Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 39

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857-
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 724

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vened on June 11, 1867, having been summoned to consider questions relating to internal revenue. The lessee of the penitentiary having surrendered his lease without notice, the Governor found it necessary to make immediate provision for the management of that institution. Not having included this matter in his original call, no ne- cessity then existing, he at once summoned a second special session, before the adjournment of the first. This convened on June 14, remained in session until June 28, and adopted what is substantially the present penitentiary law of the State. This General Assembly was in session seventy-one days-fifty-three at the regular, three at the first special session and fifteen at the second.

TWENTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 4, 1869. The Republicans had a majority in each house. The newly elected Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, John Dougherty, presided in the Senate, and Franklin Corwin. of Peru, was again chosen Speaker of the House. Governor Oglesby sub- mitted his final message at the opening of the session, showing a total reduction in the State debt during his term of $4,743,821. Governor John M. Palmer was inaugurated Jan. 11. The most important acts passed by this Legislature were the following: Calling the Constitutional Convention of 1869; ratifying the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; granting well behaved convicts a reduction in their terms of imprisonment; for the prevention of cruelty to animals; providing for the regula- tion of freights and fares on railroads; estab- lishing the Southern Normal University; pro- viding for the erection of the Northern Insane Hospital; and establishing a Board of Com- missioners of Public Charities. The celebrated "Lake Front Bill," especially affecting the interests of the city of Chicago, occupied a great deal of time during this session, and though finally passed over the Governor's veto, was repealed in 1873. This session was inter- rupted by a recess which extended from March 12 to April 13. The Legislature re-assem- bled April 14, and adjourned, sine die, April 20, having been in actual session seventy-four days.

TWENTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY had four sessions, one regular, two special and one adjourned. The first convened Jan. 4, 1871, and adjourned on April 17, having lasted 104 days, when a recess was taken to Nov. 15 following. The body was made up of fifty Senators and 177 Representatives. The Republicans again con- trolled both houses, electing William M. Smith,

Speaker (over William R. Morrison, Democrat), while Lieutenant-Governor Dougherty presided in the Senate. The latter occupied the Hall of Rep- resentatives in the old State Capitol, while the House held its sessions in a new church edifice erected by the Second Presbyterian Church. John A. Logan was elected United States Sena- tor, defeating Thomas J. Turner (Democrat) by a vote, on joint ballot, of 131 to 89. This was the first Illinois Legislature to meet after the adoption of the Constitution of 1870, and its time was mainly devoted to framing, discussing and pass- ing laws required by the changes in the organic law of the State. The first special session opened on May 24 and closed on June 22, 1871, continu- ing thirty days. It was convened by Governor Palmer to make additional appropriations for the necessary expenses of the State Government and for the continuance of work on the new State House. The purpose of the Governor in sum- moning the second special session was to provide financial relief for the city of Chicago after the great fire of Oct. 9-11, 1871. Members were sum- moned by special telegrams and were in their seats Oct. 13, continuing in session to Oct. 24 -twelve days. Governor Paliner had already suggested a plan by which the State might aid the stricken city without doing violence to either the spirit or letter of the new Con- stitution, which expressly prohibited special legislation. Chicago had advanced $2,500,000 toward the completion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, under the pledge of the State that this outlay should be made good. The Legislature voted an appropriation sufficient to pay both principal and interest of this loan, amounting, in round numbers, to about $3,000,000. The ad- journed session opened on Nov. 15, 1871, and came to an end on April 9, 1872-having continued 147 days. It was entirely devoted to considering and adopting legislation germane to the new Consti- tution. The total length of all sessions of this General Assembly was 293 days.

TWENTY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 8, 1873. It was composed of fifty-one Sena- tors and 153 Representatives; the upper house standing thirty-three Republicans to eighteen Democrats, and the lower, eighty-six Republicans to sixty-seven Democrats. The Senate chose John Early, of Winnebago, President pro tempore, and Shelby M. Cullom was elected Speaker of the House. Governor Oglesby was inaugurated Jan. 13, but, eight days later, was elected to the United States Senate, being succeeded in the Governor- ship by Lieut .- Gov. John L. Beveridge. An

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appropriation of $1,000, 000 was made for carrying on the work on the new capitol and various other acts of a public character passed, the most impor- tant being an amendment of the railroad law of the previous session. On May 6, the Legislature adjourned until Jan. 8, 1874. The purpose of the recess was to enable a Commission on the Revision of the Laws to complete a report. The work was duly completed and nearly all the titles reported by the Commissioners were adopted at the adjourned session. An adjournment, sine die, was taken March 31, 1874-the two sessions having lasted, respectively, 119 and 83 days- total 202.

TWENTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan 6, 1875. While the Republicans had a plu- rality in both houses, they were defeated in an effort to secure their organization through a fusion of Democrats and Independents. A. A. Glenn (Democrat) was elected President pro tem- pore of the Senate (becoming acting Lieutenant- Governor), and Elijah M. Haines was chosen presiding officer of the lower house. The leaders on both sides of the Chamber were aggressive, and the session, as a whole, was one of the most turbulent and disorderly in the history of the State. Little legislation of vital importance (outside of regular appropriation bills) was enacted. This Legislature adjourned, April 15, having been in session 100 days.

THIRTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 3; 1877, and adjourned, sine die, on May 24. The Democrats and Independents in the Senate united in securing control of that body, although the House was Republican. Fawcett Plumb, of La Salle County, was chosen President pro tempore of the upper, and James Shaw Speaker of the lower, house. The inauguration of State officers took place Jan. 8, Shelby M. Cullom becoming Governor and Andrew Shuman, Lieutenant-Gov- ernor. This was one of the most exciting years in American political history Both of the domi- nant parties claimed to have elected the President, and the respective votes in the Electoral College were so close as to excite grave apprehension in many minds. It was also the year for the choice of a Senator by the Illinois Legislature, and the attention of the entire country was directed toward this State. Gen. John M. Palmer was the nominee of the Democratic caucus and John A. Logan of the Republicans. On the twenty- fourth ballot the name of General Logan was withdrawn, most of the Republican vote going to Charles B. Lawrence, and the Democrats going over to David Davis, who, although an original

Republican and friend of Lincoln, and Justice of the Supreme Court by appointment of Mr. Lin- coln, had become an Independent Democrat. On the fortieth ballot (taken Jan. 25), Judge Davis received 101 votes, to 94 for Judge Lawrence (Republican) and five scattering, thus securing Davis' election. Not many acts of vital impor- tance were passed by this Legislature. Appellate Courts were established and new judicial districts created; the original jurisdiction of county courts was enlarged: better safeguards were thrown about miners; measures looking at once to the supervision and protection of railroads were passed, as well as various laws relating chiefly to the police administration of the State and of municipalities. The length of the session was 142 days.

THIRTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 8, 1879, with a Republican majority in each house. Andrew Shuman, the newly elected Lieu- tenant-Governor, presided in the Senate, and William A. James of Lake County was chosen Speaker of the House. John M. Hamilton of McLean County (afterwards Governor), was chosen President pro tempore of the Senate. John A. Logan was elected United States Senator on Jan. 21, the complimentary Democratic vote being given to Gen. John C. Black. Various laws of public importance were enacted by this Legislature, among them being one creating the Bureau of Labor Statistics; the first oleomargar- ine law; a drainage and levee act; a law for the reorganization of the militia; an act for the regulation of pawnbrokers; a law limiting the pardoning power, and various laws looking toward the supervision and control of railways. The session lasted 144 days, and the Assembly adjourned, sine die, May 31, 1879.

THIRTY SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 5, 1881, the Republicans having a majority in both branches. Lieutenant-Governor Hamil- ton presided in the Senate, William J. Campbell of Cook County being elected President pro tem- pore. Horace H. Thomas, also of Cook, was chosen Speaker of the House. Besides the rou- tine legislation, the most important measures enacted by this Assembly were laws to prevent the spread of pleuro-pneumonia among cattle; regulating the sale of firearmns; providing more stringent penalties for the adulteration of food, drink or medicine; regulating the practice of pharmacy and dentistry ; amending the revenue and school laws; and requiring annual statements from official custodians of public moneys. The Legislature adjourned May 30, after having been

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in session 146 days, but was called together again in special session by the Governor on March 23, 1882, to pass new Legislative and Congressional Apportionment Laws, and for the consideration of other subjects. The special session lasted forty-four days, adjourning May 5-both sessions occupying a total of 190 days.

THIRTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 2, 1883, with the Republicans again in the majority in both houses. William J. Campbell was re-elected President pro tempore of the Senate, but not until the sixty-first ballot, six Republicans refusing to be bound by the nomina- tion of a caucus held prior to their arrival at · Springfield. Loren C. Collins, also of Cook, was elected Speaker of the House. The compliment- ary Democratic vote was given to Thomas M. Shaw in the Senate, and to Austin O. Sexton in the House. Governor Cullom, the Republican caucus nominee, was elected United States Senator, Jan. 16, receiving a majority in each branch of the General Assembly. The celebrated "Harper High-License Bill," and the first "Compulsory School Law" were passed at this session, the other acts being of ordinary character. The Legislature adjourned June 18, having been in session 168 days.

THIRTY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 7, 1885. The Senate was Republican by a majority of one, there being twenty-six members of that party, twenty-four Democrats and one greenback Democrat. William J. Campbell, of Cook County, was for the third time chosen President pro tempore. The House stood seventy- six Republicans and seventy-six Democrats, with one member-Elijah M. Haines of Lake County- calling himself an "Independent." The contest for the Speakership continued until Jan. 29, when, neither party being able to elect its nomi- nee, the Democrats took up Haines as a candidate and placed him in the chair, with Haines' assist- ance, filling the minor offices with their own men. After the inauguration of Governor Oglesby, Jan. 30, the first business was the elec- tion of a United States Senator. The balloting proceeded until May 18, when John A. Logan re- ceived 103 votes to ninety-six for Lambert Tree and five scattering. Three members-one Republican and two Democrats-had died since the opening of the session; and it was through the election of a Republican in place of one of the deceased Democrats, that the Republicans succeeded in electing their candidate. The session was a stormy one throughout, the Speaker being, much of the time, at odds with the House, and an

unsuccessful effort was made to depose him. Charges of bribery against certain members were preferred and investigated, but no definite result was reached. Among the important measures passed by this Legislature were the following: A joint resolution providing for submission of an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting con- tract labor in penal institutions; providing by resolution for the appointment of a non-partisan Commission of twelve to draft a new revenue code; the Crawford primary election law; an act amending the code of criminal procedure; estab- lishing a Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, subse- quently located at Quincy ; creating a Live-Stock Commission and appropriating $531,712 for the completion of the State House. The Assembly adjourned, sine die, June 26, 1885, after a session of 171 days.

THIRTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 5, 1887. The Republicans had a majority of twelve in the Senate and three in the House. For President pro tempore of the Senate, August W. Berggren was chosen; for Speaker of the House, Dr. William F. Calhoun, of De Witt County. The death of General Logan, which had occurred Dec. 26, 1886, was officially an- nounced by Governor Oglesby, and, on Jan. 18, Charles B. Farwell was elected to succeed him as United States Senator. William R. Morrison and Benjamin W. Goodhue were the candidates of the Democratic and Labor parties, respectively. Some of the most important laws passed by this General Assembly were the following: Amend- ing the law relating to the spread of contagious diseases among cattle, etc .; the Chase bill to prohibit book-making and pool-selling; regulat- ing trust companies; making the Trustees of the University of Illinois elective; inhibiting aliens from holding real estate, and forbidding the marriage of first cousins. An act virtually creating a new State banking system was also passed, subject to ratification by popular vote. Other acts, having more particular reference to Chicago and Cook County, were: a law making cities and counties responsible for three-fourths of the damage resulting from mobs and riots; the Merritt conspiracy law; the Gibbs Jury Commis- sion law, and an act for the suppression of bucket-shop gambling. The session ended June 15, 1887, having continued 162 days.

THIRTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 7, 1889, in its first (or regular) session, the Republicans being largely in the majority. The Senate elected Theodore S. Chapman of Jersey County, President pro tempore, and the House

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Asa C Matthews of Pike County, Speaker. Mr. Matthews was appointed First Comptroller of the Treasury by President Harrison, on May 9 (see Matthews, Asa C.), and resigned the Speakership on the following day. He was succeeded by James H. Miller of Stark County. Shelby M. Cullom was re-elected to the United States Senate on January 22, the Democrats again voting for ex-Gov. John M. Palmer. The "Sanitary Drain- age District Law," designed for the benefit of the city of Chicago, was enacted at this session; an asylum for insane criminals was established at Chester ; the annexation of cities, towns, villages, etc., under certain conditions, was authorized; more stringent legislation was enacted relative to the circulation of obscene literature; a new com- pulsory education law was passed, and the em- ployment on public works of aliens who had not declared their intention of becoming citizens was prohibited. This session ended, May 28. A special session was convened by Governor Fifer on July 24, 1890, to frame and adopt legislation rendered necessary by the Act of Congress locat- ing the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. Mr. Miller having died in the interim, William G. Cochran, of Moultrie County, was chosen Speaker of the House. The special session concluded Aug. 1, 1890, having enacted the following meas- ures; An Act granting the use of all State lands, (submerged or other) in or adjacent to Chicago, to the World's Columbian Exposition for a period to extend one year after the closing of the Exposi- tion; authorizing the Chicago Boards of Park Commissioners to grant the use of the public parks, or any part thereof, to promote the objects of such Exposition; a joint resolution providing for the submission to the people of a Constitu- tional Amendment granting to the city of Chicago the power (provided a majority of the qualified voters desired it) to issue bonds to an amount not exceeding $5,000,000, the same to bear interest and the proceeds of their sale to be turned over to the Exposition Managers to be devoted to the use and for the benefit of the Exposition. (See also World's Columbian Exposition.) The total length of the two sessions was 150 days.

THIRTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY convened Jan. 7, 1891, and adjourned June 12 following. Lieut .- Gov. Ray presided in the Senate, Milton W. Matthews (Republican), of Urbana, being elected President pro tem. The Democrats had control in the House and elected Clayton E. Crafts, of Cook County, Speaker. The most exciting feature of the session was the election of a United States Senator to succeed Charles B.

Farwell. Neither of the two leading parties had a majority on joint ballot, the balance of power being held by three "Independent" members of the House, who had been elected as represent- atives of the Farmers' Mutual Benevolent Alli- ance. Richard J. Oglesby was the caucus nominee of the Republicans and John M. Palmer of the Democrats. For a time the Independents stood as a unit for A. J. Streeter, but later two of the three voted for ex-Governor Palmer, finally, on March 11, securing his election on the 154th ballot in joint session. Meanwhile, the Repub- licans had cast tentative ballots for Alson J. Streeter and Cicero J. Lindley, in hope of draw- ing the Independents to their support, but without effective result. The final ballot stood-Palmer, 103; Lindley, 101, Streeter 1. Of 1,296 bills intro- duced in both Houses at this session, only 151 became laws, the most important being: The Australian ballot law, and acts regulating build- ing and loan associations ; prohibiting the employ- ment of children under thirteen at manual labor ; fixing the legal rate of interest at seven per cent ; prohibiting the "truck system" of paying em- ployés, and granting the right of suffrage to women in the election of school officers. An amendment of the State Constitution permitting the submission of two Constitutional Amend- ments to the people at the same time, was sub- mitted by this Legislature and ratified at the election of 1892. The session covered a period of 157 days.

THIRTY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. This body convened Jan. 4, 1893. The Democrats were in the ascendency in both houses, having a majority of seven in the Senate and of three in the lower house. Joseph R Gill, the Lieutenant- Governor, was ex-officio President of the Senate, and John W. Coppinger, of Alton, was chosen President pro tem. Clayton E. Crafts of Cook County was again chosen Speaker of the House. The inauguration of the new State officers took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 10. This Legislature was in session 164 days, adjourning June 16, 1893. Not very much legislation of a general character was enacted. New Congres- sional and Legislative apportionments were passed, the former dividing the State into twenty- two districts; an Insurance Department was created; a naval militia was established; the scope of the juvenile reformatory was enlarged and the compulsory education law was amended.

THIRTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. This Legislature held two sessions-a regular and a special. The former opened Jan. 9, 1895, and

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closed June 14, following. The political com- plexion of the Senate was-Republicans, thirty- three; Democrats, eighteen; of the House, ninety-two Republicans and sixty-one Democrats. John Meyer, of Cook County, was elected Speaker of the House, and Charles Bogardus of Piatt County, President pro tem. of the Senate. Acts were passed making appropriations for improve- ment of the State Fair Grounds at Springfield; authorizing the establishment of a Western Hos- pital for the Insane ($100,000); appropriating $100,000 for a Western Hospital for the Insane; $65,000 for an Asylum for Incurable Insane; $50,- 000, each, for two additional Normal Schools-one in Northern and the other in Eastern Illinois; $25,000 for a Soldiers' Widows' Home-all being new institutions-besides $15,000 for a State exhibition at the Atlanta Exposition; $65,000 to mark, by monuments, the position of Illinois troops on the battlefields of Chickamauga, Look- out Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Other acts passed fixed the salaries of members of the Gen- eral Assembly at $1,000 each for each regular session; accepted the custody of the Lincoln monument at Springfield, authorized provision for the retirement and pensioning of teachers in public schools, and authorized the adoption of civil service rules for cities. The special session convened, pursuant to a call by the Governor, on June 25, 1895, took a recess, June 28 to July 9, re-assembled on the latter date, and adjourned, sine die, August 2. Outside of routine legisla- tion, no laws were passed except one providing additional necessary revenue for State purposes and one creating a State Board of Arbitration. The regular session continued 157 days and the special twenty-nine-total 186.

FORTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY met in regular session at Springfield, Jan. 6, 1897, and adjourned, sine die, June 4. The Republicans had a major- ity in both branches, the House standing eighty- eight Republicans to sixty-three Democrats and two Populists, and the Senate, thirty-nine Repub- licans to eleven Democrats and one Populist, giving the Republicans a majority on joint ballot of fifty votes. Both houses were promptly organ- ized by the election of Republican officers, Edward C. Curtis of Kankakee County being chosen Speaker of the House, and Hendrick V. Fisher, of Henry County, President pro tem. of the Sen- ate. Governor Tanner and the other Republican State officers were formally inaugurated on Jan. 11, and, on Jan. 20, William E. Mason (Republican) was chosen United States Senator to succeed John M. Palmer, receiving in joint

session 125 votes to seventy-seven for John P. Altgeld (Democrat). Among the principal laws enacted at this session were the following: An act concerning aliens and to regulate the right to hold real estate, and prescribing the terms and conditions for the conveyance of the same; empowering the Commissioners who were ap- pointed at the previous session to ascertain and mark the positions occupied by Illinois Volunteers in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Moun- tain and Missionary Ridge, to expend the remain- ing appropriations in their hands for the erection of monuments on the battle-grounds; authorizing the appointment of a similar Commission to ascertain and mark the positions held by Illinois troops in the battle of Shiloh; to reimburse the University of Illinois for the loss of funds result- ing from the Spaulding defalcation and affirming the liability of the State for "the endowment fund of the University, amounting to $456, 712.91, and for so much in addition as may be received in future from the sale of lands"; authorizing the adoption of the "Torrens land-title system" in the conveyance and registration of land titles by vote of the people in any county; the consolida- tion of the three Supreme Court Districts of the State into one and locating the Court at Spring- field; creating a State Board of Pardons, and prescribing the manner of applying for pardons and commutations. An act of this session, which produced much agitation and led to a great deal of discussion in the press and elsewhere, was the street railroad law empowering the City Council, or other corporate authority of any city, to grant franchises to street railway companies extending to fifty years. This act was repealed by the General Assembly of 1899 before any street rail- way corporation had secured a franchise under it. A special session was called by Governor Tanner to meet Dec. 7, 1897, the proclamation naming five topics for legislative action. The session continued to Feb. 24, 1898, only two of the meas- ures named by the Governor in his call being affirmatively acted upon. These included: (1) an elaborate act prescribing the manner of conduct- ing primary elections of delegates to nominating conventions, and (2) a new revenue law regulat- ing the manner of assessing and collecting taxes. One provision of the latter law limits the valuation of property for assessment purposes to one-fifth its cash value. The length of the regular session was 150 days, and that of the special session eighty days-total, 230 days.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume I, Part 39

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857- Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 724

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Church, Charles A., 1857-
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 724