The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-05-17

general contribution, the people Of the
particular town or city are better qualified
to decide than others can DO. Tire same
system will not be suited to the wishes or
necessities of all places. Under our present
laws, streets and sidewalks are falling into
decay, and radical reform is indispensable.
To remove this evil we have authorized the
legislature to vest in each city and town
full power and control Of such improve
ments, and of the means best adapted TO
its wishes, circumstances and necessities.
For all other purposes, taxation therein
must be uniform. We habe also prohibited
the general assembly from imposing taxes
upon municipal corporations for corporate
purposes. II In ali other respects the two
constitutions are equal, these provisions
alone should secure the support of every
citizen of every town and city In tho
state.
CORPORATIONS.
We have provided that no corporation,
public or private shall be created or have
its charter amended by special law, except
institutions for charactablc, educational or
reformatory purposes, under the patro mage
of the state. All grants of charters for
special and exclusive privileges under
which no organizations have taken place,
or which shall not have been in operation
within ten days after this constitution
takes effect shall be invalid. We have
| prohibited the construction Of streets
railways without the consent of the local
authorities In towns and cities, and We have
provided for the protection of the minority
of stockholders of private corporations in
the election Of directors.
BANKS.
We have prohibited the state from be-
ing interested in any banking corpora
tion. Forbid the establishment Of any
banks Of issue, deposit or discount, without
cast ut a general election. We have de-
ments shall be LOCALIZED, and We have re-
quircd that banks shall deposit ample SO.
curity for the protection Of their creditors.
| RAILROADS.
We have provided that railroads run
ming parallel or competing lines shall not
be consolidated; and that a majority Of
the directors shall DO residents Of This state
We have declared railroads 10 BE- public
highways and required :the general as
sembly to establish reasonable maximum
rates of charges, and to prevent unjust dis
examinations and extortions. We have
|
else of the power Of eminent domain, TO
subject the property and franchises Of in
corporated companies 10 the public use,
the same rs the property Of natural per.
sons. We have provided against the release
of this obligation of the Illinois Central
rnilroad to the state, thereby securing to
the state nearly half II million dollars an
nually.
STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL ISDEBT-
.. EDSEss.
We have prohibited the state from con-
tracing indebtedness beyond $3.50, 900,
without submitting tho law to the people.
We have forbidden the general assembly
from loaning the credit of the state and
making appropriations from the treasury
in aid OF Internal improvements, and from
paying or assuming the debts % liabilities
Of any public or other corporation, associa-
ton or individual. We have prohibited
county author tiles from ever assess
ing taxes, the aggregate of witch
shall exceed 10 cents per 500 val
uation, except for the payment Of
Indebtedness existing at the adoption Of the
constitution, unless authorized by a vote
| " the people Of the county. We have
forbidden cities, counties, and all public
corporations from creating or further in
crcasing their indebtedness above 1--we per
cent ON the value of the taxable property
within the same and required that nj the
time of mourning such Indebtedness an
annual tax shall be levied, sufficient to pay
the interest rs il falls due, and to discharge
the principal within twenty years. For
want Of such provision in our state con-
stitution. our counties, towns and cities
have contracted liabilities Of over $50, 900.
900. We have submitted a separate article
prohibiting all municipal aid 20 railroad
stocks
FEEs AND SALARIES.
| Under the present constitution Il wa.
found practically impossible 10 carry on
three departments Of government, with,
out evading its provisions. The compen.
sstion allowed the governor, state officers
Judges and members of the general Assem-.
bly,, was wholly insufficient in times when
the prices of all the necessaries of life wor,
increased, and the currency inflated. BY
general and special laws, the fees of clerk.
and inferior officers afford them much
greater income than the salaries Of Cover.
nor and judges, and Ia the populous coun.
ties and in Chicago, these fees afford com.
pensation beyond all reasonable bounds
We hay @ inauguratcda system By which al
perQuisites of judges and state officer,
will be prohibited. We have limited
members Of the general assembly TO $50
each per cession, in addition 10 their per
diem and mileage, in full for postage, sta.
tionary, stamps, newspapers and all other
incidental pcrquisites. These perquisites
amounted, ut the last session Of the general
assembly, to over So, 900, which was about
$500 10 each member.
We have provided that the fees and
salaries of all officers under the constitution
shall not be increased or diminished
during their terms and that, with few ex-
cep tions, such fees and salaries shall be
liked before their terms commence. We
have abolished all special laws in relation
to fees, and put in force the general laws
in such eases; and We have required the
next general assembly, by general uniform
law, to provide and regulate fees Of ali
persons holding county offices, and their
successors, SO rs to reduce the same 10 q
reasonable compensation, in not exceeding
three grades In the different counties and
all laws fixing the fees Of state county and
township officers shall terminate with the
terms Of those at the meeting Of the first
general assembly.
We have provided the state and county
officers shall be paid reasonable salaries
out of the fees collected by them and that
the surplus be paid into the state or county
treasury. These fees and salaries may