, 1873-03-19
i'll introduced for an investigation
Into tie Lake Front Legis-
lation Of 1869.
Majority and Minority Reports
Of tho 11uln1nel Tnvcsti-
eating Committee.
Final Passage Of the 100000
State House Appropriation
Bill.

HTATE CONTROL RAILROADS.
srR1uor7r7n March 1a.-r'ho .,o11o,rnc rrao.
,,.:a "',oa ~. ~" r., ~ u''o"s en-
4unon' "ssoaoceu " mr. olo"aFs' ol MoAeaii'
oamo up as the special order:
Senate eonsursing TSat dongssss 5s
en aGnamSns ~ 10 sn9 Gos.ltaoh u tn0 o'ea
" III rest "s ~ ths 1,ed sotca ntc
Highways, ind authorizing Congress 10 esabllak and
tlansportaton oi peruenn I'D properly thereon, and
aushortzng tho state Legislatures, respectively to es-
tablisli and control tho local rates.
MIR, Collins doairod Congross to include an
the Eedorol oonstitution nrohibitinc tho inlpair-
,,o,t ~ o,-,r.ots M ~ rr-1v a. rei,,yov +,rffa
- ta, @ ~ noa aps ~ atarro ~ .
Alter much tala, tho ma1sof was feieffoo ~ 'ne
Railroad Comrnittoe,-7o to 81.
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
Ncvt como Mr.. Jonoa, rronos;tio, tn nho,iuh
49, 1as,.asa .a 1ua..i.a,,ns ro,.,,,,.;o,,o~a
'no naii'o"o auo ""iononao oo'iii''anio'oAs' .,
which he supported On tho ground that 1t was
lnr That might not be done rs we'll by the law
.,fi|rora ~ t1o ainfe Ho loarnfl mn expression
Of tin HouRs. Ho understood that n dojcgatlon
OF tie Board of Trade WIS coming from Chicago
to ur9o cllnngos in tho law. Why not wipe it all
out Fo Ind no obieotion to the motl poraon-
nliy' Mr.. Johngon belieycd tho movement to
nbnjish Tim 3oarl yaB premature. Tin
nrenogition to divide tho Board wag roioctod
Committees mi os wore wiling to make % Changes % in
tim INV m tho subject Of inencotion. ia did
not know what tho car-load Of LOBBYISTS wanted.
# thoy Desired to abolish tho Board, and take
tle jnnnoction of Grain ont of tho control of
the State tloy would fnil. It waa q difficult
mnttcr to hold tile halanco eyon botwoon the
Board of Trado OF Chicago n1l tho State out
sido. For tho saho Of the warehouse laws TINT
had to DO enforced, the agriculturists Of tho
Btate should oppoao the abolition Of that
Board. His Coninittoo 1ntornal Commorco)
would report amendment to tho Wsro-
house law. Flo believed tho office of tile
Commissioner should DO transferred to
10 tnlSen at uuY moment from tic decision of the
Inspector, Thoy would also provide for lexi-
bility in tho grading Of grain.
AIr. Shaw believed tho Commission came very
been but for ! fiaw in the Inv, for Which thoy
woro not responsible. All Tia contaminated
legislation was basod upon tho continuation OF
tic Commission, aB tic Houeo would ind in a
measures. -, ~
Mr.. Morrison lia not think tl,ero was any ,1se
for Commission.
Mr. Durham was Of the samo opinion. Tho
Commission waro simply executive officers, to
eay whou It suit should 10 bro"slt, aud bud atna-
ply charge in general way Of railroad litigation.
These mcn were not skilled in Law, and the
Attorney General WAS moro competent to Bay
when suit should be brought. II, as Was a.
Legislature Of illinois in thoir pocltets, how
Of thoso men. He said nothing against the Com
mission personally, Why not giYo tic powor Of
Attorneys and County Boardn7
Tie last Commission produced book by its
Secretary, which could have cost far loss. There
might bo u row III tho now Commission, ae there
WIS IN the old: Ho believed that for adninistor-
ing tho law tho Commission was uBeless in
eti1lmontality.. Tic Legislature could not fix
tariff, could it confor tho power on hny COM
mission. Thai was n question for Jury only.
He thought tho power Of tho State could be mr.
euce Of these Commissioners, who nero human.
Suppose nocorruptinluonccs could DO brought to
benr upon tlonl. lie would profor to trust tho
Judgment Of tho people in their county and
township organizations. The railroads could
not buy up the whole people, Tho Judgment OF
tile people was least lkcly to err. Lot them
provide that violations Of tho law bo presented
M in other criminal cases, Ho would never
tho right to fix rites, as it would DO futilo and
illegal. He hoped TINT tho matter would DO loft
with tho people. A motion to ordcr tho
previous question failed, and debate WAS nd
5ourned to the afternoon.
Mr. Gordon, 0 nlonaber Of the Farmera' Club
Committee on Railroads, considered the Com
mission q fraud and q hulnbug. Tho case Of tho
xalroada was parable! to That Of man who inynd-
cd domestic life, aud got killed by tho outraged
husband. Under the low, he was guilty OF mur-
muntty approved tho verdict. 30 tho community
would justify yorliets against railroads. Tho
aggregation ct capital robbed tho people Of the
rlgats OF lnbor. II was openly proclaimed
that railroada purchased LeGislaturou, aud
even Congress. How much easier would it bo
to invest IN three Commlssioners WaH it any
wonder TUG people dlhtrnsted threo Commits
sloneTs, Wheh great men III congress succumbod
70 railroad money! Let no body of men stand
oetWoeh tne people anu tho raliroads. Lot the
people gat, directiy Ut them. There wore too
many ol1clals III Illinois. inc commission was
9h unnecessary and expensive luxury. The
secretary OF the Commission told tho Chairman
q tne Houso COMMITTEE on Agriculture that
re lstMors were 70, making consummato mi foola Of
nice talk TOR man to whom tho farmers woro
giving food and clothes. Away with the Com
ninslo1: .,
Mf. Moore, OF Adams, dld not believe there
"as money enough in Illinois to buy the gentle
men on tho Board, but, unless they wore Of prhc-
tea! uso' ho was In favor OF aboliBhing them,