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

ing and responsible gentlemen of Peoria are
ready to eoncede to the state most beautiful
ana eligible site for state house, in or near the
ciy OF Peoria if the state will accept it for that
purpose, and they offer to pay the state large
sun " money a an inducsmeat to the removal
OF .ne seat OF government to that beautiful and
ento!Prl"ng city; and if this question is to be
cons'9e.ec ~ an open enc. no doubts are enter.
saineS out other towns and cities will be tempted
70 MAKE onsrs Eorrsspondingly large. So that the
excitement Will extend to all parts of the state.
anu the sacleot WILL take hold Of the public mind
interests. f
No practice that has been openly tolsratad nv
the legislature OF this state is NOR. ORC. eor.
and unwIss In principle or vicious And corrunt;,v
IN practice. than that of accepting rifts and do.
nations from counties, Cities tswns and ;nd;v;J.
aais, as inducements for the selection Of .ucb
localities for tho establishment of public ip.ttu.
tions' or the erection Of public buildings Ifanv
place offers such superior advantage and fac;E.
ties as will make its selection 40 the seat Of Gov
eminent advantageous to the public INTEREST," no
aoo'tioAal inducements can, with justice be re-.
qaired and II any place proposed is unsuitable
Tor tho purpose, no mere pecuniary offers should
DO allowed to influence its selection; and. what
is more important still, the people of tho state
ought not to burden any community with the
whole or any part OF the sost Of contracting
1t must be expected that when localities an.
dertake to assume the burden of performing
such general public duty, it is done with the eI.
pectaton OF profit, and my observation 10, that
In all eases the profit goes into the pockets of
| the shrewd aud specializing, and the burdens as
sumo the form OF taxation, and are thrown upon
the shoulders of those who toll
The State OF Illinois is nsw happily free from
debt, and 1t Is far more able than any Of its
~ .hnr Anr Ill.
individuals, to purchase sites and construct all
needful public buildings and while INV views
OF the policy Of relocating the seat of Govern
ment are entertained in strict subordination 10
the pubic will, such Is my experience Of the
evils OF accepting gifts II. inducements for the
location of public institutions, that no measure.
which contemplate such contributions from anv
county, city or town can, by any possibility 70.
ceive my approval. Before concluding this
branch OF the subject, it seems to be due TO the
| state house commissioners that should express
my continued confidence in their integrity and
| fidelity to the interests Of the state.
After the close OF the late session of the gen.
eral assembly, the commissioner Of the state
house. in view of the fact that some doubts had
been expressed as - the quality and sufficisncy
OF the work already done upon the building, re-.
quested tas to appoint . commission, to be com.
posed Of skillful Aad disintsrested persons, to
K
nanship done under their supervision. Nv first
impression t",aecsde to their wishes but
having satisfied myself by observation and con.
sultation with many practical builders that no
weil-founded objection exists, either to the qua.
lity OF the work done or 10 the materials used in
the building, I finally declined 70 do So tits
due to my own character IA the chief executive
OF the state to say tina. IL nv observations or in
ves,iga.ions had developed any evidence Of IN.
{.,th Sal, 81.
tho discharge Of their duties, I should not have
hesitatsd TO apply the proper so-res,ion.
IN. BY the report Of the Trustee. of the In
sane Hospital At Jscksonville. mads before the
commencement OF the late session OF the general
assembly, the liabilities OF the institution up 20
and intending the Both day OF Novem Der 1870,
amounted - the sum Of forty.1ur thsss .ud We
hundred dollars And three cents, but from the
error including tho first day Of December 1870
in the account, and applying tho appropriation
of TWENTY-FIVE thousand fve hundred dollars
made for the supper. Of the Institution for the
quarter closing February 2S. 1871 the sctua al i'm
deotedness was reduced to the sam of twenty.
two Thousand dollars. and three cents. but by
thu. application OF the appropriation the institu.
uoA was lett without ns.ns tor the payment of
it. current expenses for tbs period between the
lst day OF December 1870 and February %, n.
These facts were, no dsubt well understood
by the general assembly, and appropriation
was made for Tho supper, OF the institution for
the qaart.r ending February -, 1871, thus plae.
ing upon the statute books two appropriations,
amounting in the aggregate to the sum OF forty.
seven thousand five hundred dollars, 10 pay the
current expenses OF the institution for the same
quarterly period.
After the passage OF the lsst bill demand was
made upon the Suditor to draw a warrant for the
sum OF twenty-five thousand dollars. being the
amount last appropriated. the amount srpropri-
sto5 by the act Of 1869 having been previously
drawn from the Treasury When the auditor,
with my appreciation. decided that when appro.
priations are made OF different su,a. and BY diff.
ferent laws to the support of any OF the state in.
stitutions for the same period, he was bound to
hold that the last appropriation was intended by
the Legislature TO superssde the other, and that
he could only pay TO she trustees the difference
between the amount of the frs. md the last APP
propristioas.
The legislation needed, therefore, is only to
authorize the payment Of the sum necessary
(s22,5OO to discharge the liabilities of the
Trustees of the hospital, and such law does
not increase, but only changes the apprOpria-
ton made at the last session.
The amount of the deficiencies in the APP
preparations for the support of the Soldiers
Orphans Home, and an explanation Of its orr
gin will be found in the special report of the
Trustees of that institution, which will be laid
before the General Assembly.
Deficiencies like these must be provided for,
though may be allowed to express the hope
that they will not hereafter occur.
y. The revenue laws, as am aware, re-
ceivcd considerable degree of attention at
the late session of the General Assembly, and