The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-03
pailp Argus.
OFFICIAL CITY g. COUNTY PAPER
LEGISLATIVE CORRESPONDENTS.
sPRISeTIELD, ILL, March 2, 1870.


EDIToR OF ARGUs:-It is with pleasure
that can report a considerable progress in
legislative matters. Last week and this
week, up to date, both houses have been At
work earnestly, and very considerable
amount OF business has, and is being done
The Senate, comprised of its so msm bsrs, g
majority OF whom are lawyers, is getting
aioag very we'll with its business and is
nearly two weeks ahead of the house. The
senate has passed quite large number of
oiIls and has ordered a still greater number
to third reading, which is equivalent to
its passage.
A few days ago, Mr.. Roe from committee
on State institutions, introduced bill to
create q board OF pardon com mmissioners. Ii
is their duty to visit the penitentisries once
in three months and there receive applica
ilons for pardon, and the governor is to ex-
eroise his own discretiO in pardoning those
whom they recommend. Two of the five
commissioners provided tor may be women,
and 40 one osn be pardoned except upon
their unanimous recommendation. Thir
is good and wise lsw and
ought to be passed. Under it the Governor
knows nothing Of the merits of the person
whose pardon is asked, except he learns
them from the commissioners. 1t is an IN.
doubtful fact that there are few men who
will ever be elected Governor who can re-
fuse 10 pardon person when the sppca-
ton for pardon is signed by hundreds of his
political friends. Under the law proposed
og the bill, the Governor has only the recon-
Ensndation of the commissioners TO guide
his action.
There is "hitch" in the matters OF our
state institutions. There are 62 farmers in
tha House and they are generally very
heavy tax payers and they propose to know
where the large amounts of money called
for goes to. They favor all necessary ap-
proprishons, but insist that only necessary
appropriations should be made. The time
has come when appropriations will not be
maie last because @ number of sleek hated
gentlemen desire that they should De car
ried.
The Senate has ordered to q third reading
the Fuller railroad freight bill, but it will
not pass the House. There is q general
opinion prevailing in the House that moth
ing bat a clAssi6 cation of freights and rail
roads will do, aud that any attempt to make
q general railroad law, without classifying
tas rOais sad freights, is made in ths inter
eat OF the large corporations. This whole
railroad business will have TO finally 20 tC
the courts aud there be disposed of.
The bill introduced TO protect miners kal
not yet been reported back, and it is little
doubtful If it wall be until after the recess
Ine committee | learn are opposed 10 ths
passage of the law--or rather, q mAiority o
the committee is.
The Waiting dog law has been ordered
to q third reading in the Senate, but it il
likely to meet with considerable opposition
IN the Houss. The farmers in that body d
not think that Is necessary to have the dog
''collared, "snd take the ground that if do
is valuable enough TO be furnished with
collar that he is valuable enough to b
taxed.
Yesterday two attempts were made t
have resolutions conside cred favorng ad iourr
ment. One was introduced by Mr.. HAinel
the both houses adjourn sine die on the 2ls
inst and the other was introduced by MI
Morrison of Munroe that they adjourn o.
the 18th until the 10th Of May. The Hous
in both cases refused to suspend the rules
TINS two houses will ad iouru about the BOD
inst sine die, and then if il is necessary th
Governor eau cell a special election an
state the business that will be necessary fc
thsm to act upon.
/. is thought that this week or next Q
effort will be made to remove the capita
Peoris seems TO be the most favorable plat
although Bloomington aud Decatur hs,
some friends. Chicago does not want it.
but there is q general feeling in favor of q
ting it out Of this Sangsmon county .mu
hole.
The committee are ct work hard, ar
next week aud the week following q vel
great amount of work will be produced
them. There about 400 bills in the HouI
and about 300 in the Senate. Perhaps on
tenth Of them will become laws. Y.