The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-29

y -
t Carmel now puts in It claim for $4,000 to fill
c up another ditch, dug at the same time
IN THE MUD AGAIN.
y Gov Bcvcridgc, on the DIST, vetoed the bill
to amend the stupid act Of the last legislature
= in reference to the election of justices and
constables, on the ground that the bill in.
: volvcd another stupidity in that it would
leave the counties of Edgar, bingham and
T. Cumberland without any justices or consta-
bles for the coming year,
RAILROAD FREIGHTs.
The senate, ON the 2lst, passed a sort OF
compromise bill on the subject of railroad
lreights, the leading provisions Of which are,
that heavy penalties, ranging from $1,000 up
to 100000 for the first, second, third oiiensc,
&c, are prescribed for any railroad that shall
:, charge eXtortlonate rates of freight or make
, unjust determinations, the courts to decide
whether charges complained of are cxtorion-
ate or not Charging more for a less than for
= la greater distance is prinsa tdcie evidence Of
unjust discrimination. Persons aggreved by
any unjust charges make their complaint to
suit against the railroad.
RAILROAD SUITS.
The bill directing the Attorney General to
defend all suits brought by railroads against
citizens for resisting violations Of the railroad
law passed the house on Tuesday, with an
amendment, that the Attorney General shall
defend such suits only when requested to do
so by county commissioners or boards OF SUI
pervsors where the suit is pending
JURORS.
The house bill in relation to jurors passed
the house on the Goth The bill is intended
to simplify the mode of drawing jurors, and
does away with the old disqualification on
account of previous knowledge Of the case.
AID TO RAILROADS.
The house passed a bill on Tuesday prOyi.
ding that the liability of all towns, cities,
lcouutes, &c, that have heretofore voted aid
to railroads shall cease on account Of such
vote on the LIST of July 1876 provided that all
the terms and conditions of such vote are not
compiled with previous to that time
ANOTHER BLUNDER.
The house on Wednesday hastily passed
bill to correct another blunder-this one be
ing in the judicial circuit bill passed few
DAYS ago. BY the other bill as passed num-
her of counties would be left without court
or Judge until after the election Of the new
Judges
THE RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
The senate bill, providing for building
lock and dam at Copperas Creek, came up in
the house as the special order on its final
passage on Wednesday. The bill wa, opposed
Mr. johnson, of Rock Island, and Mr.
less, of Wabash, and ably defended by
Hart, of La Sale, Hte of St Clair, and
Rogers, of Mclean. Finally the previous
question was ordered, and on the roll call
there were - votes for and "a against the
bill-thc bill being THUS defeated, lacking
two votes of constitutional majority. A
motion was then made by Mr.. Rountree to
reconsider, which was carried and the bin
was made the special order for Friday.
During his speech on the bill, Mr. johnson
charged that the Governor had used improper
influences to promote the passage Of the bill,
IA charge which the friends Of the bill vehe-
mcntly denied, and demanded a committee
of investigation, which was ordered
ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD LANDS.
Senator Cascy's bill to compel the Illinois
/. Central Railroad Company to offer the bal
ance of its lands annually at auction and sell
them at a fair price, passed tie house on
Thursday and is now in law
! RAILROAD SUITS,
Mr. CaSserl's house bill, directing the Altor.
ney-Gencral to defend the Mclean county
farmers in the suit brought against them by
the Chicago e Alton r. r., and authorizing
him to employ all the legal assistance he may
need, as well as to defend any similar suits
that may be instituted against other parties
by the same or other railroads, passed the
house on Thursday.
/ RAILROAD BILLS.
| No less than three house railroad bills, as
well as the Hildrup senate bill, were ordered
to a third reading in the house on Thursday.
sUNDRIEs
| A bill to punish wife-beating husbands by
whipping was voted down in the house on
the 21st
| Both houses adjourned over from Friday
of last to Tuesday of this week
4 bill allowing railroad companies to mort
gage their road bed rolling stock, &c, to the
amount of $4,000 mile, Notwithstanding
any provision of their charter to The contra,
~, has passed the house.
A new road and bridge bill of rs sections
has passed the house
The senate on Wednesday passed a bill in
reference to change Of venue in criminal
cases 1t requires that the affila OF the
criminal shall be supported by that Of two
credible witnesses.
Also bill authorizing the voters in towns