The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-01-23
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.
Thursdays Proceedings.
Fuller's Railroad Bill In the House.
Legislation for Cairo Asked.

In the Senate on Wednesday Mr. Mum
presented petition from citizens of Alexan.
der county praying that they may have the
state taxes due from that county for the next
ten years for the support of paupers.
Also bill to incorporate the Cairo German
school society.
A message from the governor was received
winch announced that he had nominated as
commissioners for the southern penitentary,
Richard Rowett, Jas. NJ. True, Jas. s. Mar.
tin, Chas. A. Beocher and VIM. NJ. r. Beacon
The message was referred 10 the committee
on penitentiaries.
In the house Fullers railroad bill being
the special order Of the day, very little bust
moss was transacted.
Mr.. Woodson spoke in opposition to the
bill. He denied the constitutional power of
the legislature to pass such bill. The prin-
cipie OF the bill, he said, was to prescribe GER
tain limits beyond which the rates of travel
should not be raised. 1t was to fix an arbi.
trary rate to restrict railroads. Could this
legislature do that after the charters granted
declared that the roads should ax their o,yn
rates? Were these corporations priyste or
publicl 1t needed no argument 20 show that
they were private corporations TO all intents
ahd purposes. The supreme court of this
state had substantially so decided II they
were private corporations, were those char
ters contracts? 1t had never been Doubted
The rule that acts Of incorporation were con.
tracts was uniform. Being contracts. the loo.
Islature had no right to impair in any degree
me rights given under these charters 1.-THE
legislature attempted to violate u contract,
me othcf contracting party was also necessa.
rily absolvSd and released. The memher
from Stephenson had admitted that this ques-
non oil power was an open one, and subject 10
doubt. And yet he desired them to vote for
law the constitutionality of which admitted
81 doubt. Only imperative necessity should
I nnooI iae'" 10 such step but there was no
Asto the question of cxpcdency. did public.
necessity did the exigences of the times re.
quire II! IL was said the roads we've oppress.
ing the people. He was not their apolopist.
They did many things which were wrong.
ana which they themselves ought TO remedy.
Ihere were many just complaints, but did
tney so oppress the people as TO demand the
The speaker, after describing the early con.
dition Of Illinois, went on 10 point out the
enormous advantages the state had derived
from the development of the railroad system.
ana the extent which il had now attained.
let, ne said, members from the northern
part OF the state, most favored with roads.
were intending to vote for this bill. He re-
GREETED To hear member from Cook copn,v
representing in part the magnificent city az
'hichgo' OF which he was so proud advocate the
passage OF bill which must hurt the roads
when hnd done so much for the city. Ii was
Unjust 70 the people OF other parts Of the state |
- pass 'hc piii All 1t did was TO reduce the |
rates cent and halt, and in doing ,b.,
leopardized great Interests He would ssk ali /
ms friends from the northern part Of tho
s,ale "hat II would cost them 10 get here IL /
lhey had no roads? He then showed that
tue i0wer rates on eastern roads were not an |
PHoable mere whore less bushes. il done and |
'Iosed by hoping that the house would moi /
pass Il bill which could not be productive az .
any good, and could only inure the railroads
Hh'ch had as yet, inflicted no injury upon |
,he people Railroad fares would in time fall |
IN the natural order Of things.
- burnett OF Galiatn, also spoke in OBJ /
lo'.''un 70 the osii, considering IL illegal and /
iheApedieht ruinous 10 the Interests Of the |
section he represented and 10 the stat. Of
large. After arguing that railroad was a
private corporation, he proceeded 10 show that |
me onect OF the passage Of the bill would he |
70 release the Illinois Central. They needed |
roads IN Southern Illinois and the suoosss ~ |
Ine hIII would Illustrate all attempts 10 build |
ti he also explained why thev had not
nl'herto been constructed, The people down |
49, would be willing to pay eight or ten
emu cen nile. 1t was for the courts and not
sonable rates. ''a'
Al the conclusion of the discussion upon
Va, .hlS measure bin was introduced to establish
shc northern Illinois Hospital for the insane.
anu providing for the appointment by the
so'eruor' OF commissioners TO locate il and
appr3priating $4,000 therefor. "
doad I'll looking to the disposition of certain
m" toacS;n was introduced; that to further
sta1e, providing that bodies executed unds,
,ae Jaw Tor murder and all other deceased
persons 10 charge OF jailors, keepers of aims
houses a DC, in cities with population exesad.
ing 10000 may, where the relatives do not
s ns them, be delivered over to doctors and
Doc. n", "a TINS state for dissection. This
aoe' not apply to any traveller, witnes, or nsr-
desire it, '' unless ne