, 1879-05-08

A LAMENTAHLE LEa1sLATuRE.
It Ia soomingly n hopoloss task to appeal
to tie Legislature Of Illinois to wind mp tho
pnblid businoss and adjourn. Tho 1eglsla.
tnre has become public scandal. It Ia re-
garded universally throughout the 8.ato ~
an organization which, Under tho cover OF
official nuthority, is endeavoring to collect
blackmail and otherwise diHhonostly plumber
tho people Of the State. Mover, IN tho fifty
years of tho history Of Illinois, has thoro
been sucl, session as tho present, nor ono
which has elected such profound contempt
from tho whole peoplo. ",Yiil tho Legisla-
turo never adjourn2' il the universal quoa-
tion. Tho only legitimate business it
hnd to do was to pass o Drainage
Inv, adopt n few amendments 10 tho
Revenue law made necessary by judicial de-
ciaions aud to reduce the cost Of collection,
and to pass the Appropriation bills. This
business could havo all been completed In
toiligently by any Legislature not controlled
by corrupt purposes within sixty dnys. Tho
scssion Inns now extended beyond four
months, mud not ono legitimate act Of lagiH-
latfon has yet boon passed. The daily ses~
sions have not exceeded four days In tho
week, md On oven those days that tho
Houses have been non,inally in session they
haye not had quorum. At least ten Of tho
days were wasted In discussions Of a
bill to ox!er1ninnto cockle-burs, and rs
many more in burlesque debates and
buffoonery. Mover haa there boon
r $,x 111frrto 4pntn11 hoe vt,r1rs>
such M inexhaussiblo capacity for doing
nothing that waa honorable to tho members,
creditab1o to the State, OF useful in any
sonso.. Tho whole session has been broad
and disgraceful farce. Corruption has stalkod
through tie halls, and its presence las boon
courted and invited; whom it did not pre-
sent itself voluntarily, its presence was
coerced. Committees Wero actually sent
aftor 1t.
Tho people Of Illinois hnvo great cause to
be indignant; there ia no apology for the
delay of tho public business, nor for tho
length Of tho seasiou. When tho people
adopted tho now Constitution ono groat ptlr-
pose was to get rid Of long sossions Of tho
Legislature by limiting the power Of 1egis-
lation. Nothing but general laws were
to DO enacted, and yet at this session OF
tho Legislature nearly 1000 bills have boon
introduced aud arc now ponding. Tho
whole purpose md intont Of the Constitu-
tion havo been evaded md defeated In old
times it WAS tho practice Of 1nombora to OBJ
tain from one to half dozen special char
tors for ouch member, and then, after tho nd
journmcnt wns over, to sell these charters fos
money, just as thoy would stationery and
other Bpoils OF the session. The practice
now is eyen WORSE. Now combination
prepares bills proposing to 80 amend the
general law as to break up cortain branches
of business; md, II tho partieu Interested
do not pay for tho withdrawal Q,
lefent of such bills, to pass thon. b.
| going to any expert at Springfield
and taking up tho calendar Of pending bills
you will bo informed that snoh il AS bill ani
tho next is BIS bill, and so on through tht
1900; each Of them is the property Of some
sncmbar, through which that member <witt
some partnora expects to colleotBome none,
from tho oorporntions or other parties inter
estod in It's defoat.
| ka44 - AOkoIlOA6f G4A ~ ~ " LII
shameless md Infamous System that th,
present loug sesaiou aud disgraceful proceed
ings Of tho Legislature aro due. There ar
sufficient number Of members Interested j,
ioba-blackn1ail and otherwiso-who aro abl
to keep tho Legislature in sossion 80 long q
tllore Is dollar to be got BY threats and b.,
aztortinn.
There are n number Of honest, upright
and intelligent mcmbors In both Houses, bn
they seen to ba powerless. They owe 1t /
themselves and to tho State to unite an
frankly expose the truo state Of atfairs
They should meet aud designate such bills a
arc Of general necessity, and, refusing t
| consider my others, should force the House
to pass these, and then, it the majority wi
not adjourn, have the Governor disporsc til
. Legislature IS Gov. YATKa did on q fol
NOR and somewhat similar occasion, Tt
rnilroad companies, by canceling all ralroa
pazsss 10 1nombers aftor May l5, might POI
sibly hastau an adjournment ut that date.