The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-02-04
Illinois Legislature.

Fu!lers railroad bill passed the senate last
Saturday. by a vote of 81 to Il. The bill
simply fixes the maximum of fare on all rail
roads in the state at cents mile. and i'm
poses heavy penalties ON railroads charging
more. The bill was opposed by men like
Judge Underwood, Mr.. Starne, and other able
jurists on the ground that it was unconsti-
tutional. Should it pass the house, the rail
roads will probably stand a good many law
suits before they will obey its provisions.
Mr. Reddick's BILL intended to enable the
county of La Sale to erect the new county
Jail on ground ether than the court house
square, passsd the senate on Saturday, and is
now before the house.
The ''official reporters" business again
occupied large share of the attention of both
senate and house. After tedious debate, the
senate, on Saturday, laid the whole subject on
the table, the reporters having withdrawn
their proposition to make the reports. On the
the same day the house disposed Of the subject
In similar way. On Tuesday, however, the
matter was again brought up in the senate,
and that body, by vote Of 26 to 10, passed a
Joint resolution to employ official reporters at
$40 day. The house has not yet acted on
this resolution.
The bill to purchase coin to pay the interest
on the state debt passed both houses on Sat
urday, and has beena approved by the Governor.
The treasurer is now in New York buling the
gold market and it is noticeable that gold
has risen.
Next to the reporters steal, the stationery bust
ness seems to be the greatest cause of worri-
ment. On Monday the committee on Insur-
snce, by Mr.. Egan, their chairmen, reported
that they were unable to do business for want
of stationery. Hereupon warm discussion
arose, in the course Of which it was maintained
that the $50 allowed each member for station
cry were not intended to be pocketed rs so
much extra pay, but were expected by the
trainers Of the constitution, to be used by the
members in good faith to be expended for
such stationery as they may need in the
legitimate transaction of their business as
Legislators. The house took this view of the
matter, and refused to give the insurance com,
mittee any stationery
A joint resolution, however, passed the
house to pay the Unnecessary expenses" of trav-
cling committees.
On Saturday, republican member from
one of the rural districts offered a resolution
IN the house denouncing the practice in con-
gress Of voting large subsidies to railroad and
other private corporations, making short
speech in Remuneration of the abuse. The reso-
luton was allowed to pass unanimously. BY
Monday, however, the radicals discovered
that the resolution was in reality violent
arraignment ofGrant and the radical majority
in congress upon which motion was made
to reconsider the resolution. After a good
deal Of manpuverng, the motion prevailed by
q strict party vote, and the resolution was then
strangled by being referred to the committee
on federal relations.
Among many other bills introduced and
not yet acted upon we notice one by Mr.
Barnes, in the house, to create the Office OF
superintendent of mines. 1t provides that the
governor shall appoint a citizen of the state,
thoroughly skilled in mining, who shall hold
the Office for six years. His duties are to
personally visit and inspect all mines, to re-
quirc plat Of every mine once 4 year, to re-
quire adequate ventilation, and, in general
to secure the safety Of the miners.
And one by Mr. Reddick amending the law
regulating the business of life insurance
companies, providing that fines, forteiture3
and penalties may be recovered in m action
of debt brought in the name Of the people of
the state of Illinois.