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


The Legislature.
We give 4 pretty full synopsis Of the pro-
creGings Of the Legislature OF this State up .
TO Monday evening, when general disper- |
.cn of the members appears to have taken /
place; and we are assured that although no |
formal adjournment over was had, and the /
House and Senate continue noninaiiy to meet /
each day, no quorum is expected TO be pres |
ent in either house before Monday. Many |
Of the members are absent on Visiting Gem !
mittees TO the Penitentiary, &C., others, altar I
the arduous labors of two weeks, have gone
home TO spend few days, and the balance
availed themselves CT an invitation OF the
citizens OF Jacksonville 10 partake of their
Inequalities for day or two this week.
This is all right The Legislature during
their two weeks session thus far have pas
ssd few general Laws OF Importance that
wIl do no hurt; but during the same time
ajou. 500 bills were introduced which, ifhnr-
ricd through in the usual way OF doing bus
mess in that quarter. there is no estimating
the amount Of mischief that may be done.
Better fer the State that they spend several
moro weeks Of the session in gaddng about
the country en- pleasure excursions. On
re-assembling next Monday We suggest that
they get up an excursion to St. Louis. Thus
another week may be disposed OF. Then
they might invite a visit from the Missouri
Legislature, which would use up another
Ia i.
up what little necessary legislation remains
and toto pass the appropriation bills, and
then they could 90 home with a whole.ome
consciousness of having prevented vast
amount Of ,nischievous and useless Iegisla-
ton.
La addition to what is stated in our syn
opsis, We shall proceed to notice a few Of
leading measures thus far agtated, and dis
posed of by the legislature.
The s,ereotpyed effort Of the last half dez-
en- of sessions to increase the pay of the Su-
preme and Circuit Judges. was renewed at
this session, and has again failed. That
the pay OF our Judges is too small is admit
ted on ali hands, but how to get around the
constitutional inhibition OF an increase is the
difficulty. The plan proposed BY Judge
Underwood, in the bill that has Just been
killed. in tie Senate, was to give the judges,
in addition 10 their salary, certain docket
fees. This seems TO be even more object
ionab!e thar the plan Of the last session, 10
impose additional duties on the judges II
the way OF Improving our laws. But all the
propositions are liable to the same ohlcC-
tion-that they are mere shifts to evaJe a
plain constitutional provision; and, While it
IS 4 matter Of regret that the pay of the
judges must remain so inadequate we can
not but commend cur legislators that, with
ali their manifest desire 10 90 so, they are
yet too conscientious 10 nuiify the constitu-
tion by tick Or quibtle, although it is
probable the judges themselves would readi-
ly sustain their action.
Cur banking system appears to be gener-
ally satisfactory. and will probably not be
disturbed. One o. twc propositions are be-
fore the legislature TO establish " clearing
house." OF place at Chicago where ail the
banks in the State must redeem their bills,
and al fixed criods balance their accounts.
The purpose OF this pFcject is pa!pa5,e. Il
would place al Our local banks AZ the Incr-
c. Of tie Brokers and few leading insli:u-
tioas at 81. LOUIS and Chicago, AMI eventu-
ally wipe them out This would create 4
necessity for more foreign paper, and thus
open anew a splendid field Tor the Georgia
IT. RI ECI~.~.
Smith, tie Curtises, a.. The legislature
will be caught in 10 such trap.
proposition for a registry law has been
introduced by MT. Har.but, OF MeHenry, a
republican, and is supported by his party
This proposes to compel each voter, % days
before tie election, to go to some justice Q.
the peace in his town, and register his name,
otherwise he loses his vote. It would com
pei our farmers to spend two days to get in
their votes instead Of one, as under the pres
ent arrangement. Il is n measure got up
under the buncsubc piea &C purifying the
b1l,ot," and is urged By the republicans in
tie hope that foreigners, who are generally
Indifferent about elections until tie Gay
comes, and a:e generally democrats, VIII
neglect to be registered, and thus lose their
votes. The bill will never see daylight.
On the subject cFtlie two mill lax, our wise
men in the legislrtrre seem TO be greatly
perp,exed. That the tax is useless burden
is admitted on all hands, but how to get rid
Of it is the question. i bill or two have
been introduced to suspend its collection,
but the same constitutional difficulties as in
the Ease of the salaries OF the judges, are in
the way. Under The general principle OF
law, that il a fund is directed, either under
deed of trust or Will, TO be raised or ap-
piled for particular purpose, and the oh
feet fails, court of chancery will erjoin
the collection and application for that pur
pose, it is argued that, as the creditors OF
the State refuse to take the money raised By
this tax, the obligation TO collect it ceases,
and the legislature can aud ought in good
faith to suspend lis further collection.
The bill pos,poning the collection OF State
and county taxes, in counties adopting town
ship organization, until June, it viii be seen
Nv oar synopsis has passed both Houses and
is law.
The proposition TO have the people at ths
next general te'ecion, On Move nbcr, 1860,
on the question of calling convention tc
amend the State constitution, has passed
the House, AMI will doubtless pass the Sen
ate 1t met T opposition in the House.
The opposition in the Senate appears to be
based on the idea that It would be cheape,
for the legislature 10 propose amendments
10 the people than to call a convention.
The letter writers from Springfield al