The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-02-21
Illinois Legislature.

last day or two. A vast number Of bills
had been introduced and read once and
twice, and the rush was to get them
through st the last moment Few, com.
paratively, however. were passed, and an
immense pile was put over to the adjourn
cd session in June The political resolu-
tons were defeated in the Senate by tho
republicans absenting themselves so as TO !
leave that body without quorum when
ever the resolutions were brought up
But with quorum the resolutions would
probably not have passed, as, by the death
Of Senator Rogers, the democrats were
left without majority in that body.
The only really remarkable thing about
the close of the session was the attempt
to .muggle through an appropriation bill
giving Gov Yates $4,000 as a contingent
in addition to the ordinary contingent
fund Of $4,000. Two appropriation hills
were introduced-one containing the or,li-
nary items of appropriation for the Co
vernors and judges salaries, DC, DC to
the close Of the next regular session. The
other contained these items, with an ad.
ditional one of $4,000 as a contingent
fnnd for the Governor. to be expended of
course, in his discretion also $500 for
his gardner, with other such items. The
Governor demanded the passage Of the
latter bill as the only condition on which
he would sign certain other bils-as the
penitentIary appropriation bill, the app,r.
tionment bill, the army auditor bill, and
some others, as we'll as TO order m election
to fill the vacancy in the Senate by the
death of Mr. Rogers The democrats, who
felt deeply interested in these matters,
held caucus, and appointed Speaker
Duckmaster TO confer with the Governor
on the subject. Mr. 3 heard the Cover
nors terms, and j; is said agreed to them.
but, the caucus having adjourned. made
no report to that body, and Of course the
democrats never ratified his agreemeat-
So when the appropriation bill came up IN
the House, every attempt TO pass the bill
containing the obnoxious appropriations
items read at length and passed r E..
Goodell WAS acting IS Clerk, and as the
bill passed he laid it down before him,
intending, in n moment, TO make the pro
per endorsement upon it and re,urn il 10
the Senate, where it had already been
passed. Bu, on sitting down to DO 20
found the bill had disappeared Senator
Mack stood by his side with several bills
in his hand and espying, rs be supposed,
the one that had disappeared. he took il
ont Of his Mack y hand, and max ing the
endorsement, returned il to the Senate
The bill thus returned to the senate wa. the
other bill containing the obnoxious items,
but octwardiy was an exact fac smile OF the
one that had passed. Without discovering
the fraud, the bill was at once seut from
{ the Senate TO the Governor, who Instantly
signed ii and returned il 10 the House -
. The whole business was done IN ! minutes
aud the fraud soon after discovered But
i. WIS too late TO undo il and al! that was
left TO the democratic members was 10
draw up protest, detailing the facts. and
entering II on the Journal. The game was
played 20 fine by the Governor. that il
has probably defeated itself The State
Treasurer StarBe has taken advice on the
subject, and refuses 10 pay any OF the ap.
preparations made BY the bill, The Go
werner and Republicans who, by the trick
had hoped thus to have the appropriations
All right, and could thus. If they chose,
defeat the June session by refusing to At
tend it. now find the boot on the other
leg The Governor, auditor. &c. ere left
expenses, and OF course will be iull rs
ANXIOUS and impatient "a the democrats
for tl,e re assembling in June
And now having detailed these facts,
about which there is no dispute-need We
add word of COMMENT The Governor
OF the grea. State of Illinois hiyrling for
$4,000 as the condition on which he will
sign certain bills and do other things
which the constitution make. his sworn
duty; and failing thus to get the money,
attempts by trick and fraud TO steal
it Disgrace and everlasting contempt,
probably, are past reaching Dick Yates,
but let the people Of Illinois hang their
heads in shame until kind providence
shall release them fIom the reproach OF
having such a Governor.