The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-02-19
By Telegraph.
Constitutional Convention.
MOTION TO ADJOURN UNTIL JUNE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
STILL OiEN.

| SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Feb. ls-The Conven-
/ ton met at 10 O'Clock.
! The following petitions were presented
and referred:
From ED. Taylor and others Of Chicago,
for protection against extortion by commits
sion and warehouse men.
From citizens OF Shelby coounty, praying
for the formation of more counties.
Mr.. English offered a resolution providing
for a recess from March lst to MAY lOth,
and neither officers or members to receive
pay during the adjournment.
| Mr.. Wall moved TO amend BY inserting
June 9th, instead OF May 10th, and moved
10 lay the resolution on the table, which was
done by 40 ayes to ten noes.
Mr. Church offered a resolution providing
that all reports OF committees shall be con-
sdered by sections, and only such sections
as are to be amended shall be referred to the
Committee of the Whole.
Pending a decision the special order was
taken up on the tenth section OF the Legis.
lative Department Committee, in Committee
with Mr.. Wrihgt in thu chair.
Mr.. Pierce moved to strike out the fourth
section and iusert in lieu thereof that the
Senate at its next session shall consist of
fifth members, to be elected as provided by
the Constitution, which substitute was lost.
Mr.. j. c. Allen moved to amend section
10 By providing that in all Senatorial dis
tricts where the terms of Senators elect shall
have expired, or vacancy occurred, there
shall be two Senators elected in November,
1870; which amendment WAS adopted.
Section four was amended by providing
that Senators elected under this constitution
in 1872, in districts hearing odd numbers,
b IN dsE
tricts with even numbers three years, and
was thus adopted
! Section Was taken up, and Mr.. Cody
moved to amend the first line of the section
/ by inserting 1.-TWO or more full ratios" in
stead OF "above the ratio"
! Mr.. Cummings offered q substitute which
| provides that. to any county or districts
having fraction of population so large that
/ multiplied by FIVE, will be equal TO one or
more ratios additional, Representatives shall
| be apportioned as provided by this section.
Mr.. Browning was willing to take the
substitute offered to this section, and consid-
cred it nearer the just rule than any other
they would adopt.
Mr. Archer's ideas of this matter were 20
clouded that he WAS at a loss to know what
the section would mean, or what the amend
"iOHle "ouiu Hcbu IL duOptSu- hO N'H Ao'
object to the amendment as it embraces the
idea he had of this section.
Mr.. Wheaton said there is no reason fol
having floating Legislature. Section 6
gives a fair and just appro,ionment to the
State, and he therefore moved to strike out
section Z.
Mr.. Merrill said the plan of the commit
tee was designed to place Legislation out Of
the hands of political wire workers. "Yor
cannot do justice to any country unless yor
} give it alternative representation. You de
prive fifty or sixty counties o. their proper
representation in the House if you adop
any other plan.
Mr.. Dement, not being in favor OF thu
proposition to increase the number OF Rep
+ reseutatives as proposed by this section, hi
=. would not supper. the amendment.
Pending any action, the Committee ros'
and the Convention adjourned till three
o'clock.
The representation problem is yet un
solved A great many theories and ioea
we're advanced this morning ON the subject
I'D tbara IN vet room for mapy gentlemen