The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-05-28
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE

DlIS itA IhtNhtu up puttIuS
on at the last pull the previous question gag,
so that no opportunity was gwen through de.
bate 20 expose the outrageous character OF both
bills, That proposing to divide the state into
20 congressional districts, though congress has
not yet said whether the state shall have over
Is or 10 members, Is especially disgracetul
Under that bill, though the democrats might
carry the state by 10000 majority, they could
not possibly elect over six or eight Of the con.
gressmen Happily it is impossible tor the
atrocity to get through the house without the
consent of the democrats. 1t can only be
brought to vote by coming up out of the reg
ular order and that requires two-thlrds vote,
which it can never get So it may be put
down as settled, no apportionment law will
pass at this session of the legislature, nOtwlth,
standing Coy. Cullom threatens 10 Call an ex.
ira session IN case the senatorial apportionment
is defeated.
Aside from the necessary appropriation bills,
into which the republican committees had
smuggled number Of petty steals, but which
the democrats have been able largely to pick
out and defeat, the bills passed by the two
houses during the week have been neither
numerous nor important The revenue bill as
passed provides that there shall be raised by
levying tax of valuation upon the assessed
taxable property, for general state purposes, to
be designated revenue fund" $2,500,000 for
the year 1881 and 81 $1,000 for the year 1882
for state school purposes, to be designated
state school fund.-" in lieu of the two.mill tax
therefor, 81 100000 annually.
Mr., Needles bill to make life insurance
companies deposit with the state auditor has
been passed
So the bull dividing the state into districts
SO as to give each fair share OF insane hospi-
tat accommodation.
So Mr.. Sullivan's bill, to enable justices of
the peace TO order a return Of property taken
under writ of replevin, when it appears that
the value of the property exceeds the jurisdic.
ton Of the justsce,
So the bill providing that persons sued be.
fore justice must be sued in the township
where they reside.
A somewhat important amendment to the
assessment law was passed in regard to prop
erty forfeited for nonpayment of taxes, provid.
ing among other things, that the county, city,
town, or school district may by their agent at.
tend such sale for taxes ana buy said lands,
and acquire the same rights that individuals
now have under the law, and acquire, sell, and
dispose Of SAID title, thereto the same as, and
under the laws Of this state.
Among number Of other little steals work.
ed through was one of $la6 in favor Of an AL.
ton prosecuting attorney for services perform
ed In 1872, and which every Legislature here
tofore had refused to pay.
In the discussion for the appropriation for the
Chester Penitentary, Mr. Durtee made short
speech against giving any money for the con.
100000 two years ago on the representation
that it would care for SIN hundred and fifty
convlcts, but the last report shows but a few
more than half the number had been there
since that time, and yet the appropriation was
used up. The Joliet prison officials SAID they
could care for all the prisoners, and could con-
tract their labor at profit, and with these facts
before him he protested against voting Ches-
ter any more money.
The bill authorizing cities, villages and in.
corporated towns TO increase their tax for mu.
nicipal Purposes to Il per cent. was passed
The senate passed the hose road and bridge
bill.
bill amending the mechanics lien law
was passed.
A bill authorizing county boards to insti.
tute proceedings for recovering taxes on per.
sonal property was passed
And a lot of other small bills Of minor i'm.
portancc, the contents of which will only be
known when they appear in The printed
statutes.
Both houses sre holding long day and night
sessions to rush through all that is posi- bic
before the final adjournment on Saturday, for
it is we'll knows that though the day fixed for
the adjournment is Monday, no quorum will
be present on that day.
A Washington correspondent OF the New