Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-15
ILLINOIS CONSTITUTIONAL CON-

tI1fNOkS CONSkEIAI1ONAE CONS
vENTION.
There is a Constitutional Convention I
now in session in the State Of Illinois, and
as what they are doing may be of interest
toehe members OF our Convention, posi- |
bly, throwing some light upon the questions
which viii come up before this body, we
propose to furnish from time TO time
brief resume of the proceedings of the
Illinois Convention Upon the subject of
LEGISLATIVE APPoRTIoNMENT.
The Committee on Electoral and Repre-
sentative Reform, and the Legislative Com
mittee, had conferences and agreed 10
report a bill to the effect that in the APP
portionment for Legislative offices, the
whole population, as ascertained by the
Federal census, shall be divided by the
number fffty-one for representation in the
Senate and 153 for the House. Each Sen
atorial District shall choose three Senators,
whose term of Office is to be four years.
Each Representative District is likewise to
choose three Representatives, whose term
of Office is to be two years. The districts
are to be bounded by county lines, and to
be of compact territory. A county, how
ever, may be divided when entitled by
population to five Representatives. When
House District has fraction above the
ratio, so large that being multiplied by the
number of sessions in ten years the result
shall equal one or more ratios, it may elect
an additional representative in such years
as this result occurs. The same rule also
applies to senatorial districts. Senators
elected from the odd numbered districts
are to vacate in two years, and from the
even districts in four. Vacancies are to
be filed for the full term. Each elector
may cast as many votes as there are candi-
dates, and may cast them all for whom he
pleases, and may cast fractions of vote
as low as one-half. The three candidates
having the highest votes will be elected.
| This is Mr.. Medill's minority representa-
ton proposition.
Mr.. Browning offered the following:
In the election of all officers of this State,
whether executive, legislative, judicial or
ministerial, whenever more officers than
one are to be elected to the same Office by
the same constituency and for the same
time or term of service, each voter shall
be entitled to as many votes as the whole
number of officers to be chosen by the
same constituency to the same office for
the same time or term of service.
CONVICT LABOR.
Mr. Medill offered a communication
from the Stone Cutters Association of
Chicago, protesting against the employ
ment of convict labor in the construction
of public buildings, which was referred
to the standing committee on State insti-
tutions and public buildings.
ONE LEGISLATIVE BODY.
Mr.. Snyder, of St. Clair, took the floor
in behalf Of his resolution, That the
Legislature consist of only one body, and
he composed of 300 members. He pro-
ceeded to read a lengthy argument in be-
half of his resolution. He cited all his
tory to show that this form of legislative
government was the best. He couldn't
sec any reason why there should be two
legislative bodies in this State. The Sen
ate had never done any good. On the
contrary, he had heard men say when they
were DESTROYS of manipulating the Legis-
lature that they liked the Senate the best,
because it was small body and easier to
handle He was in favor of a single
legislative body, ODE composed of numer-
GUS members.
APPROPRIATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Mr.. Haines introduced the following:
Private property shall not be taken or
applied to public use without the value
thereof shall be first ascertained by jury,
and compensation therefor is first made in
money; and no private property shall ever
be taken, or applied under the name, or
form, of special assessment, nor shall
benefits be deducted, in any case, from
the value of property as compensation.
No person shall be imprisoned, or dis
seized Or his freehold liberty or property,
but by judgment of his peers or the law
of the land, according to the due course
and usages of the common law.
MIsDEMEANORs.
Mr.. Wall, of Perry, Offered the follow
ing:
That all offenses less than a felony, and
where the punishment is not by confne-
ment in the penitentiary, shall be tried
without Indictment or presentment of
grand jury, and that all other offenses
shall be tried only by such indictment and
presentment; the grand jury to consist of
fifteen persons, ten of whom shall concur
in the finding of bills.