Lake Superior Ship Canal and the Portage Lake Improvement Company Canal, and also inquire upon what terms said canals might be purchased by the United States, and made free water-ways to the commerce of the great lakes; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Secretary of War designated Col. O. M. Poe, of the United States Army, to make such examination and report, in conformity with said resolution; and

WHEREAS, the Honorable Secretary of War did report, on or about January 5th, A. D. 1885, that Col. Poe had made such examination, and, on whose report, did recommend that Congress take steps to purchase the same and make them free water-ways to the commerce of the lakes; and

WHEREAS, the tolls collected by these canals are a serious burden to a numerous people and a very large industry embraced inside the limits of the territory supplied by these canals; and

WHEREAS, these water-ways should be made free channels to the great traffic that is now springing up with Minnesota, Iowa, and the country along the Northern Pacific Railroad, that passes through Lake Superior, finding an outlet to the east and seaboard; and

WHEREAS, the dangers of the navigation of Lake Superior may be greatly lessened by the improvement of this water-way, and make a safe shelter at a point were the dangers of this lake are the greatest, and most serious disasters have occurred; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress are hereby requested to use their best endeavors to secure such legislation by Congress as will result in the United States acquiring the title to, and the ownership of the ship canals connecting the waters of Keweenaw Bay, by way of Portage Lake, with the waters of Lake Superior, in the upper pennisula of Michigan, in accordance with the report of the Honorable Secretary of War, presented to the United States Senate on or about January 5th, A. D. 1885, in reply to its resolution of April 22d, A. D. 1884, and making them free for the navigation and commerce of the great lakes.

Resolved, That the Honorable Secretary of State is hereby requested to forward a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions to each of the Senators and Representatives in Congress from the State of Illinois.

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES.

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That the Representatives and Senators in Congress from the State of Illinois be and they are hereby requested to use all honorable means to secure the appointment of Hon. DeWitt Smith, of Bates, Illinois, as United States Commissioner of Agriculture.

DRAINAGE LAWS-PRINTING IN PAMPHLET.

WHEREAS, the levee law and the farm-drainage acts have been vitally changed by the two laws on these subjects passed this session as House Bill No. 386, and Senate Bill No. 343, and parties interested should have the means of prompt information; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate, the House concurring, That the Secretary of State have printed two thousand copies of each of these acts, bound together, and that he distribute them to the parties applying for the same.

ELECTION LAWS-PRINTING IN PAMPHLET.

WHEREAS, at the present session of this General Assembly several laws have been enacted which materially and radically change and add to the existing laws; and whereas, for the proper and intelligent enforcement of, and compliance with, such laws, it is necessary that the people should be supplied with copies thereof to the end that they may at once be advised of such changes and additions to such laws; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That the Secretary of State cause to be printed in pamphlet form, for general distribution, ten thousand copies of all election laws passed at this session, and that when so printed, said Secretary of State shall cause to be sent to the several county clerks of this State, such numbers of said pamphlets as said counties respectively are entitled to upon the basis of population; also, he shall send twenty copies to each member and officer of the present General Assembly.

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That five thousand copies of the biennial message of ex-Governor John M. Hamilton, and the inaugural address of Governor Richard J. Oglesby, in one pamphlet, be printed for the use of the General Assembly.

HAINES' TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION LAWS,

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That the Commissioners of State Contracts be and they are hereby authorized and directed to contract for and obtain such number of copies of a book commonly known as "Haines' Township Organization Laws," as shall be sufficient to supply seven copies to each organized township in this State, in counties under township organization, for

the use of the town officers thereof, and one copy for each justice of the peace in counties not under township organization, at the price of one dollar per copy; said book to contain the laws of Illinois on the subject embraced therein, in force July 1, 1885, the same to be of good paper, equal in quality to the best editions of said book heretofore published, and to be properly bound in a style satisfactory to said commissioners; said books to be distributed by the Secretary of State to the various counties in the State in the same manner as the session laws are distributed, and furnished to the organized townships and justices of the peace as herein before contemplated; the amount of the cost thereof to be paid out of the appropriation for printing and binding, or any other appropriation made for that purpose: Provided, the amount shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000.)

OKLAHOMA LANDS.

WHEREAS, there is a strife and a bitter feeling that is liable to result in a conflict of arms between the cattle-men and the people in that part of the Indian Nation, known as Oklahoma; the cattle-men now having the possession of that country, and having fenced the same into large tracts for grazing purposes on the one hand, and the people who are seeking it for settlement and homes on the other; and

WHEREAS, the Creeks and other Indians did, by the treaty of 1866, cede the Oklahoma country to the United States in trust; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to use their influence for such legislation as will open that country to settlement under the Homestead laws of Congress; and that the Secretary of the State of Illinois be requested to have printed and mailed to each member in Congress, and each Senator from Illinois, a copy of this resolution.

