The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-28
REVENUE REFORM.
Complete yindication Of the Twenty
Ninth General Assembly from the
Attacks Of Republican News
papers.
In the House Of Representative Of the
General Assembly Of the State
Of Illinois March 9, 1875.

In the House Of Representative of the
General Assembly Of the State
Of Illinois March 9, 1875.
The house having under consideration |
the resolution offered by Mr.. Inscore, pro- |
posing an amendment of the article of the |
constitution relating to revenue, Mr.. Cum |
mings being in the chair,
Mr.. HAINES said:
MIR. SPEAKER had not intended to
take any part in the debate on the question
under consideration-at least to the ex-
tent OF what would be called q speech on
the subject-but after listening to the we'll
timed sremarks of the gentleman from
Union (Mr. Inscore, and the gentleman
from Cook (Mr. Bogue,) and the question
Of privilege interspersed in the midst of
the debate by the gentleman from Mclean
(Mr. Stewart,) l have thought I might be
pardoned for taxing the indulgence of the
house, to interpose suggestions which the
occasion has brought to my mind.
The subject under discussion is one of
grave Importance, and I have been both
pleased and interested with the able and
exhaustive remarks of gentlemen who
have advocated the adoption of this meas
ure. cannot say am displeased with
the very singular and ludicrous Interrupt
tons by the gentleman from Mclean tMr.
Stewart, with matter entirely foreign to
the subject under discussion, through the
claim Of question of privilege, by thrust
ing before the house an article in news
paper rejecting unfavorably upon the
members and officers of this general as
sembly. But taking the whole allusion in.
to account, l have thought it an opportu-
nifty inviting still further presentation of
case which it was to be hoped he would
himself have presented, when so favorable
an occasion was afforded him.
desire, therefore, before proceeding,
to present to the house something further
on the subject of these newspaper COM
ments concerning this general assembly,
and it may be that the facetious remarks
Of the gentleman from Mclean { Mr.. Stew
art, may, for certain purposes, have more
connection with the subject under discus
sion than would at first blush appear. In
order, therefore, to bring the subject he
has attempted to enter upon more fully be-
fore the house, will also call upon the
clerk to read some paragraphs which find
in copy OF the same newspaper he has
caused extracts to be read from, which
have indicated by pencil marks.
The clerk read as follows:
1.-THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
"soME COMPARISONS AND BRIEF HISTORY.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
"sPRINGFIELD, Ill, Feb. 24.-To-day closes the
forty-eighth since the general assembly convened
here in Springfield 1t has done nothing yet, and
the indications point to very uncerta future.
6rei history Will not DC out OF PLACE. Frs shonlt
regularly with its business, and has devoted yer!
little time to buncombe or unnecessary legislation
The house Of representatives, the contrary, has
done nothing. Ii Is, without doubt.
THE WORST HOUSE.
that ever assembled in the state"
"THE coPPERHEAD HOUSE OF 90.
I'm January, 1868, the general assembly conven
cd at tine capital, The senate, with Francis
Hoffman as presiding officer "a Republican,, wen
Immediately to work The house organized by tn
election of Samuel A, Buckmaster speake
There were, from the first, discOrdant elements /
the house. The Republican party was a mino
any means. The house organized on the ct
but it not till the 14th that Speaker Buckmase
succeeded in harmOnizing the conflicting claim
and pretentions OF the COpperhead Democrats E
that he could announce the standing committee,
II was In the days OF special legislation. and sell
Interest prompted the Democratic rabbe to perfeC
score or 30 OF private laws; but for legslatn
for the state, and it's thousands or brave either
who were then IN the field battling for the prese
walton of the Union it proved itself utterly incon
potent, February 10, at O'Clock in the morning
the house adjourned amid the greatst excitemen
Drunken members reeled to and fro, and oaths ar
obscenity were heard on every hand.
'UNHEALTHY COMPARISONS.
"Under restored Union and the Republican pa
", other legislatures (seven In number) have CO
vened at the capital. Each one has gone quietly
tions as characterized the Democratic house Of Is
or the Opposition house OF 1875, dignihedly al
lahorlonEly proceeded with its work OF enactll
This resume is made for an illustration of Il
predominant traits Of the Democratic legislatt
Alter holding the position of n hRpUarlV
in the general assembly for twelve years the
ambitious and unscrupulous politicians sudden
md themselves again in the majority.
starting out under such auspices, it is no my
terry that the house has reached Its forty eight d.
and nothing has been done, Ii has been one co
t'nuai mob during almost every session.
"AND YETIr Is FRAUD
"But there Is another chapter still: After Il
vote on the Louisiana resolutions was taken, Il
speaker made false announcement of the resul
Members who voted no were recorded aye 9th
members who voted no were not recorded at a
That this ts true, the action OF the house ise
bon Democrats and Speaker Haines were Statistic
the house had voted the censure the resolution
would long since have been transmitted to the Sc
ate. 1t has never been donel
"scHEMEs INcUBATING.
"The attention of the people is called to the 70
lowing: caucus was held last Thursday nigh
and a few Independents: l. To cut down all a
preparation bills to sum barely sufficient to RI
board Of To abolish the the
board ofcharites. Again IL Is proposed to demaT
OF the governor party representation on the SIEVE
al boards TO be appointed by him, under penalty
Teiusing the necessary appropriations to carry {
the executive department.
LET the people Of illinois look well to their re
resentatives. In the midst Of peace and plent!
under constitution pronounced almost perfec
with statutory laws ample for every honest arb
tration Of Issues between citizens; with judici
ear open to the slightest complaints legislatu
eonvenes at the capital that blindly PUSHES hea
long AZ WORK Of destruction. Last fail, a part
long deprived Of the confidence of the people, n
der false pTetences af hberaty persuaded anoth
disafected element to fuse with IT, As a resul
the Democracy and the RefoFmers went before Il
people, and III platform, press, and by voice, ma
loud Hrotestations of reform, The people, alwa
FESTIVE when they imagine their rights are beiI
overlooked. needed these professions, The who
people OF the state now reaping the fruit of Il
folly that Landed promise ed reform. Out of the 4
bills introduced into the house, but two have pass
and received the signature Of the speaker, and Of
of them was killed in the senate"
This, sir, is the opinion of a newspapt
correspondent at the seat of governmel
in regard to the house of representative
Had this criticism been applied to the ge
eral assembly, without special reference
either branch of which it is composed, Il
attack could not haYe been considered pc
sonal or invidious; but as it is, it bccom
matter entirely personal to this nous
and coming through the high source whiC
it does, it seems to me it ought to hay
attracted the attention of the house lor
ago. / am not displeased that the gentl
man from Mclean (Mr, Stewart1 h;
called attention to these continued invi
la n Al. =