Mr. Hay, from the committee on judiciary, submitted the following report: To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: The judiciary committee, to whom was referred House bill, No. 193, for "An act to amend an act entitled 'an act to exempt the homestead from forced sale, and to provide for setting off the same, and exempt certain personal property from attachment and sale on execution, and distress for rent,'" having considered the same, report the bill back to the House, recommending that it lie upon the table. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was laid on the table. Mr. Rountree, from the committee on municipal affairs, to which was referred House bill, No. 133, for "An act to amend the revenue law in cities containing ten thousand inhabitants," reported the same back, and recommended that it do not pass. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was laid on the table. Mr. Graham, from the committee on revenue, to which was referred House bill, No. 288, for "An act to fix the fees of township collectors in counties under township organization, having a population not exceeding seventy thousand inhabitants," reported the same back, and recommended that it do not pass. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was laid on the table. Mr. Graham, from the committee on revenue, to which was referred House bill, No. 242, for "An act to repeal the sixteenth section of 'an act to amend the revenue laws, and to establish a State board for the equalization of assessments,' approved March 8, 1867, and to provide that the rate of taxes to be collected for the years 1873 and 1874, for State purposes, shall be at the rate of five mills on the dollar on the equalized assessments of each of said years," reported the same back, and recommended that it do not pass. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was laid on the table. Mr. Moffit, from the committee on agriculture and horticulture, to which was referred House bill, No. 136, for "An act requiring owners of hedges to keep them trimmed and the brush disposed of, so as not to injure or encumber public highways or adjoining lands," reported the same back, and recommended that it do not pass. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was laid on the table. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Paddock: Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has passed bills of the following titles, to-wit: Senate bill, No. 26, for "An act to reorganize the Illinois State Horticultural Society." Senate bill, No. 173, for "An act to provide for registration in cases of special election." In the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the House of Representatives. The Speaker announced the following as the select committee on woman suffrage: Messrs. Rice, Bradwell, Oberly, Gordon and McPherran. The Speaker laid before the House the following report of Arthur A. Smith, judge of the tenth judicial circuit: GALESBURG, February 13, 1873. To the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives : I have the honor herewith to transmit my report, in accordance with a resolution of the House of Representatives, dated January 14, 1873: Number of days court was held in Knox county, for 1871 and 1872. Number of days court was held in Warren county for 1871 and 1872. Number of days court was held in Henderson county for 1871 and 1872. Total..... I also report the number of cases finally disposed of for same time: 119 135 56 310 .1, 002 850 386 ARTHUR A. SMITH, Judge Tenth Judicial Circuit. Which was referred to the committee on judicial department. On motion of Mr. Thornton, At 12:10 o'clock P. M., the House adjourned. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1873. The House met, pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Kaisman. The Clerk proceeded to read the journal of yesterday, when, On motion of Mr. Swan, The further reading of the same was dispensed with. Leave of absence was granted Mr. Oberly. Mr. Jones moved to reconsider the vote on the report of the select committee on state house bond. On motion of Mr. Ballow, The previous question was ordered. And the question being on the motion to reconsider the vote on the report of the select committee on state house bond, it was decided in the affirmative. On motion of Mr. Jones, The report of the select committee on state house bond was laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Wicker, it was Resolved, That the question of the validity of the State House bond be referred to the AttorneyGeneral, and that he be requested to report thereon at as early a day as possible. Mr. Cronkrite moved to suspend the rules, in order that he might submit a resolution; which motion was not agreed to. On motion of Mr. Connolly, The vote by which the House concurred in the Senate amendment to the resolution relating to the purchase of the compass, etc., formerly owned and used by President Lincoln, was reconsidered. The question being upon the adoption of the Senate amendment to the resolution, Mr. Rogers moved to amend the amendment by striking out the words "one hundred dollars," and inserting the words "five hundred dollars." Mr. Thornton moved to postpone the further consideration of the matter for one week; which motion was not agreed to. The question being on the adoption of the amendment to the amend ment, it was agreed to. The question recurring on the adoption of the Senate amendment as amended, it was agreed to. A message from the Governor, by Mr. Pinkham : Mr. Speaker: I am directed by the Governor to lay before the House of Representatives the accompanying documents, being the twelfth biennial report of the Illinois Institution for the education of the Blind, and the report of the Commissioners of the Illinois State Penitentiary. Mr. Lane of Hancock (by consent) submitted the following: WHEREAS grave charges of corruption have been publicly made against the management of the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet; therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That a special committee of nine, consisting of five (5) from the House committee on penitentiary, and four (4) from the Senate committee on penal institutions, be appointed to investigate said charges. Said committee shall have power to send for persons and papers, compel the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths, and em ploy a clerk. Which was adopted. Mr. Anderson (by consent) introduced House bill, No. 321, for "An act to divide the State of Illinois into judicial districts." Which was referred to the committee on judicial department. Mr. Plowman (by consent) introduced House bill, No. 322, for “An act to provide for the election of police magistrates and constables in cities incorporated under 'an act to provide for the incorporation of cities and villages,' approved April 10, 1872." Which was referred to the committee on judiciary. Mr. Moore of Marshall, from the committee on enrolled and engrossed bills, submitted the following report: The committee on enrolled and engrossed bills begs leave to report that a bill of the following title has been correctly engrossed, to-wit: House bill, No. 221, for "An act to amend an act entitled 'an act to exempt the homestead from forced sale, and to provide for setting off the same, and to exempt certain personal property from attachment and sale on execution, and from distress for rent." On motion of Mr. Dement, At 12:20 o'clock, the House adjourned. