Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-07-20
CURRENT COMMENT.

day says:
Col Merriam caused conservation In
the House by asking permission to in
troduce a resolution without stating
what 1t related to. Mr.. Merriam Is
Known as one of the Representatives
who wants an investigation into the
charges of "bootlling" and corruption
i'll the Legislature. 1t has been rumor-
cd for some time that there was great
likelihood of a resolution ordering an
inquiry being introduced. Consequent.
~ when Col. Merriam sent his rcsolu-
ton to the desk several members In diff.
ferent parts Of the House Immediately
rose In great haste and shouted: what
Is IT, What is 1t abouty"
The colonel evidently enjoyed the
apprehension caused by his resolution
ana did not hasten to explain Its pur-
pose. lie simply said: LET II he read
for Information" Immediately there
were objections. Mr.. Merriam then
said that the resolution called for the
appointment of a committee to investi-
gate ana report us to the constitution.
atty of the Inheritance tax. In the light
of the decision of the Ohio Supreme
! -ourt ."raNdat.ng similar law In that
State. The House once more breathcd
freely and unanimous consent was
given for the reading and consideration
Of the resolution.
There can DC no doubt that certain
! members of the Legislature are worried
at the thought of an investigation. A
leading and upright member of the
House said to-day that he had been
asked to speak against such Il resolu-
ton II presented. This same member
vent,ired the opinion that enough cvi.
dence could be secured by an honest In.
vestigntlng committee to send several
of the legislators to the penitentiary.
There are members Of the House earn.
estly In favor of an investigation. A
resolution was drafted to be presented
several days ago. but II was not put In.
The chances are now that It will not be.
but there II no certainty about It.
Speaker Cochran himself Ii not now
In favor OF an investigation. though he
will do nothing to thwart the will of
the House on that point. The House
IL now working well. An investigation
would cause delay and extend the
length of the session. Therefore the
speaker and part OF his associates ARE
not enthusiastic over the proposition.
Several members definitely express the
belief that charges Of crOokedncss could
he substnntiated and one or two even
20 so far az ito say that they have posi-.
| tive proof that would be sufficient to-
convict In court. IF a resolution for
| an investigation should once get before
the House II II not likely that the mem.
bcrs would go on record against II. Tho
attempt would 10 to render Its WORT:
farccal ana ineffective.
The resolution of Mr.. Merriam rcla-
| tive to the Inheritance tax was laid on
the table. nearly all the Republicans
voting In the affirmative. the Democrats
In tho negative. In speaking of his
resolution Mr.. Merriam said that since
the joint Republican caucus had adopt
| cd report defending the tax levy
against the charges Of insutiiciency
made by the Governor the Ohio decision
had been rendered. IT that decision.
he said. endangered the Inheritance tax
In this state. from which 81 .OOO.OOO had
been counted on. In nll honesty the Gen
crul Assembly ought to increase the
levy.
Mckenzie and Needles attacked the
resolution. saying nm inquiry as to the
cOnstltutionality of an net already
passed. was u reflection on the General
Assembly.
"rhere II only one thing we can do"
said Mckenzie: III We have come tn
the conclusion that the tax levy
made by the ThIrty-nlnth Gen.
erul Assembly II not sufficient. the
only thing that II left for liz to do IL to
come In here and take II square back
down and acknowledge that the great
lawyers are mistaken nnd that the
Governor was right. (Applause)
nm ready at this moment to stand by
the mon who investigated that matter
ana made the tax levy. and which We
decided to stand by. simply because
the Supreme Court In some other State
has overturned the ENTERTAINMENTS law
OF that State we have no right to as
sume what the Supreme Court of the
State Of Illinois will do"
In the Senate the report on the tax
levy Endorsed by the joint Republican
caucus has not yet been adopted. 1t
was read this morning ana laid over
until tomorrow In order to give the
Democrats time to put In u minority re-
port. In accordance with the action of
the caucus the report declaring the
present tax levy adequate will, In all
probability. be- adopted by the Senate
tomorrow, Notwithstanding that Sena.
tor Cru wfOrd Qtep.) to-day introduced
u bill increasing the tax levy S1,50O.OOO
for the two years. 1t II believed that
this bill. with some notifications, will
pass.
shortly after being called to order
White of Whiteside moved that the
House 20 into committee Of the whole
for the consideration of arbitration
bills. Speaker Cochran called to the
chair Representative Berry. his oppO-
nent In the recent speakership contest.
Kerry wnS preatpd with nDDlallse ~ he