Prayer by Rev. Mr. Carnahan.

On motion of Mr. Barnes,

The Clerk was directed to inform the Senate that the House was ready to proceed to business. Also, that a committee of three be appointed to wait upon the Governor and inform him that the House was ready to receive any communication he desired to make.

The Speaker appointed as such committee Messrs. Barnes, King of of Cook, and Phelps.

On motion of Mr. Cunningham,

The rules of the last Special Session were adopted as the rules of this special session, and the standing committees of the former session to remain as the standing committees of this session.

On motion of Mr. Springer,

The rules were suspended, and,

On motion of Mr. Springer,

The following preamble and resolutions were adopted:

WHEREAS the most destructive conflagration known in history has recently swept over the city of Chicago, destroying untold millions of dollars worth of property, and the homes of more than a hundred thousand people, occasioning a frightful loss of human life, and producing the greatest suffering; and whereas this appalling calamity has left houseless and penniless many thousands of people, whose destitute condition and great misfortunes now appeal to the civilized world for material aid and Christian sympathy; and whereas this unparalleled disaster constitutes "an extraordinary occasion" in the affairs of the State, requiring the convening of the two houses of the General Assembly in special session, to consider measures of relief; therefore be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That we do hereby extend to all the sufferers by this great conflagration the most earnest and heartfelt sympathies of the whole people of the State of Illinois; that while profoundly sympathizing with the people of Chicago in this their great affliction and hour of need, we will also extend to them material aid to the extent of our powers under the Constitution and as far as the resources of the State will admit. Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to forward to the Mayor of Chicago a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution.

Ordered that the Clerk inform the Senate thereof, and ask their concurrence therein.

Mr. Barnes, from the committee to wait upon the Governor, and inform him that the House was ready to receive any communication he desired to make, reported that the committee had performed that duty, and that the Governor would communicate by message immediately.

A message from the Governor, by E. B. Harlan, Private Secretary. Mr. President: I am directed by the Governor to lay before the House of Representatives a written communication:

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives :

The great and sudden calamity that has overtaken the city of Chicago, destroying millions of property, disturbing the finances of the State, and depriving thousands of citizens of employment and homes, and all the means of subsistence, made it my duty to convene a special session of the General Assembly, and I accordingly, on the 10th day of October, 1871, issued my proclamation, copies of which are herewith laid before you, inviting the representatives of the people to assemble and deliberate upon the grave questions therein referred to.

But it has not been possible, within the short time allowed me, amid all the excitement produced by the startling circumstances of the destruction of one half of one of the most flourishing cities upon the continent, to mature such plans as can be recommended with safety for the relief of its people, and I, therefore, for the present refrain from suggestions that, if made, would be unsatisfactory to me, and would hardly be approved by others. Facts are rapidly accumulating, plans are being proposed and considered, and I have great confidence that within a short time I will be able to lay before the General Assembly such recommendations as I hope may be regarded worthy of some degree of consideration. JOHN M. PALMER.

On motion of Mr. Waite,

The rules were suspended, and the following resolution, submitted by him, was adopted:

Resolved, That all appointments to be made to clerkships on committees, by this House, and of pages, and to fill any other vacaney in any of the offices of this House, shall be made from residents of Chicago, who have been rendered destitute by the recent fire in that place.

On motion of Mr. Sullivan,

The rules were suspended, and the following joint resolution, of fered by him, was referred to the committee on state institutions:

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That the Governor be directed to take immediate steps for the removal of the inmates of the Reform School in the city of Chicago to the State Reform School at Pontiac. On motion of Mr. Root,

The rules were suspended, for the purpose of introducing a bill. Mr. Root introduced

House bill, No. 1, for "An act to relieve the lien of the city of Chicago upon the Illinois and Michigan Canal and revenues, by refunding to said city the amount expended by it in making the improvement contemplated by an act to provide for the completion of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, upon the plan adopted by the State in 1836,' approved February 16, 1865, together with the interest thereon, as authorized by section five of said act."

The rules were further suspended, the bill read a first time, and Referred to the committee on canal and river improvement, and 500 copies of the same ordered printed.

On motion of Mr. Springer,

The rules were suspended, for the purpose of introducing a bill. Mr. Springer introduced

House bill, No. 2, for "An act to make an appropriation for the relief of the people of the city of Chicago, and to authorize a loan to meet a casual deficit in the funds of the State."

The rules were further suspended, the bill read a first time, and Ordered to a second reading, and 500 copies of the same ordered printed.

On motion of Mr. Waite,

The rules were suspended, and the following preamble and resolution, submitted by him, was adopted:

WHEREAS every law library in the city of Chicago, including that of the law institute, has been destroyed by fire; therefore,

Resolved, That the committee on judicial department be requested to confer with the judges of the supreme court as to the expediency of loaning, for temporary use, when not needed by them, the law library at Ottawa, to the courts of the county of Cook; and if it is found expedient to do so, to prepare a bill to that effect.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Paddock.

Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has adopted the following resolution, to-wit:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has met, and is now ready to proceed to the business of the special session.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Griggs.

Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has adopted the following resolution, to-wit:

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That when this General Assembly adjourn to-night, it adjourn until Monday morning, October 16, at 10 o'clock, for the purpose of giving the General Assembly an opportunity to visit the city of Chicago.

In the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the House of Representatives.

