Canton Register

THE CAPITAL CITY.

Sayings of Sarcastic "Thomas," and Doings of Our State Legislators, Etc.

Springfield, February 2, 1879.

The magnificent weather we have been enjoying for a week or two past has almost induced me to shake the dust of the capital off my feet and return to my farm and commence the regular spring work of putting a rail on top of the fence to take the place of the one which has rotted down during the past year. But, the ground-hog saw his shadow—or a member of the legislature—and the sign is that we are yet to have some rough weather, so I have concluded to remain in the city yet a little season.

The two dignified bodies who occupy the north and south sides of the capital have been quite busy the past week, and the legislative mill has been on a continual grind. The members are like a horse who does not get down to his pace until he has made the first quarter, and they are now getting as industrious as the boy who is laboring to have his name published in the school report. And well they may, for the people will not tolerate a long session, for there certainly is no need of it. What the people want is as few laws as possible with as little expense as possible.

A day or two ago the statesmen in the senate passed a resolution in opposition to the payment of Southern claims, and it is hoped that this action will settle that matter!

The attorney-general has informed the house that it has the legal right to regulate the fare on sleeping cars, and now will commence a "squabble" on that matter. Of course lower fares means worse accommodations—just as the same company did with their dining cars.

The committees on State and Educational institutions are off this week visiting these places. Some one furnished them with a free train of three Pullman sleeping cars, and they will have a grand time. As I saw the train pull out from the depot this morning, I was almost covetous enough to wish I was a dignified representative or the wife of one—for, bless your dear soul they take their wives along. There are thirty or forty of them, and they will not return for ten days. But both houses have resolved not to pay a cent of the expenses of the trip, but I opine it will eventually come out of the state treasury in some way.

Early in the week there was a prospect for a rumpus over the appointments made by the governor, some of the Republican senators insisting that the Democrats whom the governor had placed on some of the boards should not be confirmed. But good sense at last triumphed, and they were all confirmed. As a matter of political policy, it is not unwise to let the minority have a representative in these boards, as thereby much political clap-trap is done away with.

A half day was thrown away in a quarrel about getting up a committee or something of that sort to investigate a lot of Cook county officials whom it is charged have been demanding and taking illegal fees. There is now a strict law in regard to this matter, and if it cannot be enforced then let the people up there take care of themselves. It would seem from the discussion that roguery is at a premium among the people in the city by the lake. Every Illinoisian ought to feel proud of the energy and enterprise of Chicago, but when her citizens want to tell how mean her neighbors are, they ought to select some other place than the halls of the state legislature.

Representative Wheeler has in a bill to prevent the sale of liquor in the grounds of agricultural societies. He does not tell how he is going to get life and animation into the average county fair, if he takes away the whiskey, but his bill should become a law, nevertheless.

The judiciary committee of the house has adopted a bill to the tenor and effect that six per cent. shall be the legal rate of interest, but that eight per cent. and no more may be charged on contracts. This will no doubt pass and will be additional cause for men to perjure themselves whenever by so doing they can put a few dollars in their pocket.

A new committee has been formed in the house, called the "Committee on Licenses and Female Suffrage." It is hoped by its fathers that it will evolve a bill giving women the right to vote on the question of licensing saloons. There are a good many things to be said in favor of the idea, and but little to be said against it. It is the woman and her children that suffer most from a drunken and brutal father. But the fur will fly when the matter comes up for final action.

An effort is to be made by the senator from Morgan and Greene counties, to do away with a portion of the swindling now practiced by the insurance companies. Under the present laws, if a foreign company contests a loss, they can take the matter to the U. S. courts, and there the poor man cannot follow them. It is proposed to license them and then forfeit their license whenever they take a case to the U. S. court. This is a law which ought to be passed at once, as many a man is swindled out of his insurance after having paid his premiums for years.

The militia committee of the house has decided that a militia is necessary to free government, or words to that effect, and the present system will be continued. The only way now left is for every town to get up a company and thus secure its share of the swag.

Representative Matthews has a bill compelling banks to publish quarterly statements. This is a good scheme and ought at once to be passed.

Senator Hunt has introduced an amendment to the state constitution to do away with the biennial elections, and have an election only once in two years, for court officers. Representative Wall has a similar measure for township officers in the house. If this thing is to go on what is to become of the ward bummer—is he to be left to the unfeeling mercies of a cold and calculating world? Of course, decent and respectable people could get along if there was an election but once in ten or twenty years but to put such unchristian check on the ward bummer and the practical politician, is entirely too much.

The Illinois editors, the grand lodge of A. O. U. W., and the Industrial School for girls, were all here for the past week, and business was as lively as it could well be.

A good deal of the time of the U. S. court for the past week has been taken up in attending to some of the recalcitrants (is that a good word) from your county. As Crooker, of LaSalle, would say, it would seem that the Bussard family and a few more have organized a little hell of their own and have been running it quite steep. Judge Treat has been taking care of them in his usual Christian (he is an Episcopalian) style, and some of them are having plenty of time to meditate in jail upon the fact that it isn't a good idea to undertake to swindle this great, grand and glorious government of ours, cemented by the best blood and treasure of the land and irrevocably dedicated to be the home of the free and the land of the brave—so to speak.

Your members are all O. K. Walker is plain, unassuming and virtuous, but looks as though he was disgusted. Robinson is still the great watch dog of the treasury, ever ready with a speech on any question which will make capital for Robinson. Metrevey is still here and answers to roll call. Dr. Davis is getting down to his work; is making an industrious member and is well liked by all who meet him.

Am sorry you were not here to attend the editors' convention, but presumably you didn't have a change of shirts.

The members of the Swedish Norwegian church will give an apple fair and festival at the opera house, on Thursday evening, February 27th. Admission ten cents.