The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-02-21
Constitutional Convention,
Executive Department
Report --Supervis
Of Public Char
tiles.
WASHINGTON.
THE FUNDING BILL--INCOME TAX
SALE OF CADETSHlPS--U. s.
SUPREME COURT JUDGE
SHiPS--MISSISSIPPI
BLACK BILL.
Terrible Tragedy--Bonds Registered
Terrible Tragedy--Bonds Registered

SPRrSGF1ELp, Ill.,, Feb. l9.-The Con
ven,ion met at 10 o'clock this forenoon.
Messrs. Skinner, Wells and Underwood
presented petitions, which were referred.
Mr.. Church's resolution, In regard to con
siderius reports standing committees il
Convention was brought up. Mr.. Haye
moved to refer it TO the Committee on Rules
which was done.
By Mr.. Skinner, q resolution to adjourn
from noon to day till Monday. Adopted
By Mr.. Bryan, q resolution to establish
State Printing Office. Referred.
By Mr.. Snyd der. a resolution to proyid,
for the election Of Master in Chancery
Referred.
The Convention then went into Commit
tee of the whole on the Report of the EI
ecutive Committee, Mr. Truesdale In the
chair.
! Mr.. Anthony, Chairman of the Commit
| tee, briefly ex xplsined the the provisions Of
the report.
! Mr.. Church moved to amend the first sec
ton by adding . Superintendent of Public
! Charities. He argued in behalf of such al
! officer, declaring that he would save the
State more than twenty times the salary
paid him. In reply to Mr.. Hayes, Mr.
Church said it was not the intention to in
clude the Normal Universities, only the
charitable, beneficent and reformatory insti
tutions.
Mr.. Tincher indorsed the amendment OF
Mr.. Church in the main, and wanted three
perintendents of Public Charities He
also be lieved the interests Of the State de-
manded the creation of State Superintend
ent of Insurance companies.
Mr.. Pierce Was satisfied that the manage.
ment of our public charities was the mos,
expensive and unme;hodical of any of our
institutions. A Systematic method Was
needed. he favored three Superintendents
Mr.. Wheaton Was fsvorably inclined to
the smedment. One Superintendent, in his
opinion, would be amply sufficient, and he
should be an appointive, not an elective
officer.
Mr.. BromweI wanted it made separate
section
Mr. Hayes decidedly opposed the creation
Of any more Offices, and referred to the
which had cost that city eighty thousand
dollars. During his remarks he paid high
compliment to Gov. Palmer, styling him a
man of ",he old Roman stamp
Mr.. Church again advocated his amend
ment, affirming that Superintendent of
Public Charities is the most needed of any
State Office.
Judge Rice was opposed to the creation
of any new Office, and particularly saw no
necessity of creating an officer who would
only be q pensioner on the State.
Finally Mr.. Church withdrew his amend
ment for the purpose of introducing it in the
Convention rs q separate section.
Mr. Washburn moved 10 amend By making
the term OF State officers two years. He
advocated the frequent election Of State
officers, as it would cause no additional
expense.
Mr. Ross agreed to Mr.. Washburn's
amendment.
Judge Wait had intended 10 make the
same motion as Mr.. Washburn. The will
of the people should be allowed TO ex press
itself as frequently as possible. He opposed
the report for rendering the Governor inelig-
ibe for second term.
Judges [ Underwood and Rice favored four
years as term of Office.
Mr. Medill favored the report, and op
posed frequent elections, and was opposed
to any reelection of State officers.
Mr.. Bromwell obtained the floor, and sus
tanned the report.
Mr. Tincher indorsed the report and at 1850
the Convention adjourned till Monday.
The Circuit Court convenes IN this city
mex, Monday.
The United States Brick Machine Com
pany of Chicago, with capital of 100000,
filed certificates of organization yesterday.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.-Secressry Bout
well stated to several Senators and Mem
bers who called on him to-day, that he hop
ed they will pass the Funding bill at once
- that he had assursn ces that be could fund
several hundred millions within short time;
that 5-20s were about par in Paris, and
l0.40s were 95; that he regarded the fund
ing bill as more important to the Gov
ernment than any other measure now pend
ing.
virtually agreed to reduce the income tax
to three per cent.
Mr.. Whittemore. of South Carolina, vol
unfairly appeared before the Military Com
rnittee to-day, and stated that, after re-
fuslng to sell his cadetship at West Point he
nominated the son of On old friend who had
moved into this district, and whose appoint
ment WAS strictly legal. Subsequently, f.
p. Brooks, without prior arrangement with
him, sent two thousand dollars TO his district
Brooks testimony, taken after Whi,timore,
had concluded his statement, substantiated
all these facts. Brooks testified that he
made an arrangement with Devices, of n ortb
Carolina, for the purchase Of his West Point
plnce. but that Devices is now compelled to
give IL to State Senator Lassater. of North
Carolina, in return for which Lassater prom
ised not to oppose Devices for Congress, and
to vote for a certain railroad bill then pend
ing in the Legislature.
Commander Upsher, of the Navy, was
examined to day by the military committee
concerDing TIE purchase of a csdetshiP from
Congressman Hoag, of South Carolina. The
evidence rapidly accumulates involving
members of Congress in the sale OF cadet
ships. Eight are already implicated.
Southern Senators have given notice that
they intend to talk against time to defeat the
action in Bradley's case, for the United
States Supreme Bench, until the bill h1ing
the Judicial circuits ia disposed Of
The members elect to Congress from Mis-
.issippi, with the addition of Senator elect
Revels made another visit to the Executive
Mansion to day tor the purpose Of requesting
the President to-day signing the bill for the
admission of Mississippi until after the bill
removing political disabilities, (which con
tains names Of certain members Of the dele.
cation, shall have passed Congress. The
| reasons for this requsst, which were because
| of the fact that the admission of the State
before the removal of the disabilities OF .