and depositions in civil cases,' approved March 29, 1872, in force July 1, 1872," reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was ordered to a second reading and to be printed. Mr. Crawford, from the committee on judiciary, to which was referred a bill, Senate Bill No. 64, for "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act concerning voluntary assignments and conferring jurisdiction therein upon county courts,' approved May 22, 1877, in force July 1, 1877,", reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill do pass. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was ordered to a second reading and to be printed. Mr. Crawford, from the committee on judiciary, to which was referred a bill, Senate Bill No. 61, for "An act to regulate the practice of cases of misnomer in criminal proceedings," reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill be printed for use of the committee. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill ordered to be printed for use of the committee. PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Bacon of Will, presented the following resolution viz.: Resolved, That a committee of five (5), be appointed by the President to investigate as to the number of employes on the pay roll of the Senate, and to recommend to the Senate how many if any, of said employes there may be whose services can be dispensed with. Mr. Eckhart moved the suspension of the rules for the purpose of considering the foregoing resolution, And the yeas and nays being demanded the motion was decided in the affirmative by the following vote, viz.: Yeas, 32; nays 3. Those voting in the affirmative are: Messrs. Adams, Bacon of Edgar, Bacon of Will, Berggren, Burke, Cantwell, Chapman, Cochran, Crabtree, Curtiss, Dean, Eckhart, Evans, Funk, Gibbs, Greenwood, Hadley, Higgins, Hill, Johns, Leman, McGrath, Orendorf, Pearson, Pierce, Reavill, Stephenson,Streeter, Sumner, Thompson, Torrance, Washburn.-32. Those voting in the negative are: Messrs. Bell, Darnell and Shutt.-3. Mr. McGrath moved to refer the foregoing resolution concerning Senate employes to the committee on expenses of the General Assembly. And the yeas and nays being demanded the vote resulted as follows, viz. Yeas, 22; nays 22. Those voting in the affirmative are: Messrs. Bell, Cantwell, Crawford, Darnell, Dean, Garrity, Gore, Hogan, Humphrey, Johnson, Knopf, McGrath, Monahan, Orendorf, Organ, Reavill, Shutt, Southworth, Strattan, Streeter, Torrance, Wheeler.-22. Those voting in the negative are: Messrs. Adams, Bacon of Edgar, Bacon of Will, Berggren, Burke, Chapman, Cochran, Crabtree, Curtis, Eckhart, Funk, Gibbs, Greenwood, Hadley, Higgins, Hill, Johns, Pearson, Pierce, Stephenson, Sumner, Washburn.-22. The President therefore decided that the motion to refer to the committee on expenses of the general assembly was lost. The question recurring to the adoption of the original resolution, And the yeas and nays being demanded it was decided in the affirmative by the following vote viz.: Yeas, 32; nays 9. Those voting in the affirmative are: Messrs. Adams, Bacon of Edgar, Bacon of Will, Berggren, Burke, Chapman, Cochran, Crabtree, Curtiss, Dean, Eckhart, Evans, Funk, Gibbs, Gore, Greenwood, Hadley, Higgins, Hill, Hogan, Johns, Leman, McGrath, Monahan, Orendorf, Pearson, Pierce, Stephenson, Sumner, Thompson, Torrance, Washburn.-32. Those voting in the negative are: Messrs. Bell, Cantwell, Crawford, Darnell, Garrity, Shutt, Southworth, Strattan, Streeter.-9. was The President thereupon declared that the resolution adopted, and in accordance therewith the President appointed Messrs. Bacon, of Will, Funk, Pierce, Johnson and Gore. Mr. Bell presented the following resolution, which was read for information, and under rule forty (40) was laid on the table for one day, viz.: WHEREAS, The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has refused to appoint Judges to constitute the "Commission of Claims," as provided by an act entitled "An act to create a commission of claims, and to prescribe its powers an duties, approved May 29th 1877 and has assigned as a reason therefor that the said commission of claims are extra judicial and that the judges of the courts can no longer discharge their duties as judges of the courts and of said "Commission of Claims," and WHEREAS, Also there are a large number of claims against the State filed with the Auditor of Public Accounts as ex-officio clerk of said commission which are undisposed of, Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, that a committee of five be appointed, three by the Speaker of the House and two by the President of the Senate, and that it shall be the duty of such committee to investigate all claims filed with the Auditor of Public Accounts as clerk of said commission (and undisposed of) together with the evidence on file with said claims, and that said committee recommend to this General Assembly the payment or rejection of said claims severally or such further action by the legislature as to the said committee shall appear to be just and equitable. Mr. Cochran presented the following joint resolution which was read for information, and under rule forty (40) was laid on the table for one day, viz.: WHEREAS, At an election held on the second day of November, A. D. 1886, submitting to the electors of the State a proposed amendment to the constitution of this State making it unlawful for the commissioners of any penitentiary or other reformatory institution in the State of Illinois to let by contract to any person or persons, or corporations, the labor of Lay convict confined within any of said institutions, ninety-eight thousand and one hundred and eighty-eight of the electors voting at