The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-30
FROM SPRINGFIELD.
FULLER's RAILROAD BILL.


The house finally on Monday. after an excit.
ing debate of three or four days, passed Fullers
Railroad bill, with SO many amendments, howev-
er, as materially to change its character. The
closing speech appears to have been made by
Speaker Corwin, in favor of the bill, and this
speech is said to have been go effective as to have
decided its fate. The most important amend.
ments adopted were, that the penalty for charging
over cts. mile was stricken ont that the bill
should not be construed to release the ILL., Cen.
trail railroad from the payment of per cent. of
its gross earnings to the state that the bill should
not apply to new railroads until 10 years after
their construction; and that all railroads under
~ miles in length are exempted from its provis-
ions. The bill goes back to the senate to be re-
passed as amended.
ILLINOIS RIVER IMPROVEMENT
The friends Of this measure have decided TO
ask no further legislation this winter, aside from
appropriations to carry into effect the law of the
last session; that is, the construction of lock
and dam at Peoria, and the survey of the propos
ed extension Of the Rock Island and Dixon canal.
Gen. Wilson is at Springfield to use his influence
in favor of the river improvement and the Rock
Island canal. But before any part of the appro.
priation made or to be made in favor of the work
can become effective, the commissioners by whom
the Law is to be put into force, must be appoint
cd The law was virtually defeated two years
ago by the refusal of the senate to confirm the
commissioners appointed by Gov. Oglesby: and
now Gov. Palmer sends the same names to the
Senate. Of course they will again be rejected,
and as Gov. Palmer knows this it seems clear
that his emily object is, again to prevent the law
from going into effect. The responsibility fol
another two years delay in the commencement
OF this great work viii therefore rest upon his
shoulders
FEES OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
A bill passed the senate on Tuesday materi-
ally reducing the fees of county officers The
superior Court of Chicago was excepted from the
operation Of the bill.
STATE HOUSE
The Estate house ring" were thrown into com.
motion on Monday by a proposition from Mr..
Kenyon, to compel the commissioners to use Jol.
let stone, dressed by the conviets in building
the foundation of the new state house It was
charged that the stone now used costs $40 per
cubic yard, while Joliet stone would cost but
$50. The matter was referred to the appropri.
ate committee
NEW INSANE AsY LUMs.
Bills have been introduced for the erection Of
both northern and d southern insane asvlum.
in addition to the one at Jacksonville. $125,OOO
arc asked for each.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
The bill to add $1,000 to the present salary Of
circuit judges, in the name of revising the stat
utes, passed the senate on Wednesday.
APPROPRIATIONS
1t is said that the senate finance committee are
in favor of making the following appropriations
State-hoase, 100000; penitentiary, $3.50. 1000;
Soldiers Orphans Home, $4,000 Normal uni.
versity, $4,000; Insane asylum, s24O,OOO; Blind
asylum, $4,000; Idiot asylum, $4,000; Deaf
and Dumb asylum, s23O,OOO Illinois river and
canal improvement, 5000, OOO-in addition to the
old appropriations. 1t will be noticed that IN the
above is included an appropriation for the pen.
itentiary, which the Governor in his message
promised should be sef-sustaining