, 1881-03-12

CE35puVlS u htlC4t III 4lUN tS&lQlkstEQ
III tho State every four years; md give n
purcr and healthier tone to Its politics, Its
Government, and Its laws We sincerely
hope that tho majority In their tavor vii! be
and punitive; and that 1t will he
lnrge enough to measure the real feelings Of
the people on tho subject,
-
THE Latest LE918LAr1VE MoNsrR0s1TY.
Every days experience cou!frHs tie wis.,
dom OF tliat part OF the State Constitution
which limits the General Assembly Of I'LL
nois to Que meeting In every two years; but
there Is rapidly-Erowlng sentiment that 1t
Is unfortunate that the Limitation was not to
one session IN every four years, and TINT ses-
sion limited to ninety days. The meeting Of
the General Assembly Of tl,ts Stnte Is becola-
Ing notice thnt the material interests OF the
people md Of the State are subjected to
peril; md 50 long rs the session lnsts the re-
ports Of tue daily proceedings are read with
as much fear md apprehension rs It some
calamity was pending.
Legislation In Illinois las undergone
revolution. Formerly legislation was for
sale. Then any person wanting special legis-
lation for any Purpose wrote. or applied
personally, to member. anu. fur the price
agreed upon, obtained whatever net was re-
Quired. Indeed, 1t was COMMON then for
members to vote themselves special charters,
good for any part Of the State, md utter the
adjournment these vera peddled around tt'o
State for sale. The Constitution Of 1870 did
a"hs WIN I'LL tHls k'h" VI seoahare''s tfA''c
in Legislation, but since thon there has grown
up another system eQualIy vicious anu
threatening TO public interests. .....
Members OF the Legislature VINO may W.
considered rs dangerous Delong TO TWO dis"
tlnct groups. Inc one IS Tie sentimental,
experimental, theofetle. anu Whol'y lna-
practical. Ihose members have ideals OF me
trn!y grant; conceive iegislation thaE wal
embrace poetical snolinity anu Acadlnn
integrity, simplicity. aad virtue; they dreatn
ot peflec1ao l4lty Unknown 10 ordinary aa-
manlty, alad propose experimental legislation
10 Smash inc "ofla as IL Is ana upon inc
wreck pulld up nc" oraer OF thnles'
These arc ordinarily honest and weli-meaa-
lnR' put lack pfact'cal sense WHICH Is eS-
trelnely useful to law1naker.
Inc o1iler class IS taa proiessiohal D'acK-
na1!er,-the man VINO seeks TUG oiilce OF
LeRtsl@1of tnas no May levy o1acRtnall OIL
corporations a1ad individuals, and who plies
MS infamous vocation win uhre1tilttl'lR zeal
anu lnaustTy' ohaer tHe chanRea Constatu-
tlnh no cannot easily sell special !egIslatlon;
Out there Is nothing IN TIC prohibitions OIL
the constitution TINT PROMPTS MN from
lcg'slathg to destroy, ruin. and break up
existing institutions III case they do not pay
hd,, = oon.,Jarotlnr, for .,,r,rosstn,, thot loo.
ie1ntInn Bttwactt tho two rIassns-hatsepn
+ha honaat rts,oporv viii, lila tbaorattc nv.
usp,,namtI y % ana thu ,ntn'trcnt , m a "~ axneri.
oncui hIoo.,otror mr., thav oap.ro,I,, oot
eHceo nl''ch''hs'ss' htlo aAes senesni'S "ct
of r1,1rotu orJ evar,, branch, ~ hns;,,aea n ro
,A., Auo'' "'a e,I,' e'". ., ~ Wv
subjected btennlally to peril by tile toolcries
Of tile ono and contlscat!on by thosa Of tic
other. Though tho Constitution limits leg
lslation to general laws, the many hundreds
Of bills pending are largely framed for ex-
perllncntal and idcallsttc ends or convoy a
menace Or a direct demand for b1ackmail.
These general observations were suggested
By tho action OF tho State Senate on Thurs
lay on bill originally proposed b. Senator
Clark, Of the CUlcs district, This bill pro-
poses TINT In forming new corporations Ill
tl,ts Stats the Commissioners sl!al, make nf-
tlInvIt that each subscriber to tho capital
stock Ia tic owner Of tlnincumbetcd proper
ty to an allount equal to tho amount Of his
stock subscription and these uftiuytts shall
be made mattcr Of record. rllu bill. whicl,
Is a,nentlatory Of the existing general law,
| further provides:
Bgc. y. Every ngsIRnmont or transfer Of stocks
fna " eGsotaga Sc ~ tno % SIen q tae Gc0uSr @ os
nr such corporat,o,i is lucatsd. aid each sioeh-
1er @ .s sta Ss a'ass 5or a tt ttfts u r. ts so1'r
JscI of I'LL aInstI,lnteat did eiiis he ar ss il tht
h"ssr ot ol9"sr q anu q thc staet Of such e9rpc.
such stoot sSuI 10 iinpis for at aolSs Of xHol, @
corporation contracted nftcr tho taking ottect
rccoe ~ assiun1nnns @ ~ rss,sr ~ o ~ f'a ac
10 herun provided tor. '
THIS bill refers gcuerally to all new
! corporations, anu to all existing corporations
| 30 fur US they ulay colltrnct debts after lta
passage.
Ono would suppose that s,,cl, bill would
be laughed out OF any Intelligent body ol
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