The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-29
REVENUE REFORM.
comrlets vIndication Of the Twenty
Ninth General Assembly from the
Attacks Of Republican News
paners.
papers.
SPEECH OF HON. z. M. HA1NEs
In the House Of Representative OF ths
General Assembly of the State
Of Illinois March 9, 1875.
(Concluded.)


us, we may begin comparisons. The peo-
pie will pass judgment in this case from a
financial standpoint, and when they come
to understand the utter recklessness OF
preceding general assemblies in regard
to expenditures of the public money, they
will not fail to give credit TO such as have
been more economical in their policy, and
thew will be slow to believe that legisla-
ture that has reduced their expenses down
from near three-quarters of million OF
dollars to a sum less than one fourth that
amount, is q mob and ''the worst that
ever assembled in the state"
1t is this recklessness in the administra-
ton of public affairs in the past, which has
brought upon the people the present OPP |
pressive burden of taxation OF which they |
are complaining. But some one was being |
benefited by this condition of things, and |
whoever leads in the direction of. reform |
must expect persecution. For one, am |
ready and willing to undertake the task,
and perhaps may as well be offered up
as sacrifice as any one else. Laughter
/ started out in the reform movement
knowing the consequences which lay before
me. No man should ever enter upon an
undertaking he is unwilling to take the
consequences Of 1t remains for time to
do justice to every reformer.
Those gentlemen Of the 9th general as
sembly who squandered $693, 900 and up
wards of the peoples money, being in SEES
sion nearly whole year, claim to be the
genuine relormers, and that we OF the goth
are a disgraceful mob-that nothing in the
history of the state approaches US in COM
parison save that odious "copperhead' leg
islature of 1868. Then, again, it may be
interesting to refer to the record OF the
past, and compare notes with the progress
of events, that the people may see whittier
we are drifting. In 1868, at the close OF
the fiscal year, as appears from othcial
sources, the aggregate of salaries paid to
state officers, from the governor down to
states attorney was $50, 1925, In 1878, at
the close of the year, the aggregate amount
of salaries for the same officers, with the
addition of an attorney general, was $780,,
300. This does not include the expenses
of the numerous boards of public officers,
which have been largely increased since
1868. This, it strikes me, is rapid stride
in the direction of destruction, and that
the day has come for at least an attempt
at reform. The people do demand our at
tention to this subject, and not only that,
but they demand that we shall present to
them some form of remedy which shall re-
lieve them from the excessive burden Of
taxation following the reckless legislation
of the past. The inquiry is not so much
as to who is responsible for this condition
of things, but rather what is the remedy.
1t is proper that we should first ascertain
what our grievances are, and then seek out
remedies. l have thus far presented the
facts as they exist, not in spirit of de
nunciation or condemnation, but rather IL
defense of the reformers of the presen
general assembly-leaying every one t.
draw their own conclusions,
For my own part-although | have beer
assailed by the partisan press Of the state
in terms of bitterness exceeding all bounds
Of decency and reason for the position
have assumed on the reform questions O
the day, yet | have no grievances person
ally of which to complain. | accepted tn
position of presiding officer of this hous
with the consequences before me- In &C
cepting the position as the choice of tn
combined OPPOSITION became at once tn
object of assault from the press and dis
appointed managers of the defeated party
whose plan is to render the coalition b.
which this result was attained unpopula
with the people, The actors in this seen
expect this end to be accomplished throug
the destruction of the reputation of tn
speaker thus selected. l impute to u
member of this house, of either party, ba
faith in whatever he may consider prope
for him to do while acting in the course G
his duties as a member. 1t is presume
that all are acting in good faith. 1t is c
the highest importance to the success c
our acts that the people should assign t
us, in their opinion, the same good faitf
which, we must confess, can scarcely b
10 he CO. Oc 81 81
representations of the newspapers of tn
state and their correspondents at the CAP
ital
The gentleman from Mclean (Ml
Stewart in his witty defense of the cor
duct of the newspapers towards us, some
what ironically assigns to us and our de
alterations the gravity of the Roman sen
ate. The comparison Is perhaps for tn
most part well drawn. In recurring t
the images of the Roman fathers as the
are Impressed upon US at the present day
their counterparts are not wanting in on
midst unless it may be in the person {
the gentlemen from Mclean (Mr. Stew
art himself. His countenance might,
drawing the thing too fine, get left out c
the group.
In referring to the proposition under cor
sideration as an amendment to the const
tuition we are reminded that the EDITOR G
the paper, the article have caused to
read, and who now impresses his seal G
condemnation so strongly upon this hous
as lone continual mob, and 1.-THE wors
house that ever assembled, was a mem
Der of the convention which framed tn
present constitution. He was jealous i
his notions upon every article adopted, bu
on none was he so earnest as that whic
provides for the mode eff electiDg member
of the house Representatives, called the Gu
mulative plan or minority representation.
He was the author of this provision hin
self, and was chairman of the committe
that reported it to the convention. A re
erence to this report will interesting, q
showing what was then his opinion of whs
would be the result in case we adopted hi
theory in electing representatives. In th
report he promises-not the millennium
but the coming Of the Messiah. Applaus
and laughter. ...-..
will now ask the clerk to read fror
this report, which appears 10 the Debate
OF the Constitutional Convention, page &c;
The clerk read as follows:
1.-The adoption of this great reform would q
much towards abating that baneiul spirit of part
san animosity, and removing the Temptations ar
opport unilies which now exist for the corrupt III
crate frauds the purity u the ballot box becon
ing alarming and frequent twill also tend poN
eriully to relieve the voter from the despotism
party caucusses, and at the eame time cOnstra
party leaders toexercise more care In selecting
ddates for lawmakers, There is nothing whiC
will more ehectualiy put an end To the practice
packing conventions Than the armng OF the vot
with Tits three-shooter or triple ballot powe
whereby he may fire '.plumpers" for the candida