said election failed to vote upon said question; and WHEREAS. It is claimed that want of publicity and a misconception of the proposed amendment so submitted prevented a full and fair expression upon the question by the people of the State: and WHEREAS, The abandonment of the contract system if the convicts are to be kept employed will likely result in the adoption of what is known as the "Public account system," thereby compelling the State to engage in extensive wholesale manufacturing and merchandizing on a regular and systematized baisis, the employment of expensive machinery, a large number of extra help as managers, foremen and instructors and agents to purchase stock and raw material, and dispose of the products, involving the drawing of millions of dollars from the taxpayers of this State; and WHEREAS, It is claimed that the State has no right to tax the people to establish and carry on large manufacturing industries to compete with, and to the detriment of tax payers engaged in the same business on their own private account; and further, that the labor thus employed will interfere with free labor to as great, if not greater, extent than that under the contract system; and WHEREAS, Under the public account system which prevailed in this State from 1867 to 1871, the State lost money heavily, and the General Assembly was compelled to make large appropriations for the support of the State and admonished by so costly experience returned in 1871 to the contract system, which it is claimed has been eminently successful and satisfactory to the people of the State and of physical and moral advantage, to the convicts; and WHEREAS, Great risks and abuses are likely to grow out of a general manufacturing and merchandizing business if conducted at the State's expense; and WHEREAS, It also becomes an important and pressing question whether the taxpayers of the State can or ought to support twenty-six hundred convicts in our penitentiaries and other reformatory institutions while these convicts can support themselves and pay for all the expenditure in-curred on their account, and become under a proper system of labor more industrious, more independent, more self-reliant and better in health and all the better prepared for their freedom, and that this whole question may receive most serious consideration before any particular system is fully adopted; therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That there be submitted to the people of this State for ratification or rejection at the next election of members of the General Assembly the following additional amendment to the constitution: "Resolved, That hereafter it shall be the duty of the prison authorites of this State to employ convicts in the prisons by contract or otherwise as may be deemed best for the interest of the public and the said convicts," and that in conformity with section 2 of article 14, of the constitution, the same be published for three months at least, previous to the time of such election. Mr. Washburn presented the following joint resolution, which, under rule forty (40), was laid on the table for one day: Resolved by the Senate, the House concurring therein, That there be submitted to the people of the State of Illinois for their ratification or rejection, at the next general election for members of、 the General Assembly, the following amendment to article VI of the constitution: Section 34. Hereafter the elections for judges of the circuit courts of the State of Illinois shall be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday of November, in the year of our Lord 1892, and every six years thereafter. The terms of office of such judges shall commence on the first Monday of December next after such election, and the terms of office of the present circuit judges shall continue until the first Mon day of December, in the year of our Lord 1892. On the ballot of each elector voting upon the foregoing amendment shall be written or printed the words: "For proposed amendment to Section 34 of "Article 6," or "Against proposed amendment to Section 34 of Article 6." EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION. A message from the Governor, by H. J. Caldwell, Private Secretary: Mr. President: I am directed by the Governor to lay before the Senate the following communication: STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, To the Honorable, the Senate: I have the honor to nominate and appoint John Casewell, of Cook county, as State Veterinarian, and respectfully ask the concurrence of the Senate. HOUSE MESSAGES. R. J. OGLESBY. A message from the House, by Mr. Northam, Assistant Clerk: Mr. President: I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has not concurred with them in the adoption of the following joint resolution, to-wit: Resolved by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring herein,` That our Representatives in Congress be instructed, and our Senators be requested to use all honorable means in their power to secure the passage of the "Blair Bill," now pending in the United States Senate, to remove the limitation relating to the arrearage of pensions, and to favor and support any legislation by Congress looking to the removal of said limitation. That a certified copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives in Congress, by the Secretary of the Senate. The House of Representatives refused to concur in the foregoing resolution this 11th day of February, A. D. 1887. JOHN A. REEVE, Clerk of the House of Representatives. A message from the House, by Mr. Hall, Assistant Clerk: Mr. President: I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed a bill of the following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to-wit: House Bill No. 50, a bill for "An act to appropriate the money turned into the State treasury by the Board of Live Stock Commissioners, the proceeds of the sale of the healthy carcasses of cattle slaughtered in Chicago by order of the Board on account of the exposure to pleuro-pneumonia, far the payment of damages. for animals slaughtered under the provisions of law." Passed by the House of Representatives February 15, 1887. JOHN A. REEVE, Clerk of the House of Representatives. On motion of Mr. Funk, the foregoing bill was ordered on the calendar for a first reading. