, 1874-01-23
Proceedings Of the Illinois
Legislature Yesterday.
Bill Introduced to Diminish the
Powers of the Catholic
Bishop Of Chicago.
Bradwel|'s Bill Regarding Contempt Of
Court Killed in the House.
The Senate Again Troubled By the
Sunday L:quor.selIng Question.


Special Dispatch to Tile CHICAGO Tribune.
LIMITATION OF THE BISHOPS POWERS.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. Jan. Ex-senator Hampton
Introduced bill received By him from clergy
man of tLs Catholic Church in Chicago, which
ropeals the law OF 1916 authorizing certain
persons holding property in trust for the use Of
the Catholic Church, and Societies thereof in
the State OF Illinois. to convey tho same" and
Bishop Of Chicago, and confirm conveyances
made since Feb. "a, 1845. heretofore by the
Catholic Biehop Of Chicago. The clergyman
sending the bill! writes Alr. Hampton as follows:
CHICAGO, Jan. 20; 1874.
Hon. Eenjanin Ha1,Dton:.
DEAR SIR: Ever Hince your election I had from
time to time thought Of writing seeing you on the
northern half Of Illinois. Indeed, had long letter
written this time Last year, bdt entreated by par
to legally put the Church interests satisfac-
tory basis. What respectfully ask OF you IL that you
will introduce bill to repeal the act making the
Catholic Bishop Of Chicago corporation sole" The
reasops for this manifold. will euu1nerate q
few:
op ho being always as tho present one, stranger,
having neither affection uor interest in the State be
Yond what may may not ba created.
>.cond-The absolute power 1t centres IN one jnai-
v1dua, which is contrary the spirit Of nstitu-
Eons-cven against he natural las well tho posi-
tive law and spirit Ct ecclesiastcal polity.
IHfra-Tne immense amount OF property Cages in
coupa,i would only be tin} held By the Church
in aud around Chicago which ia not used for Church
purpoee3 mud ia subliyided and being o!d,for e1-
ample the old Catholic Cemery, and five or six other
properties bringing large rentals IN the centre OF the
city, &C.
Fvtffh-In case Priest, 4 Catholic LaJmsn has
difference with tile Bishop the administrator in
business matters, the Bishop becomes sola jdae and
if an appeal to civil Law is made, be 1tpTires Il e
Priest or Catholic laynan Of their dearest interests
both temporal and spiritual Tne cnous Of tho Catho-
Lie Church intended such injustice ye tile for
mer administrator OF the diocese did use the moneys
Of widows and orphans and others, urnong myself,
who personally gu1er to tho amount Of s. 0o0 which
was akcn out Of tho safe, and even to this hour CAN
You viii nud tha charter act making the Bishop
corporation sole In the Priv4te L.ws Of 1861 which
q: the time strcnuousIy opposed, fozeseeiug its un-
n1ace tho Catholic Church IN Illinois under subse-
ouent act, passed in 1862 which ,sas introduced By
Of vh ouF the spf II our to
the celebrated Charles OConor, Of New York. at the
instance Of leading cahohes The E,sronaas n IT. a
not work half the evils injustice it does to the CATH
ol}cs yet they had it repealed some years ago As 1t
town In lie Diocese Of Chicago As old citizen or
Illinois, you know from experience tho strugg}es, ETC.,
to build churches schools and othes institutions;
OF citizens. Now, in the Catholic Church.
owing OF late years. to the frequent changes Of the
Bishop Administrator, the priest 18 removed Tue
agency denied by ths Incorporation COLE" and the
Catholic OF Protestant who has claims for hbor or
material is Mt sea.
The politicians cent from this district are mostly Of
the Murray stripe: therefore know Of no honorable
Senator Representative who is as likely as yourself
to repair this great wrong inflicted on casho,
lies and other citizens who Ray have trusted
them. ANY information on the above: will furnish
you II you get the bill referred will willingly go
before the Committee and give such information
desired Trusting you will grant my request, know
you will be thanked by every intelligent Catholic who
Is not designing rascaI, and certainly by every ci-
zcn. whose uaue is begun, who lave just claims
against 1ho vast Catholic Church property in Northern
Illinois.
THE WRITER OF THE LETTER.
Ir. Hampton wi.llholds tile uanlo OF his cor
respondent The bill WAS ordered to first read
ing.
Senator Hampton to-day called up his bill, and
it was read first time, and referred to the
Committee on Corporations.