receiving and recording the collector's return, six cents for each tract of land or town lot contained in said report, which shall be taxed as costs, and collected in the same manner as the principal sum; and no clerk, sheriff, collector or other officer, shall be allowed to charge any other fees for services rendered under this act and the act to which this is an amendment, except those expressly granted and allowed to be. charged. There shall be allowed collectors of the several counties in this State, ten per cent. on the first five hundred dollars of revenue which they may collect, and six per cent. on all sums above that amount; and collectors shall be allowed to have one or more deputies-such collector being in all cases responsible for the acts of his deputy.

act to which

SEC. 9. So much of the thirty-first section of the act to Thirty-first which this is an amendment, as requires the clerk of the cir- section of the cuit court to furnish a copy of the collector's report to the this is supplesheriff, be, and the same is hereby repealed. The word "of" mentary rein the seventeenth line of the first section of the act to which pealed. this is an amendment, shall be construed as the word "and."

SEC. 10. The Secretary of State is hereby required, so soon Secretary of as this bill becomes a law, to have, without delay, three copies to publish this State required of this bill printed for each county in this State, and forward act on its pasthe same without delay, by mail, to each of the following sage. county officers: One copy to the clerk of the circuit court, one copy to the clerk of the county commissioners' court, and one copy to the sheriff of each and every county in this State. APPROVED, Feb. 1st, 1840.

AN ACT fixing the time of holding the Circuit Courts in the Eighth In force Feb. Judicial Circuit.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the Circuit Courts

1, 1840.

of the several counties in the eighth Judicial Circuit, shall here- Time of holdafter be holden at the county seats of said counties, at the ing courts in times following, to wit:

eighth circuit.

In the County of Sangamon, on the first Mondays in March, Sangamon. second Monday in July, and second Monday in November.

In the County of Tazewell, on the Thursdays before the first Tazewell. Mondays in May, and the Thursdays before the fourth Mon

days in September.

In the County of McLean, on the second Mondays in May, McLean. and first Monday in October.

In the County of Livingston, on the third Monday in May, Livingston. and second Monday in October.

In the County of De Witt, on the Thursdays after the third De Witt. Mondays in May, and the Thursdays after the second Mondays in October.

In the County of Macon, on the fourth Mondays in May, Macon. and third Mondays in October.

Dane, (now

In the County of Dane, on the first Mondays of June, and Christian co.) fourth Mondays in October.

Logan.

Menard.

Writs and process.

and corpo

In the County of Logan, on the Thursdays after the first Mondays in June, and the Thursdays after the fourth Mondays in October.

In the County of Menard, on the second Mondays in June, and first Mondays in November.

SEC. 2. All writs, or other process which may have been issued out of any of said courts since the last term of the same, or which may hereafter be issued previous to this act being received by the clerks of said courts respectively, shall be dee.ned and are hereby made returnable on the first day of the next term thereof, to be held by virtue of this act; and all proceedings, both civil and criminal, which are now pending therein, shal! be disposed of according to law in the same manner as if no alteration had been made in the times of holding said courts. APPROVED, Feb. 1st, 1840.

AN ACT to incorporate the city of Springfield.

ARTICLE I.

Boundaries and general powers.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the inhabitants of Body politic the town of Springfield, in the county of Sangamon, and State of Illinois, be and they are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of the City of Springfield, and by that name shall have perpetual succession, and may have and use a common seal, which they may change and alter at pleasure.

rate.

Name and style.

SEC. 2. All that district of country enclosed within the folBoundaries. lowing boundaries, to wit: Being in Sangamon county and State of Illinois, one mile square; the State House is [being] the centre of [said city of Springfield.]

vided into

wards.

SEC. 3. The President and Board of Trustees of the town of Springfield, shall on or before the first day of March next, City to be di- or as soon thereafter as practicable, divide the said city of Springfield into four wards, as nearly in population as practicable, particularly describing the boundaries of each. SEC. 4. Whenever any tract of land adjoining the city of may be an- Springfield shall or may have been laid off into town lots and duly recorded as required by law, the same shall be annexed to and form a part of the city of Springfield:

What lands

nexed to.

Powers.

SEC. 5. The inhabitants of said city, by the name and style aforesaid, shall have power to sue and be sued, to implead and be impleaded, defend and be defended in all courts of law and equity, and in all actions whatever. To purchase, receive and hold property, real and personal, beyond the city, for burial grounds, as for other public purposes, for the use of the inhabitants of said city. To sell, lease, convey or dis

pose of property real and personal for the benefit of the city, and to improve and protect such property, and to do all other things in relation thereto as natural persons.

ARTICLE II.

Of the City Council.

SEC. 1. There shall be a City Council, to consist of a Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

SEC. 2. The Board of Aldermen shall consist of one member from each ward, to be chosen by the qualified voters for

two years.

SEC. 3. No person shall be an Alderman unless at the time

Mayor and
Aldermen.

of his election he shall have resided six months within the Qualifications limits of the city, and shall be at the time of his election a of Aldermen. bona fide free-holder in said city, and twenty-one years of age, and citizen of the United States.

SEC. 4. If any Alderman shall after his election, remove

from the ward for which he is elected, or cease to be a free- Office when holder in said city, his office shall thereby be vacated.

vacant.

SEC. 5. At the first meeting of the City Council the Aldermen shall be divided by lot into two classes, the seats of those Classes of of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the Aldermen. first year, and of the second class at the expiration of the second year, so that one-half of the Board shall be elected annually.

Sec. 6. The City council shall judge of the qualifications,

elections, and returns of their own members, and shall deter- Elections and mine all contested elections.

returns.

