The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-15

a. dcCOIup dHleQ ny Mr6. hamilton, ana they
returned to Springfield last night on the train
leaving here at IL o'clock. A few moments be-
fore starting a Journal reporter held a short in
terview with him relative to the deadlock of the
Illinois General Assembly over the high. license
bill which is now pending and has been a serious
obstacle to legislation.
THE ILLINOIS LIQUOR LAW.
In speaking of the causes which brought about
the present trouble the Governor said, by way
of explanations:
"The license law of Illinois now is virtually
a local-option law. Each town may regulate
the licensing Of its saloons, and may
make the amount as much or as little as the
Council is pleased to. They may permit saloons
to operate without a special license or they may
prohibit them entirely. Under this optional law
the regulation of the traffic varies widely in the
different localities. Bloomington, my home,
fixes the license at 5000, while some of the
towns have no Incense at all, and still others
prohibit entirely. The high license bill which
has been introduced at the present session,
and which has brought the General Assembly
TO a deadlock is intended especially for Chicago,
where, under the administration of Carter Har-
rison, the Council has never raised 1T above ISL,
until within the last two weeks, when it was
doubled, and is now Sl02. 1t was thought that
by State legislation, fixing the saloon license at
hOb lose II nOOO q year,, lineage cOuIu De
greatly benefited; but There was no hope OF
electing a council which would raise the tax to
mat IL was with a view to benefting
chicago that this bill was introduced, and that
Is the chief object of its friends. The vote upon
the bill In the Legislature is 76 to n, and there
IL stands. The Democrats are opposed to it, and
Haynes, an Independent member, votes with
Them"
"Are there not other disturbing causes which
nave inquired III bringing about the ueadlockR'
Yes, the high license of itself did not bring
ABOUT the troubles. Ii is one of the disturbing
clements, but there is a complication of causes.
an election contest between two members from
Cook county augments the strength of the lock.
McNal9, a Democrat, holds his seat on u certih-
cate, and Judge Bradwell, of the Chicago News,
Is the Republican contestant. In the deadlock
the Democrats hope to force the Republicans to
some concessions in favor of NcNally. Haynes,
Jhe lndependent, is bitterly opposed to the high
license bill, ana, therefore, votes with the Demo-
Gratis, while the Democrats vote with him on &C
count OF the election contest. After the dead
Iock mad continued several days both sldesdrop-
ped the matter for the purpose of advancing
leglslation, but it is likely to be sprung again at
any time"
what do yon think will be the results"
1T is difficult 10 tell. The bill will require a
constitutional majority, which the Republicans
have in the House, and there is no Question, |
think, OF its passing in the Senate. The sitna-
tlon IN the House, however, is doubtful"
RELIEF FOR THE FLOOD SUFFERERS.
"What will the Illinois Legislature do for the
relief OF the food and mine sufferersH"
"All the relief bills will pass by a twothirds
majority, 1 think. The appropriation of $25, 0 o
for the relief of the Braidwood sufferers from the
mine explosion, passed to-day, and I think the
5hawneetewn appropriation will pass to-
Laorrow, The Shawneetown bill, as it was
introduced and passed in the House, appropri-
ated $4,000, but the amount was reduced in
the Senate to $4,000, and think the amend
ment Will he concurred in. An appropriation
OF $4,000 has already been made Tor the relief
OF the people at Rose Clare"
",.what is the nature of the opposition to the
relief appropriations"
Some are opposed tothem because they think
constitution of the State prohibits special
legislation, and the question of establishing a pre- |
cedent in such matters is also considered. The
idea Ia TO avoid a precedent for opening the
treasury to all casualties. Accidents or mis-
fortunes resulting from the presence Of a rail-
road may be expected, and in any connection
with such people run deliberate risks, for which
no public charity should he asked, enJ people
who have lived on a river above
mark for years with perfect security from dam
age have All excuse in an emergency so disas-
irons as the late floods have been for asking pub
lie aid. 1 think relief only in such extraordinary
instances should be granted from the public
THE -INDEPENpENT PARTY"
Before parting with the Governor, the reporter
ventured a question relative TO Senator David
Davis, who comes from the same city that Gov
ernor Hamilton does. When asked how the Sen
atoris old and intimate friends re-
garded his very manLike freak, the
Governor laughed and said: "Well. it was some
thing of a surprise To us ali, of course. he al
ways evaded the subject even IN a joke. While
At Bloomington several months ago, | met him
on the street one day, and, as my name had
been mentioned about that time in some of the
as n prospective successor TO him
in the United States Senate, he greeted
me with the remark: We'll, Hamilton,
l see you are trying TO get my place.
I assured him that the newspaper reports were
without foundation, but his only reply WAS:
'Ah, Hamilton, you're trying to get my place.
Well, it's all right When l asked him what
the credence could be given the newspaper re-
ports which were in circulation a that time,
also, to the effect that he was about TO be mar
ried, he put a quietus on the matter with a
TUT, tut, tut"