On motion of Mr. Roberts,

The rules were suspended, for the purpose of taking up Senate resolution, which is as follows:

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That when this General Assembly adjourn to-night, it adjourn until Monday morning, October 16, at 10 o'clock, for the purpose of giving the General Assembly an opportunity to visit the city of Chicago.

On motion of Mr. Short,

The said joint resolution was concurred in.

Ordered that the Clerk inform the Senate thereof.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Swan.

Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has concurred with them in the adoption of the following resolution, to-wit:

WHEREAS the most destructive conflagration in history has recently swept over the city of Chicago, destroying untold millions of dollars worth of property, and the homes of more than a hundred thousand people, occasioning frightful loss of human life, and producing the greatest suffering; and whereas this appalling calamity has left houseless and penniless many thousands of people, whose destitute condition and great misfortunes now appeal to the civilized world for material aid and christian sympathy; and whereas the unparalleled disaster constitutes an extraordinary occasion in the affairs of the State, requiring the convening of the two houses of the General Assembly, in special session, to consider measures of relief; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That we do hereby extend to all the sufferers by this great conflagration, the most earnest and heartfelt sympathies of the people of the State of Illinois. That while profoundly

sympathizing with the people of Chicago in this their great affliction and hour of need, we will also extend to them material aid to the extent of our powers under the constitution, and as far as the resources of the State will admit. Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to forward to the Mayor of Chicago a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution.

On motion of Mr. Morrison of Cook,

The rules were suspended, and the following resolution, submitted by him, was adopted:

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That the thanks of this General Assembly are hereby tendered to the people everywhere, who, by their promptitude and generous liberality, have so nobly provided for the immediate necessities of the afflicted people of Chicago.

Ordered that the Clerk inform the Senate thereof and ask their concurrence therein.

On motion of Mr. McMillan,

At 1:20 o'clock P. M. the House adjourned until 4 o'clock P. M.

FOUR O'CLOCK P. M.

House met, pursuant to adjournment.

On motion of Mr. Phillips,

The rules were suspended, and the following preamble and resolutions, submitted by him, were adopted:

WHEREAS, since the adjournment of the General Assembly, in June last, the great destroyer, Death, has been in our midst, and it has pleased the Great Ruler of the Universe to remove from among us our worthy brothers, Thomas J. Finley, David Leith and William Schwartz; therefore,

Resolved, That we deeply feel the loss of our brothers, who were kind to the needy, devoted in their friendship, and faithful alike to their constituents, to the State, and to the Union.

Resolved, That this House deeply sympathize with the families of our deceased brothers in this the hour of their affliction, and we tender them our heartfelt sorrow in their great calamity.

Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this House, and that a copy of the same be transmitted to the families of our deceased brothers, by the Speaker.

On motion of Mr. Sullivan,

The rules were suspended, and the following resolution, submitted by him, was referred to the committee on municipal affairs:

Resolved, That the committee on municipal affairs be instructed to consider the legislation necessary to vacate the appropriations made by the ordinance passed June 30, 1871, by the common council of Chicago, save so far as the same have been expended, authorizing the common council of said city to pass a new ordinance of appropriations, forbidding any appropriation for new public works, except to restore bridges and erect temporary structures, and authorizing Cook county to provide means for a new court house, jail and hall of records.

On motion of Mr. King of Cook,

At 4:15 P. M. the House adjourned.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1871.

House met, pursuant to adjournment.

Prayer by Rev. Mr. Hale.

The Clerk read the journal of Friday last.

On motion of Mr. Phelps,

The rules were suspended and the following preamble and resolution was submitted by him:

WHEREAS the public records of deeds, mortgages, judgments, tax sales, surveys, subdivisions, etc., which were kept in the city of Chicago, and county of Cook, have been destroyed by fire; and whereas there are now preserved and possessed by certain private individuals in said city of Chicago, the only copies and abstracts extant of the public records, so destroyed; and whereas, pursuant to the Governor's proclamation convening this special session, the subject of titles to property in the city of Chicago, and county of Cook, is mentioned for our consideration; and whereas, in securing proper legislation in regard to titles in said city, it may become necessary for the General Assembly to have definite information as to the nature and quantity of copies, abstracts and maps so preserved and possessed by private individuals; therefore,

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That a committee of two members from the House and one from the Senate be appointed to proceed at once to Chicago and obtain such information as may be requisite and necessary concerning the copies, abstracts and maps aforesaid, so as to facilitate and perfect legislation in the discovering, establishing and perpetuating titles to property in said city; and that said committee be instructed to report the result of their investigation as soon as practicable.

Mr. Root proposed the following amendment:

Strike out the words "a committee of two members from the House, and one from the Senate, be appointed," and insert "That the Governor be requested to designate seven proper persons."

On motion of Mr. Springer,

The resolution and amendment were referred to the committee on judiciary.

By leave,

Mr. Roe, from the committee on state institutions, to which was referred a resolution relating to Reform School at Chicago, reported House bill, No. 3, for "An act to consolidate, for the purposes therein named, the Chicago Reform School and the State Reform School, at Pontiac, and to make an appropriation for the support of the State Reform School."

The rules were suspended, the bill read a first time, and

Ordered to a second reading, and 500 copies of the same ordered printed.

On motion of Mr. King of Cook, The rules were suspended, and it was

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That the Secretary of State is hereby instructed and authorized to forward to the clerk of each court of record in Cook county, to the Judge of the Supreme Court elected in the seventh district, to the judges and attorneys of the several courts in Cook