The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-07
STATE SOLONS MEET.
Illinois General Assembly Called
to Order.
THE EVENT WITNESSED BY MANY.

Last Message of Governor Altgeld Read i'm
Both ouses-WanamakerD Defeated for
United States Sena or i'm Pennsylvania
by Penrose, Which IL Victory for Quay
-Populists Claim the Colorado Legisla-
ture-The Idaho senatOrship.
Springeld, Ills, Jan. There was
neither pomp nor imposing ceremony
at the opening session of the Fortieth
general assembly at high noon. There
was a large crowd on hand to witness
the event. but they saw nothing either
marvellous or remarkable. 1t was eX-
actly II o'clock noon when Lieutenant
Governor Joseph b. Gill arose from his
chair in the senate chamber and called
the members to order. Every one be-
came silent at the first rap of the gav-
el and then the lieutenant governor
called upon the Rev. Frederick Taylor,
rector of st. Pauls cathedral, to invoke
the, blessing of the Deity.
The prayer was brief. Once it was
! ended officers selected at Republican
caucus were formally elected by adop-
| ton of a resolution. A committee was
then appointed to wait upon the house
TO formally notify that branch Of legis-.
lature that the senate was ready to
proceed with the transmission of busi-
ness. A committee was also appoint
ed to wait on Governor Altgeld and
notify him that the senate was ready
to receive any communication he might
have
Hall OF Representatives.
Long before noon the hall of repre-
sentatives was crowded with states
men and patriots and place-hunters
from all parts of the state Many Of the
members were greeted with flowers that
rested on their desks sent 10y admiring
friends. Promptly at u o'clock Secre-
tary of State Hinrichsen called the
house to order. Prayer was then Of
fered by the Rev. \. G. Goodspeed of
Woodford, chaplain Of the last house.
Roll call was then proceeded with and
at the conclusion temporary officers
chosen at caucuses were elected.
oath Of office was administered to
members after which permanent officers
were formally elected by resolution. a
committee appointed escorted the new
speaker, Edward G. Curtis, to the
chair and the house was regularly or
ganized. Committees We're appointed
to notify the senate that the house was
: ready for the transaction OF business
and to notify Governor Altgeld that i
! awaited any communication he nigh
have.
! AltgeIds Message.
The last message Of Governor AltgelC
to the legislature was read in bot
houses. II was a characteristic docu
ment. He told of the new state build
- ings erected during his administration
,s and of the workings Of the public inst
4 tutions. especially in the new system
of purchasing supplies, which save'
money to the state and prevented cor
ruption. Much attention was given I
the prisons and he gave statistics I
show that his percentage OF pardon
was lower than during the past twent
years. He denounced landlords VIII
y owned immense tracts of land in tn
state which they rented out and di
not improve. The question of arbitra
ton of labor disputes was handled an
also the employment of child labor !
factories. He took a whack at newspa
pers for the manner in which they mad
anonymous attacks upon people, an
: wound up by predicting prosperity
the state il properly managed