The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-01-29
FROM SPRINGFIELD.
Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention.
FrSday Jda. 2l.-The day WA Amen, in de.
batting the proposition to print 5000 comics Of
~. w~ssrepore on retrenchment. Mr.. Dement,
moved IN amendment to re-commit the rsnort
with instructions to the committee to report M,
only the csst of the legislatures since 1860 nm,
si'o all tho appropriations made by such legi.la.
lures. The debate degensrated into such per.
sonalities that the convention laid the matter On
| the table, subject to future action.
Saturday. Jan. 22.-The committee on rule.
reported . new rule, that motion to lay An
| amendment ON the table should not carry the
original proposition with it, which was adopted.
An hour or two were spent in debating reso.
luton reported by the committee ON printing
that the Secretary of the convention deliver
daily to the public printer copy of the proseed.
ing' Of the preceding day, to be printed in a
book, &C. The only question was, whether tho
copy should be delivered to the printer by the
Secretary of the convention or Secretary of state
The former was chosen.
The committee on internal improvements re.
ported section to be part of the new constitu.
tios, forbidding the legislature to sell the Hi.
nois s. Michigan canal or any river improvements
the state may make, to private individuals or
companies The section was made the order for
Jan. s7th. Two reports on the subject of appro-
priating private property for public purposes
were made, and laid over for future csnsidera.
ton.
The convention agreed TO hold two sessions
day from and after Monday, and then adjourned.
Monday, Jan. 24-After some unImportsnt
preliminary business, the convention went into
committee of the whole on the report Of the com.
mittee on mines and mining and after debate
which lasted into the afternoon, adopted the fol.
lowing article
SECTION l. 1t shall be the duty OF the gen.
eral assembly to pass such laws as may be neces.
sary for the protection Of operative miners, by
providing for ventilation where the same may be-
required, and the construction of escapement
shafts, or such other appliances as may secure
safety in all coal mines.
SEC. 2. The assembly shall provide for the
enforcement of said laws by such penalties and
punishInents as may be deemed proper
The subject OF preamble was taken up, and
after good many absurd propositions to amend
were made and voted down, the preamble Of the
present constitution adopted without change
So, also, the article of the present constitution
on state boundaries adopted without change.
Adjourned.
1uesdry, Jan. IA report from the Auditor
was presented in reference to the cost of the peni.
tertiary since 1867, showing that institution to
have cost the state, during the last three years,
above earnings, $753,s33:
A communication from the same officer showed
that the expense OF the registry law have been,
to the state, for the last two years, $3S, 1855.
Add to this about $500 for each county and it is
seen that the registry law costs the people of this
state some s4O,O year.
The committee on bill of rights reported an
article in reference to the distribution of tho
powers Of the government Referred to commit
tee Of the whole
The Miscellaneous committee reported in fa.
vor of a $1,000 homestead exemption. Same
reference.
The resolution Of Saturday to have two ses.
sons day was rescinded for the present week.
The article on State comfy and municipal
Indebtedness was taken up and discussed, but
"Asu-oNN SomAhS w . Votc, INC COnVentlO0
adjourned
Wednesday, jan 2G-The day was taken up
in the presentation and reading of the reports
OF four important committees; l. The commit.
tee on Executive Department, % sections, made
the special order for next Tuesday; 2. Legisla.
tive department, 43 sections, special order for
Feb. 3; 3. Townships; and 4. Military affairs.
The convention, after reading these reports, con.
tinued the discussion of the provision to limit
the Indebtedness of the state, counties, towns,
&C., but came to no vote.
1hursldH Jan. 27.-The committee ON coun.
ties made report, substantially retaining the
present constitutional provision the subject OF
new counties. A minority report was made,
tayoring the Eldridgs idea.
The convention resumed the discussion on
state, county and municipal Indebtedness, and
with it took up as part of the same subject, the
canal question. Mr., Allen made long aud able
speech against the construction of any new ca.
mails; and was replied to by Mr.. Medill, in an
equally able speech on the other side. Mr.. Me.
dill, before concluding gave way to motion to
djourn.
MrssIsslrPr.-The Mississippi legislature last
week elected three United States Senators-one
AL Nl.aa