, 1873-05-04

THE LEGI5LATURE OF uLINoIB.

.UQQny 1AOIU1uBs ASAA1 Ns ~Ns@s
TIE LEG15LATURE OF ILLINOIS.
Tho second Legislature elected under the new
Constitution OF Illinois has about closed its 1a-
bors. It is satisfaction to the people Of this
State, Who had been SO long cursed and dis
eraeed by tho biennial Legislature at Springfield,
to know that tho roform attempted by the Con-
etitution Of 1870 has been, in great measure,
successful. Though the Legislature no" is
nearly doubly as numerous ns it was under the
old Constitution, admitting many new and mex
pcrieuced men to tho Council Of the State, and
though the limitation on the duration
of the aessions has been removed, there
has been a decided improvement in the
general character Of the General Assembly. This
result has been produced by several causes. 1.
The new Conatitution by prohibiting special
legislation, has removed the inducoment for a
large class Of persons to geek election to the
Legislature. 2 Those elected, having no power
tolcsislate in any PERSONS interest, are not ex-
posed to the temptation before which so many
~N@"
the Legislatures elected since 1870 have been
compozod, as q whole, OF q better class of men,
.vho, having no power to 1esia1ate corruptly,
have not been corrupted. Not being corrupted,
tho Lcriela.ures of 1871 and 1878 have had moro
Of tho character Of delberative bodies
than anv Of their predecessors for many
wears. Tie members hare gone back to
their constituents with clean hands and with
consciousness OF official purity for which the
people will honor them and honor the new Con-
Btitution, It is not just to say that this official
integrity is wholly due to the stringent prohibi-
tions OF the Constitution. We arc sure TINT the
great majority of the members Of both Houses
have reioiced that the Constitution protected
them from all offers and b1ibes, and gave them
the power to say that special legislation Was in
possible. =:
The present Legislature, Like its predecessor,
has been conspicuous because of it's absolute in
dependence of corporate monopoliea. For the
second time . in quarter or century,
the Legislature Of this, State has not
been the mere agent Of corporations. That in
dependence hns been shown in the repeal Of the
famous Lake Park Legislation OF 186e,-it being
rendered more conspicuous from the fact that
among those in 1873 voting for the 1epea1 we're
several who in 1869, under tho 1ooHoness Of the
old Constitution, voted for that act. Who be
reves that the Lake Park Legislation Woult
hare eyez been repealed By q Legislature elected
nnder the old Constitution, and invested With tilt
power to pass any Law for any body who Toulc
cav for it? This independence of corporations
has made the Legislature equally independent o1
undue pressure from all other quarters, and the
" legislation Of the State upon all questions OF a
public character las been marked with a care,
= delberation and regard for right and Justice
that have not beon known in that body for many
years.
TIE not wiHh to be understood AZ saying that
the Legislature that djourns on Tuesday next
hes been composed exclusively Of solons, Or
that all the members may boast Of an immacu-
late character; but We do say that it has Illus
trated the wisdom Of the new Constitution, which
sought to render corruption impossible, and to
elevate tho moral standard Of the General Az
semb1y. There have been many foolish things
eaid, and many mistakes made, and the Eegisla-
t11e has been weak enough to vote itself anothe1
year Of official existence; but, nevertheless,
the people Of Illinois havo reason to be CRATE fu1
that the Legislature Of 1873 has not degenerated
into the corruption and ahamelessness which
we're once the rule Of Legislative bodies in this
State. There Were one or two acts passed on
Friday which it would be we'll for the Governor
to examine, and possibly veto; but thisis great
re1laf from the once ordinary Legislation Of Iii
nois, when the improper acts we're numbered by
The thousand.
Chicago has been more than ordinarily fortu-
nata in the results OF the session. The de1ega-
lion from this county, as a whole,
has been successful in securing all the
legislation that the peculiar wants and
necessities Of this large city required. Ono
great evil Of an imperfect municipal ts1-system
has been remedisd: careful provision has been
made to defeat the schemes Of those wealthy
persons who hare so long escaped taxation by
throwing their shnre upon the general public.
The Legislature failed to appropriate money for
u eecond lock On the u1inois, River, but OUT DEL
egatiou succeeded in having the surplus earn
ings OF the canal devoted to that purpose There
he's been much complaint that the Chicago del
egation were often absent, spending a large
part Of their time in this city. We do not
think the public interests suffered from this
cause. Tho men who had personal interests
enough to require their attendance at
home from time to time were better guardians
Of tho public interests than if they lad no
other occupation than serving in the Legislature.
These Chicago members, moreover, had the adj
vantage Of frequent consultation with the city