voted down by y yeas to /;
nays.
In the House, after some uDimpartant pre-
lirinary business, Mr.. Sweet, from the Com
mttec on General Law, reported back
bill to incorporate Pioneer Fire Coulpan.
No. l, Of Springfield, accompanied by
substitute amending the general law nov
in force so a. to allow any Fire Company t
incorporate by recording certificate of or
ganzation in the Registers or Recorder
office, and that Fromcn all over the Stat
be exempt from road or street labor or tax
The substitute was adopted.
Mr.. SWEET, from the same committee, al
so reported back about 90 local bills for va
eating streets, alleys, &c, presenting as sub
sltute for them all a bill for general law
authorizing the authorities of any city o
. town to vacate such strec2s CT alleys upol
petition of two-thirds of the owners of pro
. pertY to be affected by such Yacation.