The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-01-27
LEGISLATURE.
ULLER's RAILROAD BILL AMENDED
IL Passes the House by 50 to 10.

In the senate on Monday nothing transpire,
OF public moment
- A bill TO amend the charter of the Cair,
Ferry Company was passed with other loca
measures. when the senate adjourned.
In the house there was another excited dis
cussion over Fuller's railroad hill, in which
mr. Burnett of Shawneetown, took part, Sc.
curing the acceptance Of an amendment that
ut least postpones the application Of the law
TO new railroad enterprises. We quote from
Mondays dispatches: A r
Mr.. Dinsmore, discussing the merits of the
BILL said he did not wish TO resort to unfriend.
~ legislation or to hinder the building of
roads, but the rights Of the people must be
preserved. He should, however. move TO
strike out the third section, which Furnishes a
violation by II forfeiture Of the franchise. re-
garding it unnecessary. He wanted to secure
every vote for this bill. which would show the
people that their rights were saved. and serve
as guide to other legislatures
This amendment was adopted bv veas 70.
nays 3.
Mr. Muller Of Cook said when this matter
was hrst before the House he said he was in
isvor OF It, on general principles but the
press Of Chicago, without an exception. had
spoken against it. He also received daily
letters from his influential constituents, beg
ging MIN not to vote for it, The constita-
tional question he should let alone. The
great prosperity Of Illinois was mainly due
20 our railroad system. He did not believe
the roads could carry passengers for three
cents mile when the Great Eastern was un
able to do so. The passage Of the bill would
crush out the projected roads in the southern
part of Illinois
Mr.: Bailey offered an amcndmcntto section
;, as follows:
Provided further, that thi. act shall not be
Construed, nor have the effect 20 release the
Illinois Central Railroad Company from the
payment 70 the treasury Of the state of Iii
nOis the per ccntum on the gross or total
proceeds, receipts, or income derived from
said Illinois Railroad Company, aud granted
and stipulated in the charter Of said COM
psny.
Mr.. knckerbockor, Of Cook County. was
IN favor of the bill, believing IL 10 be what
his constituents wanted, but be was opposed
othe pending amendment He did not be-
iieve that the legislature could interfere with
contract and then declare that there was
no interference
Mr. Baily said he did not believe the bill
could release the Illinois Central, but 10 salts
iy the scruples ofsomc people thi. amendment
Was offered: la case the court should hold
the law released the Illinois Central. this
proyiso would come in play. They could not
afford 20 throw away such revenue.
The amendment was adopted
Mr.. Burnett, Of Gnllatin, offered the fol.
lowing w a sixth section This act shall not
apply TO any railroad now in process Of con-
struction, or which shall hereafter be con-
'tructcd, until the expiration Of five years af-
ter thirty miles Of such railroad shall be nc
tually constructed So as 90 permit the running
Of cars over the same, nor Shall this act apply
10 any railroad in this state not exceeding
thirty miles In length, unless such railroad
shall become consolidated or from running
connections with some other line Of railroad
This act shall not be held TO apply TO any rail
road hereafter 10 bc constructed II the courts
hold that IL cannot affect roads now in opera-
ton.
Mr.. Bailey moved 10 strike out the last
clause, regarding IL as unnecessary aud tend
ihg 70 influence the court by indicating
doubt Of the power Of the legislature.
Mr.. Kerr, Of Madison, thought the bill was
passed only 10 bring the matter before tho
court. He would have preferred term Of
ten instead Of five years
Mr.. Merritt, ~ Marion. advocated the
amendment as necessary for the protection of
railroad Interests in southern Illinois. The
northern part Of the state had been built up
by generous legislation, and the same priyi-
leges must be extended 70 his constituents
which were needed TO develop their mineral
Mr.. Bond, of Cook, thought the members
from the northern end Of the state were dis
posed 10 deal fairly with Others That amend-
ment removed one objection he had 10 the
bill. He had always said these smaller road,
needed some such aid The trouble with the
bill was that IL hacked discrimination. since
they had not the information to decide what
was fair for one road and what was fair for
another. He knew the amendment would
remove the objection Of seveaal members.
DIR. Dnsmoor said the southern roads would
have been built If the men there had been as
liberal OF money as at the north. This bill
must be passed before the legislature is deliy-
cred over TO Vanderbilt and Fisk. At pres
ent the assembly was TO be trusted, and thew
should now pass q bill controlling tho railroad
corporations.
Mr. Bailey withdrew his motion,
Mr. Gale, Of Knox, offered the following as
substitute Tor the last clause Of the amend
ment; "And this act shall not be constructed
~ rs TO place any greater restrictions upon
railroads hereafter constructed than upon
railroads now in existence
The amendment to the amendment Wa.
adopted.
Mr.. Woodson moved to amend by striking
"nt i've years and inserting ten
MI Bailey objected. Ii more than five
years was needed IN any case, special Iegi,ls-
ton would afford relief
ihe amendment 10 the amendment was not
LAID on the table. Yeas, 25; nays, so.
Inc amendment o. the amendment was
adopted and the amendment AZ amended "a, AZ