HOUSE.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

WHEREAS, the agricultural interests of our State, involving annual productions valued at over three hundred millions of dollars, demand the support of all means looking to the investigation of the laws of nature in their relation to agricultural production in its various branches; and,

WHEREAS, the experience of other States and countries has proven that this can be done through the establishment of well equipped agricultural experiment stations; and

WHEREAS, there exists within our borders a well equipped university under the direction of a corps of scientists, able and willing, with proper support, to prosecute such inquiry tending to the advancement of scientific and practical agriculture; and

WHEREAS, a bill now pending in the National Congress, providing for the establishment of agricultural experiment stations in connection with the colleges established under the provisions of an act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two (1862), and of the acts supplementary thereto, has been favorably reported to the National House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of the said act in no way conflict with the authority of the several States, and offer invaluable benefits to the agricultural interests of all the States; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That in order to secure the said benefits to the agriculturists of Illinois and stimulate and support the inquiries now in progress and projected under the care of the great University of the State, we hereby heartily approve the provisions of the said bill and earnestly urge upon our Representatives in Congress that they use every honorable means to effect its passage at the earliest possible date.

ANIMAL INDUSTRY LAW OF UNITED STATES.

WHEREAS, the Legislative Committee of the National Cattle Growers' Association of America have presented to Congress proposed amendments to the present Animal Industry Law, which amendments provide : First, for regulating expenditures under said law, and second, authorizing the President of the United States to quarantine certain States in which contagious pleuro-pneumonia among cattle now exists, and which said States have failed or refused to take the proper steps for suppressing said contagious disease; and

WHEREAS, the State of Illinois is peculiarly exposed to contagion by reason of the great traffic in cattle between the East and West, which passes through the Chicago Stock Yards; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, the Senate concurring herein, That we freely and heartily approve the objects sought to be attained by said amendments, and that we urge upon our Representatives and Senators in Congress the importance of such legislation, and request that they will vote for said amendments and will use alt honorable means to secure their passage.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to each Representative and Senator in Congress from the State of Illinois.

ALIEN LAND OWNERS.

WHEREAS, it is the first duty of governments to adopt such policies as will best promote the growth of national power and insure prosperity to the nation and its citizens; and,

WHEREAS, one of the means necessary to secure these results permanently, is, that the lands of a nation should be owned and possessed by its citizens exclusively, that the income therefrom may be added to the aggregate wealth of the nation, and the comfort of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, large amounts of the lands of the nation are now owned and controlled by the citizens of foreign nations, who owe no allegiance to our government, the incomes from such lands increasing the wealth of citizens of other nations, and the aggregate wealth of such foreign ́nations resulting in an equal loss to our citizens and nation; and,

WHEREAS, the continuance of this evil will result in the introduction of foreign systems of landlordism, thereby oppressing the labor interests of our nation, and making the acquisition of homes by the poor more difficult, if not impossible; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That the ownership of lands within the limits of any State or Territory of the nation by aliens is an evil threatening the prosperity of the nation and vitally affecting the interests of the citizens, especially those who seek to secure homes on the public domain.

Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be and are hereby instructed to endeavor to have submitted to the States for their action thereon an amendment to the National Constitution providing: That aliens shall not own, possess or control, either individually or as a member of any company or corporation, any land or real estate, within the limits of any State or Territory of the nation; and for the equitable extinguishment of all title now held by aliens who shall continue to be such after the expiration of ten years after the adoption of such amendment: Providing that the stock of any transportation or mining companies, where the amount of land owned and controlled by said company does not exceed the amount necessary for carrying on their legitimate business, shall be exempt from the provisions of such amendment.

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be instructed to transmit a certified copy of this preamble and resolution to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

APPELLATE COURT-RENTING ROOMS.

Preamble and joint resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of five (5) to procure suitable rooms or apartments in the city of Chicago for the use of the judges of the Appellate Court of the First District of Illinois, in which to hold the sessions of their court.

WHEREAS, the judges of the Appellate Court of the First District of Illinois need suitable rooms or apartments in the city of Chicago, Cook county, in which to hold the sessions of their court, library, and clerk's office, for the use of said court; therefore

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That a committee of five (5) be appointed, three (3) by the Speaker on the part of the House, and two (2) by the President of the Senate, on the part of the Senate, whose duty it shall be to procure, for the uses of the