The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-04-19
From Springfield.

quest OF lrdlana, destroyed her cranberry
swamps by removing the Calumet dam, il was
not imagined that Anybody but the frogs and
cranberry pickers were damaged while i'm
mensc tracts of overlooked lands were there
by reclaimed and made valuable. But il
appears that Pfeiffer & Co. had "a saw mill
near the dam, and now they claim $4,000 for
the destruction of their water power, and the
legislature has voted to pay the demand
BILLS APPROVED.
The Governor, among others, has approved
the following bills:
An act to provide for the recording of in,
GicmentS
An act appropriating 200 for soldiers
monument at Mound City.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
Mr., Hart, from the special committee of
thirteen, on the 11uh, reported to the house
he consolidated" railroad bill agreed upon
ny that committee The bill is quite lengthy,
nut IN its leading features follows the Dun
lam bill-that is, it requires the railroad com
missioncrs TO fix schedule of reasonable or
maximum rates. declares higher rates for Il
shorter than longer distance to be prtnl0
.ti;cte unjust discrimination prohibits any
other unjust discrimination; leaves other
questions Of eXtortionatc or unjust charges
- the courts; and fixes heavy penalties for
violations of the law, the suits to be prosccut-
"a by the railroad commissioners at the cX-
pcnse of the state The bill was made the
special order in the house for Tuesday and
on that day, as well as on Wednesday and
Thursday, it was discussed to the cxclu-
sion of nearly all Other business. The main
attack, thus far, had been upon that portion
# the bill which prohibits special rates to
shippers. 1t had virtually resolved itself in
ID Il squabblc between the farmers and manu-
manufacturers, the former opposing, and the
after favoring special rates. The farmers
jriumphcd, and the section was adopted UNI
changed Numerous other attempts to
amend the bill were defeated, and on We'd
ncsday evening il passed the house by vote
yf 90 "a.
COPPERAS GREEN DAN.
The house bill, TO appropriate the tolls Of
d canal, after paying running expense 70
lie erection Of the Coppcras creek dam, was
aiken up in the senate on Wednesday and
Yos ed. This, with the government Gpplopr-
a,ion of 100000, places 100000 in the hands
If the canal commissioners with which to
commence this work, the entire cost of which
Is estimated at 100000
PEACE POLICY.
The senate on Tuesday, passed resolution
c0ndcmning the Presidents Incl ian peace
policy, in view Of the recent Modoc massacre. f.
Which senator was wise enough to be able to /
define what that policy is
THE PENirENTIARY INVESTIGATION.
The pcnilcntary committee, which had
been engaged most of the winter on the IN.
vestigaton of certain charges against the
Of the penitentary, preferred
by the publishers of the Joliet ReDuJlicaa, .
finally submitted report on the 11th. There /
5 majority and minority report-thc for
.ner signed by 10 members and the latter one.
ing certain irregularities on the part of the .
officers of the pcnitcntiary yet find that there
has been no stealing, or dcfrauding Of the
state, while in the main the management by .
which, from costing the state quarter Of a
million year above its earnings, the pcni-
tertiary has become selt:supporting, is com
,nended as wise and judlcous. The minor.
lty report is an mpetuous attack upon the
with rs little reason as good
temper The majority simply submit the
facts with mild comments as indicated, and .
make no recommendations or suggestions as
to any needed legislation in the premises or
change in the management 1t is understood
however, that the Commissioners and War,
den regard the report as such a censurc upon
: - that they will tender thcr recognition