The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-05-27

exempting property from taxation, or whether
general and special laws remain in force until
repealed by Legislative action.
The amount of property except from taxa
ton under the operation of the laws referred
to is very great, and many of the exemptions
are OF doubtful policy, and such laws should
be so clear as to be subject to no doubtful
construction.
again ask the attention of General Assem-
bly, to the demand for legislation to make ex-
listing laws conform to the requirements of the
fourth section OF the ninth article of the con-
stitution. For want of legislation it is ex-
Ceedingly doubtful whether there can be any
sale OF property made for the on-payment of
municipal and other local taxes, or fer special
assessments.
nj. Much interest has been expressed since
We late meeting of the General Assembly, in
the passage of laws to facilitate the establish
ment and completion of public parks, and the
laying out, opening and keeping in repair of
highways. | am not prepared to say, from
any personal knowledge possess, what pre-
else legislation is needed for the aid of cities
and towns engaged in laying out parks From
the nature of the subject, the want. and plans
of the different interest must. in measure ut
least, be special and peculiar; and legislation
cannot be more general than the subject to
which 1t relates. But the laws that relate to
highways are of such uniform and general
interest that brief amendments to the existing
laws will meet the full necessities of the pub
lie demands.
The proceedings for laying cut of roads and
procuring the right of way are too cumbersome,
complex and artificial, and should be simpli-
fed by legislation. After the most careful
provisions are made, TO secure to the owners
OF lands required for highway purposes, the
tairest measure of compensation, the proceed
lngs in other respects should be as simple as
possible, and at the same time attention is
directed to the requirements of the Both
section of the i,h article ofthe Constitution.
MI. On the 22d day of February, 1871,
the establishment Of the Public Binder was,
with other property in the city of Springfield,
unfortunately destroyed by fire.
In addition to the loss, by the binder, of
his own professional effects and the fixtures of
the establishment, his rooms contained large
amount Of the work OF the State, all of which
was totally consumed.
Without beng able to state the extent of
the losses precisely, l am prepared to say that
they are very serious, not only in pecunary
point of view, but they subject the State to
the inconvenience af the loss of nearly all the
printed Official reports made by the General
Assembly.
recommend that provision be made for a
reprint of the reports and documents that are
of value to the public, and also for settling the
accounts OF Mr.. Rocker, the binder, upon
principles OF equity and justice.
NIL. The remaining subject OF business
mentioned in my proclamation for legislative
action is the reconsideration of bills passed
by both branches Of the General Assembly.
and laid before the Governor. and by him
filed in the Office Of the Secretary of State,
with his reasons for withholding his sigma
ture tbereirom.
Amongst the bills passed by both branches
OF the General Assembly, and laid before
me within ten days before the alte adjourn.
ment, were the following, that upon exami-
nation, found myself urable 10 approve:
House bill No. 3, An act to authorize the
taxation of lands belonging to the lllino,
Central Railroad Company" etc.
House bull, No. ., An act TO repeal the
Registry law, and 10 establish registration in
cities, towns and villages" etc
House bill, No. 4s2, AN act to egalze
defective assessments of State, county and
town taxes, for the year 1870"
Senate bill, No. 24j, An act to provide for
an investigation of the discipline, manage
ment and financial condition OF the State
Penitentlary and to make an appropriation
10 pay the expense thereof. and to provide for
the Indebtedness OF the same
And these several bills were, within ten
days after the adjournment of the session.
filled 10y me in the Office of the Secretary OF
State, with my objections.
From the peculiar language of the last
clause of the 10th section of the 9Th article of
the Constitution. II is somewhat difficult 10
determine what the actual status of the above
mentioned bills is If they had been returned
by the Governor. with his objections, to the
houses respectively in which they originated,
the General Assembly being in session. then
the course of procedure would have been
plain; Tor, in that case, Il is provided 10y the
Constitution that TIE house in which the bill
originated, shall proceed to reconsider the
bill, and ii twothirds of the members elected
agree to pass the same, it shall be sent, to-
Sether with the objections, TO the other house,
by whirh it shall he likewise reconsidered:
and II approved by two-thrds Of the members
elected To that house, it shall be a law, not
withstanding the objections OF the Governor.
The foregoing provision is substantially
like that upon the same subject in the Con
stitution Of lS41, but instead OF being followed,
as III the Constitution of lS47. by the further
language that "lf any bill shall not be return
ed by the Governor within ten days Sundays
excepted) after it shall be pr >ented to him,
the same shall be a law in ih manner as il
he had signed it, unless the ,'cIcral Assembly
shall, by their adjournment, PIC, ent its return
IN wi Seh case the sand bill sha be returned
on thVtrst day OF the mpetluo < the General