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. Mr. Johns moved that the consideration of the following joint resolution, presented by himself February 8, 1887, be made a special order for February 17, 1887, immediately after the disposition of the special order set for that day, viz.: Resolved by the Senate of the Thirty-fifth General Assembly, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That there be at once appointed a committee of nine members of this Assembly, to be known as the prison labor committee, and that three of the said committee be Senators, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and six of the committee be Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; Resolved further, That this committee shall, with all possible diligence, proceed to inquire into and report to the General Assembly as to the following matters: First. The various systems of employing convict labor other than the contract system, and the relative merits of each of said systems. Second. The most profitable method of employing and working convicts, having regard at the same time to the mental, moral and physical condition and welfare of the convicts so employed. Third. What system of convict labor and what branches of labor carried on in prisons can be employed in this State which shall bring about the least competition with free labor. Fourth. The cost in plant and materials necessary to commence and carry on the various systems investigated, and the prospective profits or losses to the State of each of said systems. Resolved, That said committee be and the same is hereby empowered to employ a clerk, who shall be a stenographer, and to send for persons and papers, and to hold sessions and meetings at all times and places they may deem best, and to this end that leave of absence be granted to the members of the said committee from any session of the General Assembly. Resolved, That the necessary expenses of said committee, clerk hire and the expenses of the individual members thereof be reported by the chairman thereof under oath to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, and that the same shall be paid out of any money in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated, upon the presentation of said account, certified by the chairman of the committee and approved by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. Mr. Hogan moved to amend the foregoing motion of Mr. Johns by substituting "immediate consideration" for that of an "especial order for February 17, 1887." Which motion prevailed, and the motion of Mr. Johns was so amended. The question now being, "Shall the foregoing motion of Mr. Johns as amended by Mr. Hogan prevail?" it was decided in the affirmative. Whereupon the foregoing joint resolution, presented by Mr. Johns February 8, 1887, was taken up for consideration and read. Mr. Johns offered the following amendment, viz.: Amend by inserting after the word "Senators" in line 8 of first page, the following words: "who are members of the committee on penal and reformatory institutions of the Senate," and by inserting after the word "House" in line 11 of first page the words: "from the members of the committee on penitentiaries of the House." After debate, Mr. Burke moved to refer the foregoing joint resolution and pending amendment to the committee on penal and reformatory institutions. Which motion prevailed. A message from the Governor, by H. J. Caldwell, Private Secretary: Mr. President: I am directed by the Governor to inform the Senate that he has approved and signed bills with the following , titles, to-wit: Senate Bill No. 38, "An act to provide for the expenses of moving flags and trophies to the new Memorial Hall, and to pay for the alterations and extension of cases, and for the furniture and fixtures of said Memorial Hall; to pay the Illinois National Guard for services in St. Clair and Cook counties during the year 1886; to pay for blankets; and to pay the incidental expenses of such services, including a clothing allowance to each enlisted man, and to pay the expenses of the Illinois National Guard for the year ending June 30, 1887.' INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. Mr. Hill introduced a bill, Senate Bill No. 257, for "An act to punish fraud upon hotel-keepers," and On motion of Mr. Hill, the rules were suspended and the bill was read at large a first time, and On motion of Mr. Hill, was referred to the committee on judicial department. Mr. Berggren introduced a bill, Senate Bill No. 258, for "An act to revise and amend an act entitled 'An act to provide for the organization and management of corporations, associations or societies, for the purpose of furnishing life indemnity or pecuniary benefits to widows, orphans, heirs, relatives and devisees of deceased members, or accident or permanent disability indemnity to members thereof,' approved June 18, 1883, in force July 1, 1883, and to amend the title thereof," and On motion of Mr. Berggren, the rules were suspended and the bill was read at large a first time, and On motion of Mr. Berggren, was referred to the committee on insurance. |