New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-04-27
Tile ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.

THE BUSINESS AND EXPENSES OF TIE SESSION.
PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE COMPLICATIONS
INTERESTING STATISTICS AND CIRCUM-
STANCES.
SPRINGFIELD, H., April 20.--Last December
it was generally anticipated that the present session. the
27h OF the General Assembly would be one Of peculiar
interest The Illinois Constitution Of 1870 has been pro-
by cOmpetentudg the best yet adopted by
State All students OF law and Of society cherished an
expectation that the revision of the statutes and their
adaptation 20 the Constitution would develop discus
sions unusually fresh and Instructive but they dis
appointed On Monday last the Assembly adjourned until
next NOvember-the House signalling the event by a
fusade Of paper balls and general disorder The more
decorOus Senate closed its session with prayer an ad
dress from the Lieutenant aud the apostolic
benedctOn. The contrast was typical OF very marked
difference in ability and Of responsibility between
the two bodies The House presented the anomalous
spectacle OF an organization without head. The
Speaker, though impartial and personally popular,
seemed to lack the faculty Of governments and there
not, upon the floor, either side, recognized
leader The Senate, the other hand, as able as
any, perhaps that have had wasted little time
in talk, and attended closely to business.
The Legislature In session for 10 days. and passed
In all 81 bills of which the Governor has already vetoed
fwO though OF these afterward passed his
veto. Several s remain in his hands, awaiting his final
decision. The expense Of the session 100000
or 1900 day. so that each Of the laws enacted cost the
people OF the State about 1900 An analysis Of the leg
asatiOn accomplished shows that of these 81 bills H.
Onethrd Of the entire number were appropriation acts,
otherwise related to public institutions Of Illinois
There two for the smaness Of the result
One is found in the stringent provisions Of the Con
sttuon which prohibits All special legislation ana re-
qures that every bill shall be read at large on three
different days IN each House, and that the bill and all
amendments thereto shall be printed before the vote Is
taken on its final passage. The consequence is that,
pushed through less than twelve days from its
Introduction The principal reason however, f9r the
by members in needless discussion and calling or the roll
Thus while the XVIII Assembly IN about 80 days, out
of 400 bills introduced passed over 1900 or twothirds
OF the entire number the XXVllth Assembly In about
100 days. Of about bills introduced passed only 80,
every IT, The cost of each law two years ago.
Mas 5 instead Of s. OO0 but ON the theory that
gan1s The most noewort6y feature Of the session just
concluded is the failure Of the Legislature 10 act upon
many q The most important measures before IT, IL az
ioarned without making any appropriation for the ordi
ana contingent expenses OF the state government:
eNera OF the departments prOvidedfor under former
laws p9 Others are not II adjourned without dsposng
% tne rententary question. The Penitenary until four
years ago Vas leased since then ii has been managed Dy
1On t and Warden at State expense ana mas
VII n0t ne certainly known until after investigation
nt creditors pressing for payment Of the in
settlement nor has been decided whether to return
9,tn tho reSSiFes Ss'em or not The new con-
laws as 1ay De necessary for the protection Operative
miners homestead and exemption laws enactments
hxing the salaries OF state officers and providing and
regulating the fees OF county and township officers
,syenue Jaw, anu 70 Iespporon the STATE None OF
on the state-HOuse at Springfield has come 10 a
standstil after the expenditure OF nearly million dol
lars for the want Of further appropriation Another
surprising omission j. the deliberate refusal OF the House
concur with the Senate In Joint resolution for the
reprntng OF any portion Of the official reports of State
officers and public institutions which were in
the burning OF the State bo0kbindery This refusal
makes gap in the records OF the State DESTROYING the
continuity Of the series The effect will he felt In every
library of public documents in the Union The only rea-
ton assigned Is want Of appreciation Of the importance
and value OF such records.
In view Of the failure OF the Assembly TO act upon these
and other questions the Governor designs to call q spe-
cal session. 90 convene IN Springfield about the GOTH of
May question las been raised as to the constitutions
aity of this call The session has not been without the
ordinary flashes Of dizziness and Of wit In the first
szand week resolution introduced prohibiting tho