, 1870-07-01
Reforms OF the New Constitution and
Defects OF the Old.

Hon. Il. ". Wells, Of Peoria, q leading
member of the late convention. contributes
the following article to the Peoria Rerie,o on
me subject OF the new constitution It pro-
ent the subject in Light that must convince
men OF the imperative necessity that exists
1of Inc ADOPTION OF the new constitution:
sPEClL LEo1sLA1Iosa.
One OF tho most serious evils our Etata has
had to bear upon the present constitution n
spec,al legislation. It We may credit the state
ments or those II position to know, mora
than tour-dfths Of the business done br the
legislatures for the list two or three sessions,
mas been the passing Of laws granting special
privileges Or irnmunities to some few inliyidu-
ais, while the general business Of tho STATE
has been neglected
II IL difficult to conceive how such laws can
command the attention OF members, how the
general business Of tho State shouIi ba ne.,.
lected for private business OF indiyiduaIs TEs
explanation ls easy. Mr. A. from the =
district, wants charter for IN insurance con-
pany. alr. i, from another district, wants a
le1EE charter, while Nr- c wants tho fees Of
ZONE f oeeE nc IT, IN hls county, Who is particular
Schemes would have the slightest chance Of Sc
curing IN act Of the Legislature IN it's favor
were II the only one that presented itself. but
NJ. A, L, and Q get toEether, and each saws to
tue other, vote for my little bill and viii vote
ior yours; apd go bargain is made; allagree
IS formed which is presently joined by otheP
members, each with one OF dozen net schemes
70 be put through, aud 50 private laws by
the thousand ate paesed. while the real inter
ests OF the State are neglected. Wore this the
oniy eEl Of special legislation the people
mgn1 na endure it: 70 say nothing Of the enor-
OF the members and the officers, and the thou-
saad other expenses, the State might submit
TO these forms Of plunder, but the evil does
not stop here There are many members who
want no insurance charters Or ferry grants,
so they make q direct raid OF the treasury,
aHo lpat member who can secure some re-
mission Of tag to his county OF town, or secure
an appropriation of money to build bridge,
o5 improve ~ sone slough, called river, thinks
MmseEt entitled to tie everlasting gratitude |
OF all his constituents.
In 1863 Alexander County secured . remis~ |
sion ,o1 q the State tx for tTo years. The tax
OF 1869 vas 81, HISS, The ta1 Of 1870 will |
he at least as much. |
In 1865 the Collector Of DuPage county Was !
defaulter, and the Legislature, by special |
law, released his securities to the amount at |
1888. A. In 1861 Gallatin County procured
an exemption from State tax Tor ten years.
This cost the State SIS, ,775-16-
These are but samples Of q dozen ar mora
other special laws, by which the State Treas |
ury has been depleted by almost $500, 600. all |
told, and tho counties, cltles, and toW11s not |
are taxed to mako up the AMOUNT
In other words, the citizens Of the counties !
benefited escape an State taxes, and the citi-
Zeus OF other counties arc taxed enough moro
to make up the deficiency The State ia. this
year is thirteen mills, more than double as
htga AZ it has ever been before.
We present these plain facts to our readers,
ana n ssk, arc you willing to continue this state |
Ihe new constitution has ample safeguards
against these evils, at least as ample as the
could devise
We find an absolute denial Of the power Of
the legislature to remit any tax, or to release
any Indebtedness due the State.
The legislators are.also forbidden to assume
for the State, debta Of any town, county, city,
or corporation
Special 1egiaIation has also been thoroughly
destroyed, and We are Of opinion that II! the
new constitution is adopted, the evils we have