The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-03
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.

per week, having failed, OF course no busi'
ness was done in either house after the
short session last Friday until Tuesday OF
this week.
On tina, day, the first business OF import
ance taken up in the senate was the reso
luton which had been previously offered
| by Senator Needles, to provide for JOINT
committee of three senators and five repre-.
sentatlves to investigate the books and &C
counts of the Illinois Central Railroad.
The proposal OF the resolution is, to call
first on the Governor, who is ex.Oillcio a
director of the road, and after getting what
information they can Of him, to proceed
further with the investigation If deemed
necessary. The senate, after brio' debate,
adopted the resolution.
| The same subject was taken up IN the
house on the same day, on resolution OF
Mr.. Varnell, of Jefferson, providing for
genera! investigation OF the affairs OF the
railroad by a committee Of the house. An
effort to substitute the senate resolution for
Joint committee for that Of Mr.. Varnell
failed, as did also an amendment to have
the investigation of the house committee
commence with the governor, &c, as pro-
ylded in the senate resolution. The resO-
luton provoked hot debate in the house
that lasted two days, at the close OF
which the Varnell resolution was adopted
without amendment by the strong vote of
100 to 29.-Some Of the reasons Tor the in.
vestigation, as elected by the debate, are
that in 1885, for instance, the receipts Of
the ILLINOIS Central H. II. were $7,092,7l2,
making the states share $496, 4S9; while
IN 1882 the receipts were but $4,SSO, 423,
reducing the states percentage to $34l 800,
while 1t IL notorious the business of the
road has steadily increased, and Its stock,
which in 1865 was worth 102, IS to-day
worth 14S. It's alleged that the falling
of In receipts is only apparent, the compa.
ny giving credit to Its branches for large
proportion Of the earnings OF the main
line.
No other actlcn' of any importance has
occurred in either house. The number of
bills introduced, as usual, ~ legion, but
the bulk OF them will be smo,hored by the
committees. Among such, however, as
will probably not DO thus smo,hercd, arc
the following:
The bill of Mr. Harper, OF Cook, provid,
ing that no licenses to sell liquor IN this
state shall be granted for less than $500,
under various stringent regulations Dir.
Parker has bill on the Same subject pro.
posing that licenses in villages shall be
$500 and In cities OF 5000 inhabitants and
over $500; and Mr.. Fuller. of Boone, pro.
poses sliding scale OF $500 70 81 900.
The bill Of Senator Terrence, providing
for compulsory attendance a. the public
schools The Education Committee has
agreed TO report favorably on the bill.
senator Writings bill 70 tax express
and telegraph companies per cent. on
their gross earnings in this state. The
senate revenue committee have reported
favorably on the bill.
A favorable report has also baen made
on Sunderlsnd's bill to reduce the pay OF
the Canal Board to g., 600 a year.
There will also probably be a favorable
repor, on the bill of Mr.. Bethea to make
fraudulent voting at political primary
meetings and conventions nisdemeanor
punishable the same as frauds at regular
elections.
But there will be no favorable action, it
is hoped in the proposal OF MIR. fancy, of
Macoupin, TO so amend the constitution rs
to compel the state to assume the indebted
ness of all the counties, cities and villages
In the state amounting to some $4,000
600 Ii would be nice for the state OF
Macoupin," no doubt, IN the way of reliev-
Ing her of her court house loac, but coun-
ties that have been less foolish will be apt
to s,renuously object.
The following bills we lind noted ~ IN.
troduced by Senator Duncan:
To amend the law in relation 10 fixing
the tees and compensation Of county and
township officers.
To fix the terms Of the county court of
La Sale county.
To amend an act concerning bas,ardy.
THE bill provides that no appeal shall be
qllowca from the county to the circuit
.,.u, 10 ,son cases, but directly TO the sp.
pellatc court
Bill to classify the counties OF the state
under the census of 1880 instead of 1870.
Bill 10 authorize the interchange OF the
respective powers and duties ct judges OF
the county and probate courts where pro
bate courts are now established, or may be
established hereafter
The Governor bss reappoiDted The pres
en-, canal board, and sent 10 thesenate numer'
Gus other appointments. but has not touch
ed the Railroad and Warehouse board.
The following are named as the primer
nal ca,didat.a for appo.ptment upon that