The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-01-16
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.

| The legislature, though meeting on the 9th
inst, really succeeded in etlecting an organi.
cation only on the 9th, and since then has
made but slow progress. No standing com.
mttees have yet been appointed in either
house, anu until they are namcd no real bust
ness can be done. The presiding officers of
both houses, indeed, have a ticklsh job on
hand in organizing the committees, as both
owe their election to the Independents, who
therefore expect the Lest places on the com
mittees though constituting but small frag-
ment Of either house.
The want of committees, however, has not
prevented the opening of the flood gates
for the introduction Of bills and thus
far some - have been entered on the
house and senate "dockets" Among them
are half dozen orappropriation bills, for the
various state institutions, and new state house {;
also bill to repeal the registry law; bill to
establish district courts, sort of cross be.
tween TIE county and circuit court; a bill to
establish compulsory education q bill to re,
peal the Reddick liquor law bill to repeal
the present law allowing colorcd children to
sit in the same public schools with the whites
and to provide for their education in separate
schools; bill to prevent seine fishing in our
rivers and lakes; bill 10 abolish the normal
universities and turn them into asylums for
feeble minded children; bill regulating
state banks; a bill to abolish the Board OF,
Railroad Commissioners about a dozen Of
bills to amend the revenue laws, and twenty
more 10 amend as many different chapters of
the Revised Statutes,
The bill to exclude the children Of negroes
from public schools attended by white chill
dren---or to abolish mixed schools-ls the
bantling Of Mr.. Platter, democrat fir ON liar
din. Of course the proposition will get few
votes from representatives north of Egypt
and no large number from any quarter.
The bill to provide tor compulsory educa-
ton is the bantling of Mr.. Moore, of Marshall,
and Will be pressed with earnestness. Itpro.
vides that every parent, guardian, master, or
other person having control of any child be.
tween the ages Of and II years, residing in
any school district IN which school is taught
for three months or more annually, shall in.
Struc. or cause such child to be instructed in
spelling, reading, writing, highest grammar,
geography and arithmetic, either at school
or at home for at least three months in each
year, six weeks of which attendance shall be
consecutive. The bill belongs to a species of
legislation that is correctly characterized as
"praternal,' and hardly finds proper place
i'll a republican system of government
The Louisiana outrage of course, has re-
Ceived due notice at the hands of our legisla-
tors, by the introduction in both houses of a
proposition to appoint joint committee to
determine what would be proper for the
great and free state Of Illinois to say and do
on the subject
The first indisputable exhibition of bun,
combc occurred in the senate on Thursday,
when u resolution was adopted to adjourn
sine die on the Goth of February. None of
the members who voted for the resolution
certainly can have the remotest idea that the
legislature will adjourn at that time, dcserva-
bic as 1t might be to the people.