The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-07-22
ILLINOIS, NEW CONSTITUTION.

We are indebted to the Illinois State
Journal for the following condensed
statement of the good qualities of the
new constitution, adopted by the people
of that State, at the recent election on
the I'd inst:
No law shall be passed making an
irrevocable grant of special privileges.
All bills before passing the Legisla-
ture must be printed, must be read
aloud on three different days in the
House, and the vote upon the final pas
sage of each bill must be by yeas, which
shall be entered upon the journal.
No act of the general assembly shall
take effect until the first day of July
after its passage, unless in case of emer-
gency, which shall be stated in the act,
the members, by two-thirds vote, de-
eide to put it into operation immedi-
ately.
No person elected to the general as
sembly to be eligible to any civil ap-
pointment during his term of Office.
All appropriations out of the State
treasury to be made by public law.
No money to be drawn from the treas
ury except by appropriation. Money
so drawn to be devoted to the purpose
named in the resolution and no other.
All special legislation entirely cut off.
The pay of members of the general
assembly to be five dollars per day until
otherwise fixed by law, and no other
allowances or emolument whatever, ex-
cept the sum of $50 per session, in full
for all postage, newspapers, &c.
The expenditure upon the new state
house is limited to S3,5O0,0 900, including
the money already laid out.
No limit upon the sessions of the
general assembly.
The State prohibited from paying or
assuming the debt of any corporation
or individual, or of loaning its credit.
Legislature prohibited from increas-
ing the State debt, unless for war pur-
poses, beyond the sum of S250,OOO
A two-thirds vote necessary to over
rule the Governors veto.
A II State officers hereafter to receive
salaries which shall be fixed by law.
All fees, perquisites and costs to be
paid into the State treasury. This pro-
vision not applicable to present incum-
bents.
The supreme court to consist of seven
judges instead of three; the four need
ed judges have been elected.
No county, city, township, school dis
trict, or other municipal corporation to
be allowed to incur q debt, including
existing Indebtedness, exceeding 5 per
cent. of the taxable value of the proper
ty therein.
All fees allowed by special laws to
cease after the adoption of the new con-
stitution.
All corporations hereafter to be crea-
ted by general laws.
The minority plan adopted in the rep
resentation of the stockholders of cor
poratiOns.
Every stakeholder may vote his shares
of stock for as many persons as there is
directors to be chosen; or he may con-
centrate the whole number upon one
candidate; or he may distribute them,
giving as he thinks fit.
All railroad corporations in this State
doing business under our laws to have
an Office in the State, where all trans
fers of stock shall be made.
The rolling stock and all other move
able property of railroads in this State
to be considered personal property, and
liable to sale and exemption, like the
property of individuals.
| No railroad company shall issue
| stocks or bonds except for money actu-
ally received and used for its corporate
| purposes.
Competing or parallel lines of rail
roads prohibited from consolidating
their stocks or franchises.
The Illinois Central railroad to b'
| held strictly to its contract to pay in
to the State treasury per cent. of it
gross earnings.
All municipal subscriptions, dona
tons, or loans of credit to railroad o
other corporations, prohibited.
Three-fifths vote required to remove
a county seat.
The State and all municipalities pro
hibited from levying taxes for, or il
any way aiding any church, or givins
anything for sectarian purpose.
The Illinois and Michigan canal neve
to be sold or leased until proposition
to that effect be submitted to the people
at general election, and approved b!
a majority voting.
The above are the main changes anC
improvements that have been made b!
the new constitution, which will 60 in
to effect on the 9Th day of next August
subject to the few limitations indica
ted.
The power of corpol ations, it will b.
seen, is utterly broken, and their priv
leges given back into the hands of tn
people. A guard is placed around leg
islation, thereby preventing improvi
dence and recklessness. Railroads hav
had the scepter of authority, which
they have so pitilessly used in the year
past, wrenched from their grasp, ant
given into the hands of the people
Representatives, and all things are ono
more as they should be.