The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-06-17
FROM ILLINOIS.
The State House Appropriation.

hANfANOr UNIV - ACA ~e
To the Editor OF the wOREmsHAEs Advocate.
The recent action Of both branches
of the Illinois Legislature on the ques-
ton Of the removal Of the state capital
deserves a passing remark, as illus
trating the power of money and organ
lied gangs of public plunderers. 1t is
now too late to discuss the propriety Of
removing the seat of government, the
very decisive vote against the proposed
movement having settled that question,
for the present, at least But it may
be well to consider briefly the attitude
of the members composing the majority
Of the Assembly.
The proposition to remove the capital
from Springfield is not Of recent origin !;
il has, tor years, been periodically agi-
tated. That the selection Of the pres
ent site was unfortunate, and secured
by unfair, if not absolutely dishonest
means, has been very generally conced-
ed and this concession carries with it
a very natural conclusion-that the err
ror should be corrected as soon as pos
sible. The necessity Of removing the
capital from Springfield became 60 pal
pable that the project assumed tangi-
bic shape during the last regular SEES
sion of the Legislature. The city OF
Peoria was at once selected by those
who favored the change as the most ell
lgible and appropriate location for the
seat OF government With q unanimi-
ty altogether beyond precedent in this
state, and with an alacrlty stimulated
by a desire to benefit the common
wealth at large, the people, Of all sec
tons Of the state Excepting, of course,
the deniZens of Sangammon county and
adjacent localities, interested in retain
ing the capital at Springfeld) united in
petitioning their representatives to vote
for the submission of the bill providing
for an appropriation for the completion
Of the new capitol to a popular
vote. These demands, clearly and EN-.
phatically expressing the wishes Of the
people, were ignored, and the Legisla
ture adjourned without haying taken
any decisive action. A large majority
Of the newspapers of the state united
with the masses in their appeals; but
the demands Of press and people were
alike UNDECIDED.
The Legislature was subsequently
convened in special SESSION. he thel
constItuuonally or not; whether al
extraordinary occasion existed, othel
: than the occasion to pass the APP
} preparation bill, we will not here IN
! quire. No sooner had the Assembly
commenced its work than petitions from
all portions Of the state poured in, al
; asking for submission. The Springfield,
: ring and Spring6eld's money, however
were more potent than the voice Of tn,
passed, by vote Of 81 to Ill in Ii,
Senate and loo to "A ia the House.
We have not mentioned the fact tina
competent architects and builders hav,
stated under oath that the walls Of tn
structure in course Of erection SHOULD
be razed that they are unsound tina
1t is unsafe TO proceed with the build
ing; that the plans are being constant
b y changed that those having in hant
Il the disbursement of the money ar
: either incompetent or criminally care
less that a vast amount OF material ha
beer charged to, and paid for by Tia
state, that has never been used or re-
: ceived and that large proportion o
the material already employed is infer
. Tor in quality or totally worthless. w,
have not referred to these matters, be
cause they are foreign from our prcsen
purpose
: What we desire particularly to i'm
press is the fact that the people Of Thu
state have been deliberately insulteC
by their representatives that their de
: sire to have a word in the regulation o
: their own affairs, and the uses to which
J their money must be applied, has beer
, scOrned at the behest Of nest Of pot
house politicians and gin mill Statesmen
in Spring 6eld and the urgent necessi-
ty of adopting such means as will pre-
vent the occurrence of similar vii
lainy in future.
That there are members of the As
sembly who voted for the Appropriation
bill from honorable motives may b.
true; but that dlsreputable and unlaw
tul agencies were employed to infu
ence the actions Of others may yet b,
established.
That the great mass Of the peopl,
are gradually surrendering their author
/, ity and influence into the hands Of
class Of professional politicians who ar,
J constantly under the hammer, is as dis
creditable as indisputable and the &C
ton Of the Illinois Legislature in deal
ing with the matter under consideration
should serve to show them what the,
may expect il, in future, they DO no
exercise greater vigilance. Let then
choose 10 represent them, in every de-
partment Of legislation-from tie cOun
Gil chamber to the National capitol
none but men whose past record is un.
blemished; men from their own ranks
from the workshop and the farm
from legitimate and honorable Occupa-
tons; and not from the ranks of cumming
lazzaroni, who lnfest ward meetings and
hang around political haunts and street
corners, OF from the hordes of penuri-
Gus, selfish autocrats, whose sole aim il
to still further enslave the toiling mil.
lions and render them still more depend
ent and helpless. J.P.B.