New-York tribune., 1872-03-30

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, March 23.-After one OF
the longest legislative sessions record tho lab0rs OF
the Illinois General Assembly are drawing to Close
Nine months work, interrupted ana 10 some oA'cn'
dsarranged by several adjournments, Is coming "
head and measures that have been undergoing process
OF CESSATION are being matred into laws Except
An the case of emergency bills" which on recevingt"o
thirds OF the votes of all the members elected, go into
operation Immediately after being approved py
the Governor tho acts passed Will not DC
in force as laws until the 2d OF july next
1t will be easily therefore that any decldeueA-
preston of opinion TO the wisdom OF the acs Oh .s
Legislature would be anticipation OF the Verdct Oh
the pubc IL is safe enough, however, TO say that'
though the session has been long and expensive the
peopo are not dspcascd or angry believing as they do,
and with very good reason that this has been II not he
aest certainly most honest the most SOBER ana the
purest body OF that attempted tomaRe laws 10
govern great State. That they have been uneXceptona
bly, honest may not arise from inherent virtue but
from the fact that tho new Constitution, by
absolutely prohibiting private and special legisa-
tion. removed the temptation that frequently
proved too strong for their predecessors.
How TO account for their sobroty, except In the same
way would be difficult. With rhrc exceptions no MEM
Der has been the for liquor during the SESSION.
There never has very heavy LOBBY in attendance,
and whisky and cigars were not as potent rs wheh
corporations, both public and private desired favors
special legislation has been the salvation not only OF the
STATE but OF the reputation OF the Legislature. There has
been much controversy the subject OF eminent 40
main. The old laws doubtful in their meaning ana
the Supreme Court In its decisions, ha been gradually
drifting from the doctrine of special assessments towrd
that Of general taxation. Both have had earnest
and able advocates in Senate and House, the
senate having a majority for continuing special
assessments, while the House has shown positive par
taIity for general taxation. Tue result is hitch and an
attempted compromise by leaving the construction OF
the Constitution which says that "prlVate property
shall not be taken damaged for public use without
lust compensation" and again that " the Gcheral Az
semby may vest the corporate authorities OF cites'
towns and villages with power TO make local improve
nens bv special assessments by special taxation OF
contcuols propcrtv or Otherwise to the courts. In
fact tho compromise recites the words hrS qoteu anu
provides machinery which the friends OF special assess
mcnts construc to be equivalent to preventing her
being made AS the matter Stands, IL Is not al All iAey
any bill on The subject will pass.
Week after week has been spent in discussing revenue
but like eminent domain, it is rack on which tho
Houses split and to pieces. diversity OF interests
causes diversity OF opinion which can hardly be recon
ciled. Two bills born in the House and one In the
Senate though widely differing in their provisions were
killed by heavy majoItics in the House. They have
been consolidated the principles Of both having been
somewhat toned down, the mode of assessing aud col
Letting being little of each and new and apparently
less popular bill produced The prospect OF any Reve-
nue. law gong through IS not good The important
question OF deductions cannot De agreed upon, no one
system having adhcrents enough to make the const
tutiOnal majority OF all the members elected O ncccs-
sary TO pass bill. general Incorporation bill Tor
cities, towns, and villages carefully prepared in the
Senate, passed that body with section providing for
the division of cities. &C., into districts. not less than
two than SIX each district to be entitled to SIX
aldermen ono half retiring every year, and elected on
the plan OF minority representation. TAc sections Of tho
bin providing the remaining machinery OF city govern
ment might have been adopted in the House. but
the plan of Clecting the aldermen met with
opposition. The members were not educated up to That
standard. Some were honestly conservative and OPP
posed TO innovation they considered experimental
yet, but many moro fought tho reform because they
thought Ii a Democratic invention to wipc out party
lines and disrupt party that saved the country.
They WERE perhaps honestly enough, better partsans
than patriots. cry from all the people OF all the i'm
porant cities Of the STATE and especially from Chicago,
which like New-York has suffered terribly from the
ward saloon system, demanded tho adoption OF
this plan Of equal representation in their city councils
but the partisans unusually stubborn and every
trick and stratagem known to parliamentary bodies
were used defeat the measure. Then proposition to
submit the voters in each city the manner in which
the aldermen should bo elected hit upon.
and is now pending in the House. With
that provision the bill may pass, but not without it,
party lines far possible in municipal affairs, and to
elect men solely their merits, for their honesty and
ability fill the places they seek. The party hacks the
politicians who Lave been running rings ont Of which
they have grown rich at the peoples expense oppose
any effort to destroy that power which minority repre-
sentation would do In very short time They nom-
mated and elected many Of the members ana have used
their influence with too much success To retain power
i'm their own hands Their tenure of dictatiOn and Of
usrpng the rights OF the people cannot last long, for the
next House Representatives, to be elected Themselves
on tho minority plan, will certainly extend its adyan
tagcs in other directions.
The City Of Chicago or Cook County euphcmisicaly
STYLED in the bills as counties having population Of
over 100 900 inhabitants" needed great deal OF atten
ton on account Of the fire and OF its chareran i'm
nense volume OF incongruites patched by successive
Legislatures. The Mayor mere fgurc-head, like
wooden Indian tobacco sign, with an upited tomabawk
that had power 10 strike. Corruption exceeding in
turpitude, though not in magnitude equal to the Tam
many frauds has been exposed in Chicago showing the
rottenness which ITS government was based. Three
aldermen are In jail having been convicted OF bribery
and several yet to be tried. 1t found necessary
TO restore to the Mayor some OF the prerogatiyes Of
which the Office had been divescd for party reasons,
three years ago; TO make him head OF the Govern
nent fact well name, and have responsibility
somewhere. Under act just passed the power Of
moving municipal officers has been vested n' him. The
expires 10y express limitation In two years before
which 1t is expected good general incorporation law
for cities will supersede IT. But for the emergency
caused by the fire, and the confidence the Legislature
had in Mayor Medi the act would not have passed 1t
was. in fact, complimentary expression OF confidence
that ne would use and not abuse the extraordinary
powers placed in his hands.
State Convention OF Brewers, Distillers and Saloon
keepers held IN this city last week. They denounced
the law regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors;
formed State organization to test its constuonaty
and make 1t political issue in the next campaign de