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1873. The House met, pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Kaesman. The Clerk proceeded to read the journal of yesterday, when, On motion of Mr. Hite of St. Clair, The further reading of the same was dispensed with. The special order for this hour being House bill, No. 102, for "An act to amend sections 1 and 3 of an act entitled 'an act to enable counties having over one hundred thousand inhabitants to issue bonds and borrow money for county purposes,' approved February 22, 1872," on second reading, was taken up. On motion of Mr. Rountree, The bill was ordered engrossed for a third reading. Petitions being in order, Mr. Hart presented a petition from a number of citizens, asking that the present liquor law be not changed, except enlarged and extended; which was referred to the select committee on temperance. Mr. Shaw presented a petition from a number of citizens of Henry county, asking that the present temperance law be left in full force; which was referred to the select committee on temperance. Mr. Harvey presented a petition from citizens of Will county, in relation to snow blockade in public highways; which was referred to the committee on roads, highways and bridges. Mr. Stroud presented a petition from citizens of Logan county, asking the repeal of the present exemption law; which was referred to the committee on judiciary. Mr. Herrington presented a petition from citizens of the city of Aurora, asking that the court of common pleas in said city be abolished; which was referred to the committee on judicial department. Mr. Hay, from the committee on judiciary, submitted the following report: To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: The judiciary committee, to whom was referred House bill, No. 266, for "An act concerning cities unorganized as towns in counties acting under township organization laws, defining the relative rights of such cities and counties as regards county taxes, and securing the same, and providing for the assessment, levy and collection of taxes in such cities," having considered the same, report an amendment to the title, and also to the first section of the bill, and recommend that the bill, as amended, be passed. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill and amendments were read a first time, and ordered to a second reading. Mr. Hay, from the committee on judiciary, submitted the following report: To the Speaker of the House of Representatives : The judiciary committee, to whom was referred Senate bill, No. 27, for "An act to amend section 18 of an act in regard to judgments and decrees, and the manner of enforcing the same by execution, and to provide for the redemption of real estate sold under execution or decree," having considered the same, report it back to the House, recommending its passage. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill ordered to a second reading. Mr. Hay from the committee on judiciary, submitted the following report: To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: The judiciary committee, to whom was referred House bill, No. 256, for "An act in regard to boards of police in incorporated cities having a population of more than thirty thousand inhabitants," having considered the same, have directed that it be reported back to the House, recommending that it be referred to the Cook county delegation. The report of the committee was accepted. Mr. Wicker moved to refer the bill to a select committee of seven; which was not agreed to. On motion of Mr. Anderson, The previous question was ordered. And the question being on the recommendation of the committee, it was decided in the affirmative, and the bill was referred to a select committee, consisting of the members from Cook county. Mr. Hay, from the committee on judiciary, submitted the following report: To the Speaker of the House of Representatives: The judiciary committee, to whom was referred a resolution instructing them to inquire into the constitutionality of sections 1 and 2 of "an act to provide for the election and qualification of justices of the peace," having considered the same, report it back to the House, with the opinion that section 2 of said act is in conflict with article 6 of the schedule of the constitution. The report of the committee was concurred in. Mr. Moore of Marshall, from the committee on enrolled and engrossed bills, submitted the following report : The committee on enrolled and engrossed bills begs leave to report that a bill of the following title has been correctly engrossed, to wit: House blll, No. 239, for "An act to amend an act entitled 'an act to provide for the election and qualification of justices of the peace and constables, and to provide for the jurisdiction and practice of justices of the peace in civil cases, and to fix the duties of constables, and to repeal certain acts therein named,' approved April 1, 1872." Mr. Shaw, from the committee on judicial department, submitted the following report: The committee on judicial department, to which was referred House bill, No. 17, for "An act to enable boards of underwriters incorporated by or under the laws of the State of Illinois, to establish a fire patrol," have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report the same back, with a recommendation that the same be referred to the committee on insurance. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was referred to the committee on insurance. Mr. Shaw, from the committee on judicial department, submitted the following report: The committee on judicial department, to which was referred House bill, No. 251, for "An act to regulate the sale of interest upon judgments and decrees," have had the same under consideration and beg leave to report the same back, with a recommendation that the same be referred to the committee on judiciary. The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was referred to the committee on judiciary. Mr. Shaw, from the committee on judicial department, submitted the following report: The judicial department committee, to which was referred House bill, No. 262, for "An act relative to the service of subpenas, and the procuring the attendance of witnesses before justices of the peace," have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report the same back, with the recommendation that it do not pass, The report of the committee was concurred in, and the bill was laid on the table. Mr. Shaw, from the committee on judicial department, submitted the following report: |