Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-03-27
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP

EugIe, Spr1ilgneiu. ILL.,. March 4.-(Spe-
cial.)-The department store bill passed
the Senate to-day by a practically
unanimous vOte--:D to I. The criisnd-
ers who came here from Chicago. the
bulk OF whom are here yet. nre cOnsc.
quently In hilarious mood. They
were on the verge Of having a double
victory, for an attempt was made In
the HOuse-tO which the bill was In.
stantly sent after Its passage In the
Senate--tO rush the measure to second
reading out Of the regular order. Party
politics interviewed and the bin In con.
sequence was delayed day in the
lower branch Of the Legislature.
II will come up tomorrow md II will
he fiercely fought by Democrats rs
well az Republicans from the country
districts. Tremendous efforts are be.
Ing made tonight by the members Of
the Chicago Business Mems AssOcia.
ton to get Representative Charles Al.
len Of vermiliOn to tone down his
threatened opposition. Mr.. Allen is
easily equal to half dozen Of the nv.
crnge representatives ana his advocacy
or nntlpathy In regard to given meas.
ure IL counted ON as exceptionally In.
tpresting.
The bill did not pass the Senate be-
fore senator Baxter entered an elabOr-
ute protest against It, saying:
when this bill was first introduced.
! had serious doubts as to Its cOnstltu.
| tiOnalIty. ana since then they have
grown. In my opinion. The bill II III.
rectly nntagOnlstic to the bill Of rights
to the constitution. 1t was presented
by men In whom I had confidence.
have read It and devoted much time to
its consideration. ana the more I OK.
anime II the more mOnstrOus II up.
pears to me.
"1'hIs bill II drawn along the lines to
rcvolutiOnlxe and turn back the tide of
progress Of business ana the institu.
lions on which the State In built.
I'VE have devoted our best energies
to clleapening merchandise. ana In
these days We lind It furnished cheap
er than ever. Our hest efforts have
been used to cheaper the cost Of pro.
ductiOn. The labOrer can now enjoy
more Of the comforts and luXurIes of
life than ever before.
in the old days there were lnnumcr.
able shops. The blacksmith. the shoe.
maker and other trades necessary to
mankind. Then came along new mn.
chimes. which revOlutiOnixed prOtluc.
tiOn. The little shops were vacated and
We're left to rot by reason Of c0ncentrn-
tlon In manufacturing these articles.
But these people made no complaint
They knew II was the result of progress.
They recognized the greater good has
come to the greater number Of people.
This condition Of affairs has resulted
from energy and Intelligence. 1T IL Just
~ natural that there should be con-
centratlOn Of distribution rs prOduc.
ton. 1t Ii the people OF this great
State who reap the benefits. Are We
to take into consideration only those
people who came down here from Chi
cagO wearing yellow badges on their
coats! There are millions ut their
homes who expect that Wa shall give
them some consideration In the pas.
sage Of this bin.
This measure II adverse to the funda-
mental principles Of progress. l fail to
see how the lalOring people are to reap
any benefit from the passage Of this
bill. ] register my vote against II be-
cause 1t IL In the line of stopping prog.
ress."
Rennie Mitchell ana HOssy Hall are
said to be the TWO most popular Cool;
County members. At least they are
alleged to have more friends call on
them on their return to the city than
any other representatives.
Rabbit Ear Wheeler. the Chicago
City Railway magnate, Is sure now Of
having his street ear franchise made
eternal by the Legislature. He has
placed n page advertisement In all the
great dnilies. swelling his contemplate
monopoly to tho skies.
The antl-departmcnt store delegation
to Springfield impressed the legislators
and every other observer as Il very
cheap lot.
The House Committee on Parks and
BOulevnrls set the seal of approval on
u measure that Is going to raise great
row In Chicago. Ii will be bitterly con
tested. The bill was offered by Mr.
Revell, and II Is intended To prevent
the erection of armOries, museums. OF
any other Buildings to be placed In the
parks. The action of the committe,
was practically unanimous on the
measure, but It will make n breeze
when II gets up on the floor of thu
House.
Mr.. Schubert got favorable recon-
mendatlOn for his bill which provides
for the opening of Division street as Il
street through Humboldt Park. The
bill rs drawn provides for the opening
up Of streets through half and section
lines In parks. but Humboldt IL the
only park affected by 1t, ana Division
Is the only street which comes within
its terms.
In urging the passage of this bill Mr.
Schubert very plausibly states that the
people who live west Of the park have
to 60 a quarter Of a mile north and