The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-01-21
Illinois Legislature.

to Tuesday so much attention was absorbed
by the contest over the U. s. Senatorship tina.
little attention appeared to be given to any
thing else. Then it tsok Mr.. Speaker Smith
two weeks to make out his list of standing
committees, matter usually done up in a
day, and OF course there can be little business
done without committees. Up to Monday
only % bills had been introduced in the house.
while, at any previous session, the number of
bills ut the end of two weeks, usually num-
bcred several hundred.
The "long agony over the senatorship
terminated on Tuesday in the ratification of
the radical caucus nomination of Friday eve
ming previous. John A. Logan received 1872
votes to 7. j. Turner (dem) 81 and w. II.
Snyder (dem92. Every republican, in spite
of violent contrary protestations at the begin
ming Of the session, voted for Logan rs the
caucus nominee. discipline must be MAIN
tained," you know Oglesby, in spite of the
fact that some forty members had been in
structed in his favor, received but % votes in
the caucus.
report laid before the legislature by the
auditor OH the 18th shows that the registry
law, during the last two years, has cost the
people $l0O,32S.40. This is for general cleo
lions, and has no reference to the numerous
municipal and special elections that have
been held, an account Of the expense of which
would swell the total to at least $4,000 An
enormous expense "to preserve the purity of
electlons," especially as no enc can sec how it
has done it.
In obedience to an absurd fancy of the
state Teachers Association, billshave been in
troduccd in both houses of the legislature to
enforce the attendance Of children at the pub
lie schools.
A movement to abolish the Office of county
superintendent of schools, and to divide the
duties at present performed by that function
ary between board OF examiners and the
county treasurer, promises to succeed.
The first bill passed the senate was one to
pay the balance Of the state debt as it falls
due in coin; and the second was one to pay
the members an instalment of their per- diem
Mr.. Fuller's railroad bill, fixing the maxi
mum fare on all railroads in the state at 3 cts
mile, to be uniform for all distances, and al
lowing each passenger 100 lbs. of baggage
has passed to third reading in the senate
| An important bill has been introduced by
Mr. Fuller, for the relief of towns, districts,
&c, that have issued railroad and other bonds
and are unable to pay them as they fall due.
1t allows them to issue new bonds, extend
the time of payment, &c.
Senator Harlan introduced bill to give
married ladies the same rights that men have
| to do business IN their own name The chair
said the bill must 60 to the committee on
federal relations, az we had no committee on
domestic relations. Mr.. Reddick hoped the
bill would not be banded about the Senate.
1t had merits and ought not to be ridiculcd.
The judiciary committee would be the proper
one, only that it is made up of Bourbons He
moved its reference to a special committee.
Mr. Morrison, OF Cook, created a bit of q
furry in the house on Monday by Offering a
resolution against reading the bible in the
public schools. King, Frew, Herdman and
Others pitched into it violently, when the OBJ
nexious resolution was laid on the table hv a
vote of 81 to AZ.
Both Houses propose, some day when they
get ready, to give themselves rhetorical air.
ing on the tariff question, resolutions on that
subject having been introduced and laid over
in each house respectively.
Senator Rcddick introduced a bill to au. |
thorize counties to build new court houses |
and jalls. Itpermits boards of supervisors to
purchase grounds and build new court houses,
the ground to be within the corporate limits
of the county seat. The bill contained the |
emergency clause, making the bill go into
effect Immediately, in consequence of the bad
condition OF many county buildings. 1t was
referred to the committee on Judiciary. It's
general law" intended to fit the peculiar
emergency Of La Sale county just at this
time.
Among the petitions introduced, we notice a
queer one, praying for the removal of the
Dayton dam across Fox River. What can
that mean
Fuller's railroad bill was taken up in the |
senate on Tuesday and called out lively dis
cussion, the leading points in dispute being |
an amendment proposed by Senator Starnc