SEC. 7. A majority of the city council shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn Quorum. from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members under such penalties as may be prescribed by Ordinance. SEC. 8. The city council shall have power to determine

the rule of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly Expulsion of conduct, and with the concurrence of two-thirds of the members. members elected, expel a member.

SEC. 9. The city council shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time, publish the same, and the Journal of proceedings. yeas and nays when demanded by any member present, shall be entered on the Juornal.

Sec. 10. No Alderman shall be appointed to any office under the authority of the city, which shall have been creat- Aldermen ed or the emoluments of which shall have been increased may not hold during the time for which he shall have been elected.

SEC. 11. All vacancies that shall occur in the Board of Aldermen, shall be filled by election.

SEC. 12. The Mayor and each Alderman, entering upon the duties of their office, shall take and subscribe an oath "That they will support the Constitution of the United States, and of this State, and that they will well and truly perform the duties of their office to the best of their skill and abilities."

offices under

city.

Vacancies.

Oaths of office

SEC. 13. Whenever there shall be a tie in the election of Tie, how de- Aldermen, the Judges of election shall certify the same to the Mayor, who shall determine by lot in such manner as shall be provided by ordinance.

termiend.

Stated meetings.

SEC. 14. There shall be twelve stated meetings of the city council in each year, and at such times and places as may be prescribed by ordinance.

ARTICLE III.

Of the chief Executive officers.

SEC. 1. The chief executive officers of the city shall be a Mayor, how Mayor, who shall be elected by the qualified voters of the city, and shall hold his office for one year, and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.

elected.

SEC. 2. No person shall be eligible to the office of Mayor, Qualifications who shall not have been a resident of the city for one year for Mayor. next preceding his election, or who shall be under twentyone years of age, or who shall not at the time of his election be a bona fide freeholder in said city, and a citizen of the United States.

Office of
Mayor.

When vacant.
Tie, for
Mayor.

Contested election.

SEC. 3. If any Mayor shall, during the time for which he shall have been elected, remove from the city, or shall cease to be a freeholder in said city, his office shall be vacated.

SEC. 4. When two or more persons shall have an equal number of votes for Mayor, the Judges of election shall certify the same to the city council, who shall proceed to determine the same by lot in such manner as may be provided for by ordinance.

SEC. 5. Whenever an election of Mayor shall be contested, the city council shall determine the same, in such manner as may be provided by ordinance.

SEC. 6. Whenever any vacancy shall happen in the office Vacancy, how of Mayor, it shall be filled by election.

filled.

ARTICLE IV.

Of Elections.

SEC. 1. On the third Monday of April next, one election First election. shall be held in each ward of said city, for one Mayor for the city, one alderman from each ward, and forever thereafter, on the third Monday of April after, each year there shall be an election held for one Mayor for the city, and two aldermen from two of the wards, the first election held for Mayor and Aldermen shall be held, conducted, and returns thereof [made] as may be provided by ordinance of the present Trustees of the town of Springfield.

Annual election.

of voters.

SEC. 2. All free white male inhabitants, citizens of the Qualifications United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who are entitled to vote for State officers, and who shall have been actual residents of said city six months next preceding said election, shall be entitled to vote for city officers: Provided, That said voters shall give their votes for Mayor and aldermen in wards in which they respectively reside, and in no other; and

Proviso.

that no vote shall be received, at any of said elections, unless the person offering such vote, shall have been an actual resident of the ward where the same is offered, at least ten days next preceding such election.

ARTICLE V.

Of the Legislative powers of the city council.

SEC. 1. The city council shall have powers and authority to Tax to be levy and collect taxes upon all property, real and personal, levied. within the city, not exceeding one-half per cent. per annum upon the assesed value thereof, and may enforce the payment of the same in any manner prescribed by ordinance not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States and of this State.

take oath.

SEC. 2. The city council shall have power to require of all Officers to officers appointed in pursuance of this charter, bonds with give bond and penalty and security for the faithful perforinance of their respective duties as may be deemed expedient, and also to require all officers appointed as aforesaid to take an oath for the faithful performance of the duties of their respective offices upon entering upon the discharge of the same.

Common

SEC. 3. To establish, support, and regulate common schools, To borrow to borrow money on the credit of the city: Provided, That no money. sum or sums of money shall be borrowed at a greater interest schools. than six per cent. per annum, nor shall the interest on the ag- Proviso. gregate of all the sums borrowed and outstanding ever exceed one-half of the city revenue arising for taxes assessed on real property within the corporation.

SEC. 4. To make regulations to prevent the introduction of Contagious contagious diseases into the city, to make quarantine laws for diseases. that purpose, and enforce the same.

Quarantine laws.

SEC. 5. To appropriate and provide for the payment of the Expenses of debt [and] expenses of the city.

SEC. 6. To establish hospitals, and make regulations for the government of the same.

city.

SEC. 7. To make regulations to secure the general health Health of of the inhabitats, to declare what shall be a nuisance, and to inhabitants. prevent and remove the same.

SEC. 8. To provide the city with water, to dig wells and Wells and erect pumps in the streets for the extinguishment of fires, and pumps. convenience of the inhabitants.

of streets.

SEC. 9. To open, alter, widen, extend, establish, grade, Improvement pave, or otherwise improve and keep in repair streets, avenues, lanes and alleys.

SEC. 10. To establish, erect, and keep in repair, bridges. Bridges. SEC. 11. To divide the city into wards, and specify the Wards and boundaries thereof, and create additional wards, as the occa- boundaries. sion may require.

SEC. 12. To provide for lighting the streets and erecting Lamps and lamp posts. SEC. 13. To establish, support, and regulate night watches. es.

posts.
Night watch-